Two Grimme Awards for Productions Funded by the Film Foundation

On Friday, April 24, 2026, the Grimme Institute will present the 62nd Grimme Prize. Two productions funded by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW will be honored at the awards ceremony in Marl

The documentary “Petra Kelly – Act Now!” (Bildersturm Filmproduktion/Kimmel & Metz Filmproduktion for rbb/BR/RB/ARTE) by Doris Metz will receive a Grimme Prize in the Information & Culture category. The film was produced by Birgit Schulz, with Doris Metz serving as writer and director. Editors: Dagmar Mielke (rbb/ARTE), Jens Stubenrauch (rbb), Petra Felber (BR), Martin Kowalczyk (BR), Thomas von Bötticher (RB). It premiered on November 20, 2025, on ARTE. The production received 200,000 euros in funding from the Film and Media Foundation NRW.

The children’s and youth film “Greetings from Mars” (Leitwolf/Kinescope Film for NDR/hr/KiKA/MDR) is being honored in the Children & Youth category. It was directed by Sarah Winkenstette, with a screenplay by Sebastian Grusnick and Thomas Möller. The film was produced by Anette Unger and Sven Rudat. Editors: Holger Hermesmeyer (NDR), Patricia Vasapollo (hr), Stefan Pfäffle (KiKA). It premiered on December 26, 2025, on KiKA. The Film and Media Foundation NRW provided 280,000 euros in funding for the production.

Walid Nakschbandi, Executive Director of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW: “We are very pleased about the two Grimme Awards for ‘Petra Kelly – Act Now!’ and ‘Greetings from Mars.’ These awards demonstrate just how diverse and impactful productions funded by the Film and Media Foundation NRW can be—ranging from a compelling exploration of a influential political figure to a clever and touching film for young audiences. Our congratulations and thanks go to everyone involved, both in front of and behind the camera, as well as to our broadcast partners.”

Several productions funded by the Film Foundation were nominated for the Grimme Prize this year. The Grimme Prize, a seal of quality for journalistic and creative excellence in television and audiovisual media, has been awarded annually since 1964 in Marl, North Rhine-Westphalia. The Grimme Prize was established in 1961 on the initiative of Bert Donnepp of the German Adult Education Association and is still considered one of the most prestigious awards in television and the German-speaking world.

The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW has been a shareholder of the Grimme Institute since 2006 and shares with its long-standing partner the common goal of supporting innovative and high-quality media productions.

For more information, visit www.filmstiftung.de, Instagram, and LinkedIn, as well as www.grimme-preis.de