MUMBAI: Desert Flower producer Peter Herrmann and Dietmar Güntsche and producer Wolfgang Behr who made Der Grosse Kater, shared the best producer prize at the 31st Bavarian Film Awards held over the weekend.

The prize comes with a $287,644 that will be shared with a tag that it must be invested in new film productions.

Sherry Hormann‘s Desert Flower that attracted more than 1 miillion cinemagoers in Germany and has grossed $9.8 million since its release last September.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Heisenberg was awarded the newcomer director prize ahead of the world premiere of his second feature The Robber (Der Räuber) in the Berlinale‘s competition next month. 

The honours for best newcomer actor went to Friedrich Mücke for his performance in Markus Goller‘s drama Friendship!, that was released by Sony Pictures Releasing on 14 January.

Katharina Schüttler was named best newcomer actress for her role as the daughter of a former terrorist in Susanne Schneider‘s drama The Day Will Come (Es Kommt Der Tag).

Barbara Sukowa bagged the best actress award for her portrayal of Hildegard von Bingen in Margarethe von Trotta‘s Vision while Mark Waschke took best actor for playing the lead role in Juraj Herz‘s second World War drama Habermann that also won best director.

Other films recognised include Vickie The Viking and Petra Seeger‘s In Search Of Memory that won the best documentary award.