Wolfgang Kohlhaase, screenwriter, director and author, passed away on October 5 at the age of 91. Kohlhaase is one of the most important screenwriters in German film history. He wrote the books for „Ecke Schönhauser“, „Sommer vorm Balkon“, „Solo Sunny“ and „Ich war neunzehn“, among others. In the most successful cases, the author shows unvarnished authentic realities. According to the DEFA Foundation, Kohlhaase's screenplays are characterized by their closeness to life.

The author, who was born in East Berlin in 1931, has received numerous awards for his work, including the German Federal Cross of Merit, the German Film Award and the Golden Bear for his life's work.

Wolfgang Kohlhaase, who lived for many years with his wife, the former ballet dancer and choreographer Emöke Postenyi, in a small village near Bad Saarow, was a close friend of FILM WITHOUT BORDERS. He hardly missed a festival edition and was FILM OHNE GRENZEN's guest of honor in 2018. We will miss him very much!

Photo: Wolfgang Kohlhaase with his wife Emöke Postenyi at the 10th FILM WITHOUT BORDERS Festival

(c) Boris Trenkel for FILM OHNE GRENZEN