Acknowledging Honorary Award bestowed upon Edgar Reitz at Ludwigshafen Film Festival

In the picturesque setting of an island in the Rhine, on the border with Baden-Württemberg, the German Film Festival in Ludwigshafen, known as an ideas hub and a significant industry meeting point, is currently underway. This year, the festival is paying tribute to one of the most significant German filmmakers of the post-war era, Edgar Reitz.

Reitz, who turned 92 this year, was born in Morbach, a town in Hunsrück. He is renowned for his groundbreaking work, the "Heimat" cycle, a multi-generational family saga spanning an entire century of German history. This epic series has earned him worldwide recognition.

The festival's most important productions in recent years involve Reitz, including the gala screening of his current film "Leibniz – Chronik eines verschollenen Bildes," for which he received an honorary award in 2025. The screening of this film is a highlight of this year's festival, running until September 7.

The festival director, Michael Koetz, delivered the laudation for Reitz. The honor was presented at a gala presentation of his new film "Leibniz - Chronicle of a Lost Image." The German Film Festival is paying tribute to Reitz's lifetime achievement, which spans over 50 years.

The German Film Festival in Ludwigshafen boasts thousands of seats in tent cinemas and an open-air cinema. Last year, over 120,000 people attended the festival, making it the second most visited German film festival after the Berlinale, according to the organizers.

Edgar Reitz is also known for his acclaimed film "Heimat," a work that continues to resonate with audiences. The festival is a fitting platform to celebrate his contributions to German cinema and to inspire future filmmakers.