Chloé Zhao will present the Berlinale Camera award to Max Richter at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival, highlighting their collaboration and Richter’s impact on contemporary scoring. This ceremony, a key event for the Chloé Zhao Berlin Film Festival connection, will take place on February 18 at Berlin’s Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
Max Richter’s Career and Berlin Festival Connection
Max Richter, a German-born British composer, is being recognized for a multifaceted career spanning both classical and electronic music. He is known for significant projects like Hamnet with Zhao, Waltz with Bashir, Mary Queen of Scots, HBO’s The Leftovers, and Ad Astra. The honoring event will be followed by a public panel discussion, drawing attention to Richter’s influence among composers at the global level.
Richter’s solo releases include the influential 2004 album The Blue Notebooks and the ambitious 8.5-hour composition Sleep, co-written with Yulia Mahr, which explores the intersection of sound and sleep. His newest album, In A Landscape, was made available in 2024, continuing his trend of blending genres and presenting unique musical experiences at the Berlin Film Festival.
Award Recognition and Lasting Impact
Richter’s contributions to film music have attracted widespread recognition.
“With over one billion streams and numerous awards — including the European Film Award for ‘Waltz with Bashir’ and a Grammy nomination for “Ad Astra,” Richter has left a lasting mark on contemporary film music,” the fest said in a statement.— Fest Statement
Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle commented:
“Max Richter is one of the great contemporary composers, and film fans can count themselves lucky that he has such a profound passion for cinema,”
Tricia Tuttle, Berlinale Director.
“His compositions for film are more than accompaniment; they are narratives that make the heart of a story audible and deepen and transform the cinematic language.”
— Tricia Tuttle, Berlinale Director
A History of Engagement with the Berlinale
Throughout his career, Richter has maintained notable ties with Berlin. In 2009, he served as a mentor at the Berlinale Talent Campus, now known as Berlinale Talents, supporting the next generation of composers and filmmakers. Most recently, he returned in 2024 for the premiere of Johan Renck’s science fiction film Spaceman starring Adam Sandler, which showcased one of his latest scores.
Looking Ahead to the 76th Berlin Film Festival
Other past recipients of the Berlinale Camera award include filmmakers Agnes Varda, Rainer Rother, Richard Linklater, and Edgar Reitz—placing Richter among notable names associated with the honor. The 76th edition of the Berlin Film Festival, which will run from February 12 to 22, is set to host the award ceremony and bring together figures from across the world of film and music.
