German World Magazine / Spring 2016 by German World Magazine

GW SPRING 2016

GERMAN WORLD

BILINGUAL MAGAZINE

CAREERS

Apprenticeships on the Rise in America

CULINARY

Germany’s Purity Law for Beer Turns 500!

Ernste Zwischentöne inmitten des Oscar-Jubels

Leonardo DiCaprio

Winning Big With a Social Conscience

$3.50 / ISSUE | $12.95 / YEAR (USA)

ISBN 1558-7568

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 1

YOUR SOURCE OF GERMAN-AMERICAN NEWS IN THE US

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Germany has become more colorful

Liebe Leser,

Dear Reader,

zur Osterzeit hatte ich dieses Jahr Gelegenheit, Familie und Freunde in Deutschland und Österreich zu besuchen. Da ich immer mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln reise, war mir angesichts der Pressemeldungen in den letzten Monaten, die von katastrophalen Zuständen in den Städten aufgrund des Flüchtlingszustroms berichteten, etwas mulmig. Einige meiner deutschen Freunde sprachen sogar von der Angst vor Überfremdung.

During the Easter Holidays, I had the opportunity to visit family and friends in Germany. Since I always travel by public transportation, I felt a bit uneasy due to reports in the press about chaotic conditions in Germany’s streets due to the enormous influx of refugees. Some of my German friends had even mentioned that they felt alienated from their own country.

Und hier war ich nun in Berlin, wo angeblich die Zustände am schlimmsten sein sollten. Ich war vier Tage lang mit S- und U-Bahn in der Stadt unterwegs und sah weder eine große Anzahl Flüchtlingsfamilien noch fühlte ich mich bedroht. Ich flog nach Salzburg, sprach dort mit einem Taxifahrer, wie denn die Situation in puncto Flüchtlinge sei. Es sei sehr schlimm in den Wintermonaten gewesen, so der Salzburger, aber mittlerweile hätte man die Flüchtlinge im Land verteilt und Unterbringungen für sie gefunden. Es wäre aber gut gewesen, dass Österreich eine Aufnahmeobergrenze eingeführt hätte, äußerte er weiter, sonst wäre man der Lage rein logistisch nicht mehr Herr geworden. Zurück in Deutschand nahm ich die Regionalbahn von Göppingen nach Stuttgart. Der Zug war übervoll, es war das Ende des langen Osterwochenendes, und etwas 20 Prozent der Reisenden hatten eine Migrationshintergrund, wie es so schön politisch-korrekt in der deutschen Presse heißt. Beim Umsteigen an den Hauptbahnhöfen Stuttgart und Dortmund sah ich ein paar Sicherheitsbeamte mehr als sonst und war angesichts der Bombenanschläge in Brüssel dankbar dafür. Deutschland ist definitiv bunter geworden, doch ich fühlte mich eher an das abwechslungsreiche Straßenbild meiner Wahlheimat Los Angeles erinnert, als dass ich mich als Deutsche überfremdet gefühlt hätte. Die Zuwanderung von hauptsächlich jungen oder allein reisenden moslemischen Männern ist sicherlich eine große Herausforderung für die deutsche Bevölkerung und die Behörden, besonders auf Kommunalebene, wo das Geld oft fehlt. Und es kommen nicht nur die netten, angenehmen Immigranten. Doch sollte man sich gerade in dieser Zeit an christliche Werte erinnern und das Helfen von Menschen in der Not in den Vordergrund stellen. Die revolutionäre Geste von Papst Franziskus am Gründonnerstag, als er bei der traditionellen Fußwaschung Menschen verschiedenster Herkunft die Füße wusch und küsste, setzt das richtige Zeichen. Toleranz und Respekt vor der Andersartigkeit des anderen muss oberstes Gebot sein!

Deutschland ist bunter geworden

And here I was in Berlin where the situation was supposedly the worst. For four days, I traveled all over the city taking the subway or the SBahn. I neither saw a considerable number of refugee families nor did I feel threatened. I flew to Salzburg and asked my taxi driver what the current situation in terms of refugees was. He mentioned that it had been pretty bad during the winter months, but more recently it had been possible to find accommodations for most refugees in various parts of the country. In his opinion, he added, it was the right decision to limit the number of refugee admissions since Austria would not have been able to manage the situation logistically. Back in Germany, I had to take a regional train from von Göppingen to Stuttgart. The train was crowded due to the end of the long Easter weekend and about 20 percent of the travelers apparently had a “migratory background,” the politically correct term for people from refugee countries. When changing trains in Stuttgart and Dortmund, I saw a considerable number of heavily armed police officers and additional security personnel at the train stations, a sight for which I was very grateful considering the recent bomb attacks in Brussels. Germany has certainly become more colorful but I was more reminded of the diverse street scenes in my adopted home of Los Angeles than feeling like a foreigner in my own home country. The influx of predominantly male, single Muslim migrants is definitively a big challenge for the German public and the administration, especially on the community level, which often lacks the necessary funds to handle the situation appropriately. On the other hand, it is not only the nice, good-natured immigrants who have arrived in Europe. However, in those times, we should remind ourselves first and foremost of Christian values and make giving a helping hand to people in distress the top priority. The revolutionary gesture of Pope Francis on Maundy Thursday, when he washed and kissed the feet of people from various ethnic backgrounds during the traditional Holy foot washing ritual, sets the right tone. Tolerance and respect for other ethnicities has to come first.

Um Respekt vor unserer Umwelt geht es dem deutsch-amerikanischen Schauspieler und frischgebackenen Oscar-Preisträger Leonardo DiCaprio. Mehr darüber und über die Forderung nach mehr ethnischer Vielfalt bei den Oscars lesen Sie in unserer Titelgeschichte.

Respect for nature and the environment is the main concern of Leonardo DiCaprio, the German-American actor and recent Oscar winner. You’ll read more about him and about the topic of increasing ethnic diversity at the Oscars in our cover story.

Herzlichst

Cordially,

Petra Schürmann Herausgeberin

Petra Schürmann Publisher SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 3

ContENTS m

COVER STORY 15 -18 Leonardo DiCaprio Winning Big and Keeping Social Issues Front AND Center Oscar-Jubel mit ernsten Zwischentönen

Behind the Scenes of Hollywood’s Award Shows

CURRENTS

8 - 9, 11-13 In Brief: News from Germany

BUSINESS Unique hotels in Switzerland.

REGULARS

39 Legal Tips

10 14 26 - 28

Volkswagen: Are the Days of the German Carmaker Numbered in the U.S.? The “WirtschaftsOskar”: The Austrian Trade Commission in L. A. Honors Successful Companies in the U.S. The Skills Initiative: Can the German-Style Apprenticeship Save the American Middle Class?

CULTURE & HERITAGE

40 - 44 Spotlight on San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas 45 - 49 German TV in the U.S.

20 - 21 22 - 23 24 - 25 32 - 33 38

Germany in Your Area The Miracle of Kallstadt: The Town with the Billionaire Gene Language & Entertainment News News from the Culinary Scene Book Tip

TRAVEL

34 - 37 Tracing Easter Traditions in Germany Sleeping Like a Log in Switzerland Condor Turns 60!

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Cover: Leonardo DiCaprio at the 88th Academy Awards in L.A., winning his first Oscar. Photo: © A.M.P.A.S.

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Editorial Staff m

SENIOR editor

ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN

ENTERTAINMENT

translation

Jenny Peters

Anna-Maria Furlong

Katja Lau

Ida Sophie Winter

Jenny has covered the entertainment, lifestyle and travel worlds as a freelance journalist since 1989, with credits including Variety, USA Today Weekend, the Los Angeles Daily News, Scholastic, Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle and many other domestic and international outlets. She was the Editor in Chief of both Brentwood and Scene magazines and is a voting member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

Anna was born and raised in GarmischPartenkirchen, Germany, and studied architecture/graphic design in Munich. After moving to the U.S. in 1988, she left her “prints” behind in Arizona, Washington, D.C., Nebraska and Missouri. Since 1998 she lives in the southwestern Texas desert. She specializes in culture communication and multi-language publications.

Katja began her journalism career in 1994 as a freelance reporter for various local radio and television stations; in 1997 she moved to Los Angeles. She currently produces TV shows and documentaries for the European market. She also produces live feeds from California for the German news station N24.

Sophie is majoring in Journalism, French and International Studies at the Missouri School of Journalism. She has contributed to Al-Fanar Media and NOW Lebanon as well as well as to German World Magazine. In addition, she works with the MoroccanAmerican High Atlas Foundation toward sustainable agriculture in Morocco.

Contributorsm

Brian Austin

Alexander Hast

Svetlana Azurmayan

Brian Austin is a first-time contributor to German World Magazine. Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Brian works as a leasing and financial-service consultant for major companies in the D.C. area. For German World, Brian visited the exhibit “Homestory Deutschland” at Howard University in Washington D.C. in March. As a Howard University alumnus and an African American, he brings new, interesting perspectives to our publication.

Starting out as a journalist in 1982 in Germany, Alexander was trained in photography, editing and reporting for print, TV and radio. He worked for SWF, Rhein-Zeitung, Stern, Spiegel, Südwest-film, Infosat and many others. He moved to Los Angeles in 1997 where he lives today with his family. Alexander is the cofounder of German-World.com Inc. and has his own company AHA Media, a website and eMarketing consulting business. For this issue, he reports about the 2016 GAMGA Gala in Las Vegas.

Svetlana Arzumanyan is a first-time contributor to German World Magazine. Born in Yerevan, Armenia, and raised in Berlin, Germany, Svetlana has a degree in International Business Administration focusing on marketing and accounting. As an intern with German World Magazine, Svetlana attended several events in Los Angeles and contributed to the Spotlight section of this issue. When returning to Berlin, she will continue to represent German World at various events and bring us some first-hand accounts from Germany´s capital.

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IN BRIEF

n President Obama to

n German

Open Hannover Messe in April

Billionaire Funds Scholarships for Children of U.S. Veterans

.S. President Barack Obama who visited Germany last in June 2015 for the G7 Summit announced that he would make his fifth trip to Germany in April of this year on the occasion of the opening the annual Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade fair. This year, the U.S. is the partner country of the 2016 fair, a decision that was made based on the strong industrial and manufacturing ties between the U.S. and Germany. President Obama is the first sitting president to attend the trade fair. The Hannover Trade Fair has been an integral part of international industry since 1947. Over 200,000 visitors attend the Hannover Messe every year, 30 percent from outside of Germany. In addition, 6,500 exhibitors show off their latest innovations at the fair. According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, “President Obama’s visit presents a unique opportunity to showcase American innovation and ingenuity and to highlight the United States as a prime investment destination.” Dr. Jochen Köckler, member of the Board of Deutsche Messe AG who helped ensure the U.S. role as partner country, said: “In the midst of its reindustrialization the United States has become a very attractive business partner for industry,” he said. “For German machinery and plant manufacturers, the USA is once again the number one market.” The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will also be a focus of the President’s visit to Germany. The Hannover Trade Fair is just a further example of the strong transatlantic trade bonds that already exist, and that could be strengthened by more relaxed trade regulations. Last year alone, Germany and the U.S. traded goods valued at over 140 billion dollars. ¦ Source: © German Information Center – www.germany.info

| KURZNACHRICHTEN

ccording to the Washington Post, Capri Sun billionaire Hans-Peter Wild, who grew up in Heidelberg during and after World War II, wanted to show his appreciation for U.S. troops liberating Germany from Nazi rule and for what they did for Germany after the war. “The American military saved Germany from the Nazis,” Wild told the Post recently. He said he believes that Germany owes a debt of gratitude to U.S. troops for their sacrifices, which brought prosperity and peace to Germany. So he decided to help the children of military veterans, as the newspaper reports. “As an expression of his continuing gratitude, Wild has given $16.5 million to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, that provides educational financial support for the children of Marine and Navy veterans. Wild’s gift, the largest ever for the foundation, will benefit 3,000 scholarship recipients during the coming decade,” said the group’s president, Margaret Davis. ¦

n Best Countries Report

Germany Ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report

or the first time ever, U.S. News & World Report has released its Best Countries Report at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The inaugural ranking has placed Germany in the top spot followed by Canada, the United Kingdom and the U.S. The report, which was prepared in collaboration with BAV Consulting and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, looked at a variety of factors, including gender equality, soft power, cultural influence, and entrepreneurship to come up with the complete list. A total of 60 countries were evaluated in the report. Germany’s cultural heritage, political influence, and economic clout helped to bring it to the top of the list. Germany’s finely tuned business system is part of what makes it the best country in the world, according to the WEF. Germany has been the economic engine that has driven Europe over the past few years, consistently posting steady annual growth and low unemployment. Germany received full marks in entrepreneurship, due in large part to it’s high tech infrastructure and innovation. Skills training also helped ranked Germany number one in entrepreneurship. Germany’s dual training system, which couples classroom education with on-the-job-training, is world renowned.Germany scored 9.8 for its educated population and 9.6 for its skill labor force. Germany’s strong international alliances have made it politically powerful. In the Best Countries Report, Germany is ranked fourth in terms of global power. One of its greatest assets, the report says, is its leader, Chancellor Angela Merkel. A Gallup Poll conducted in the summer revealed that Germany’s leader is on par with the US president in terms of global popularity. In June of 2015, 41 percent of people in 135 countries approved of Chancellor Merkel’s job performance. ¦ Source: © German Information Center – www.germany.info

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 7

IN BRIEF

| KURZNACHRICHTEN

n German Team

News from Germany provided by the German Information Center (GIC)

team of biologists at the Heinrich Pette Institute (HPI) in Hamburg made a huge medical breakthrough in the treatment of HIV this week. Using genetic therapy, the team was able to successfully splice a gene into cells extracted from HIV positive patients which eradicated the virus from the system. Right now, most HIV positive patients are being treated based on their symptoms, while the root cause, the virus, is ignored. HIV and AIDS treatments are light years ahead of where they were ten years ago, but without removing the virus, the illness is still there. HPI’s proposed genetic treatment could finally lead to a cure to this horrible disease.

Works Towards HIV Cure

n In Memoriam:

Guido Westerwelle (= March 18, 2016)

n an official statement, Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier expressed his condolences on March 18 on the death of his predecessor Guido Westerwelle:

The full article can be found on www.germany.info

“The death of Guido Westerwelle fills us with profound grief. Today, we have lost someone who, for a whole generation, shaped our country – as Chairman of the FDP, as leader of the opposition and then as Foreign Minister. Guido Westerwelle was a politician with heart and soul. He never shield away when the going got tough, remaining true to his convictions even in difficult times. … Guido Westerwelle stands for an open-minded, liberal Germany that is firmly anchored in the international community. Through his efforts in the service of a peaceful and civil Germany and Europe, he proved himself to be a true patriot.

n Travel Changes in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and ESTA

Guido Westerwelle was always a fighter – even in his last fight, which he has lost today. He gave a great many people courage and strength by allowing the public to share in that struggle. My thoughts and condolences are with his husband Michael Mronz and all his loved ones. … We, and all of Germany, shall miss Guido Westerwelle.”

Please check the website of the German Federal Foreign Office to learn more about the recent changes to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and ESTA. www.auswaertiges-amt.de

Excerpts from the official statement published by ©Germany.info

n Sports

Dirk Nowitzki Reaches New Milestone

irk Nowitzki, Germany’s most famous basketball star, reached 29,008 points in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in March 2016. Nowitzki is only the sixth player in NBA history to reach the 29,000 point mark, putting him among such superstars as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordon. This wasn’t only a career milestone for the German giant, but also a much needed win for the Mavericks after a five-game losing streak. Nowitzki, who is notoriously humble, told reporters after the game that he was more concerned about team morale and the season than about his new record.

Stay Tuned with “Deutschland-Nachrichten” and “This week in Germany” The German-language newsletter “DeutschlandNachrichten” published by the GIC delivers the news from Germany to your inbox every Monday. If you are a German living in America or an American who wants to keep up with Germany and practice your German, sign up for the “Deutschland-Nachrichten” to stay in touch. www.germany.info

8 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

Even after 18 seasons as the leading man on the Dallas Mavericks, Nowitzki is still the lifeblood of the team. Retirement rumors have been swirling around all season long, especially with the retirement of the NBA’s other superstar, Kobe Bryant. However, it seems as though the Mavericks organization are ready to keep the German giant around as long as he is willing to play. ¦ The full article can be found on www.germany.info

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 9

BUSINESS

| WIRTSCHAFT

n NEUES VON VOLKSWAGEN

n THE LATEST ON VOLKSWAGEN

Sind die Tage des deutsche Autobauers auf dem US-Markt gezählt?

Could the days of the German carmaker be numbered on the U.S. Market?

emäß eines Artikels, der am 18. März bei Deutsche Welle auf ww.dw.com erschien, ringt Volkswagen derzeit mit den USBehörden um eine Lösung im Diesel-Skandal. Die US-Behörden gehen hart gegen die Deutschen vor. Mehr als 40 Milliarden Dollar Strafe drohen dem Konzern in den USA im schlimmsten Fall. Volkswagen hat in den USA seit Jahren einen Marktanteil von rund zwei Prozent. Angesichts der schwachen Zahlen spekulierten Beobachter schon 2007, ob die Deutschen möglicherweise aufgeben könnten. Neben General Motors und Ford sind es vor allem japanische Hersteller wie Honda oder Toyota, die den Markt dominieren. Jedoch sollten die amerikanischen Politiker ein Interesse daran haben, die Deutschen am Markt zu halten. Denn seit wenigen Jahren betreibt der Autobauer in Chattanooga im US-Bundestaat Tennessee wieder ein eigenes Werk, in dem neben dem Passat schon bald ein SUV vom Band rollen soll. Der Bau war mit Millionen von amerikanischen Steuergeldern unterstützt worden. Hinzu kommt ein riesiges Netz an VW-Händlern. Und auch für die Deutschen selbst wäre es unklug, den US-Markt wegen der laufenden Probleme zu verlassen. Die USA sind einer der größten Automärkte der Welt, allein dieses Jahr sollen mehr als 16 Millionen Fahrzeuge verkauft werden. Dass die Wolfsburger die Krise hinter sich lassen und weiterhin Teil des US-Geschäfts sein werden, daran haben Experten keinen Zweifel. Volkswagen sei nach wie vor eines der erfolgreichsten Unternehmen der Welt und habe das nötige Kapital, eine saftige Strafe zu verkraften, so Peter Henning, Rechtsprofessor an der Wayne State Universität in Detroit und Experte für Wirtschaftskriminalität. Dass das zu schaffen ist, hat die Konkurrenz in den vergangenen Jahren gezeigt. Erst im vergangenen Jahr musste der USAutobauer General Motors fast eine Milliarde Dollar zahlen, weil zahlreiche Modelle Probleme mit der Zündung hatten. In Unfällen waren dutzende Fahrer gestorben. Auch der japanische Hersteller Toyota war auf dem amerikanischen Markt ins Straucheln geraten, nachdem es wiederholt zu Fällen gekommen war, in denen die Wagen ohne Zutun des Fahrers plötzlich beschleunigten. Die Kunden habe das nicht lange davon abgehalten, die Marken zu kaufen, sagt Peter Henning. ¦

ccording to a recent report by Deutsche Welle, Volkwagen is currently struggling with US authorities for a solution to the emissions scandal. US authorities have been striking a tough course against the German auto maker, threatening more than $40 billion (35.4 billion euro) in penalties. For years, Volkswagen has held onto a US market share around two percent, towered over by carmakers both domestic, such as General Motors and Ford, and Japanese carmakers, namely Toyota and Honda. Observers have speculated since 2007 that the Germans may pack their bags and leave. However, it would be in the interest of American politicians to keep the Germans in the game. Not long ago, Volkswagen opened up a manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where its Passat vehicles and soon its SUVs roll off the assembly line. The construction was supported by millions of US taxpayer dollars and is staffed by thousands. On top of this is a giant network of VW sellers spanning the country. The loss of jobs that would result from VW pulling away would be “devastating,” said Peter DeLorenzo, a veteran of the industry and a well-known car blogger. And it would be unwise as well for the Germans to exit the US market because of the present problems. The US has one of the world’s largest car markets, in which more than 16 million vehicles have been sold in this year alone. Experts have no doubt that Volkswagen will move beyond the crisis and continue their US operations. According to Peter Henning, law professor at Wayne State University in Detroit and an expert of white collar crime, the company remains one of the most successful companies in the world and possesses the necessary capital to cope with impending penalties, however steep. Its competition has proved in recent years that this is possible. General Motors was slapped with a penalty of almost a billion dollars for selling a number of models with ignition flaws that killed dozens of drivers. Toyota too ran into trouble with the US authorities, after it came to light its vehicles accelerated on their own. But not long after, customers continue to buy the brands, said Henning. ¦ Source: Deutsche Welle - www.dw.com

Lesen Sie auch auf www.dw.com | Kommentar: VW-Skandal: Wo bleibt die Aufklärung? Immer neue Klagen, immer neue Puzzlesteine im VW-Abgasskandal, aber nichts wirklich konkretes. Der Konzern muss endlich offensiv aufklären, sonst ist er verloren, meint Korrespondent Henrik Böhme. (18.03.2016) 10 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

500 Years Purity Law

IN BRIEF

23. April 2016 500 Jahre Reinheitsgebot

m April 1516 trat der Bayerische Landständetag unter Vorsitz von Herzog Wilhelm IV. in Ingolstadt zusammen und billigte eine vom Herzog vorgelegte Vorschrift - und machte sie damit für ganz Bayern verbindlich - dass zur Herstellung des Bieres nur Gerste, Hopfen und Wasser verwendet werden dürften. Die Klarstellung, dass es sich um Gerstenmalz zu handeln habe, wurde später eingefügt. Von der Rolle der Hefe wusste man noch nichts. Dennoch ist der Grundtext kontinuierlich in neueren Gesetze fortgeschrieben worden. Deutsches Bier muss in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland laut Gesetz auch heute noch ausschließlich aus Malz, Hopfen, Hefe und Wasser hergestellt werden. Damit ist das Reinheitsgebot von 1516 die älteste, noch heute gültige Lebensmittelgesetzgebung der Welt! Mit dieser Vorschrift wurde Verfälschungen vorgebeugt, vor allem aber chemische oder andere Zusätze ausgeschlossen. Denn bevor man Hopfen zur Konservierung und als Aromaspender in der Bierbrauerei einsetzte, wurden alle möglichen anderen Kräuter zum Würzen verwendet. Manche davon waren ausgesprochen giftig und geeignet, Halluzinationen bei den Biertrinkern zu erzeugen. Beliebte Zugaben waren Ochsengalle, Wacholder, Anis, Lorbeer, Schafgarbe, Stechapfel, Enzian, Johanniskraut, Fichtenspäne, Kiefernwurzeln, vor allem aber auch Bilsenkraut. ¦ Mehr Informationen unter www.reinheitsgebot.de

April 23, 2016 Marking 500 Years of the Purity Law

n April 1516, the Bavarian Estates, led by Duke William IV, met in Ingolstadt and approved the duke’s regulation to allow use of only barley, hops and water in beer manufacturing across Bavaria, and edict that became known as the Purity Law. Barley malt was specified in a later clarification. No one knew anything about the role of yeast then. The original text, in updated form, continuously appears in newer laws whose effective scope keeps growing. In the Federal Republic of Germany, German beer must still be made only from malt, hops, yeast and water, according to law. This makes the Purity Law of 1516 the oldest still-standing food regulation in the world! The regulation prevented adulterations, especially those with chemical or other additions. This is because in the time before beer brewers began using hops to preserve and add aroma, every other type of herb was used for seasoning. Some of them were extremely poisonous and led to hallucinations during beer drinking. What sorts of things were included? Imagine oxgall, juniper, anise, bay leaves, yarrow, thorn apple, gentian, St. John’s wort, spruce chips, pine roots and even henbane. The Purity Law of 1516 has not lost any relevance today. In a time when other foods often make negative headlines, the law continues to guarantee effective consumer protection: German beer will never include any artificial aromas or added ingredients – only malt, hops, yeast and water. ¦

More information at www.reinheitsgebot.de SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 11

IN BRIEF

Film Scene Germany

n Hail, Berlinale 2016!

n Berlinale 2016

Germany’s top international film festival kicked off with Hollywood A-Listers George Clooney, Kirsten Dunst, and Meryl Streep

Deutschlands wichtigstes internationales Filmfestival mit mehr Starpower den je.

ach einem fulminanten Auftakt mit dem Eröffnungsfilm „Hail, Caesar!” in Anwesenheit der Regisseure Joel und Ethan Coen sowie der Hauptdarsteller George Clooney und Tilda Swinton ging es mit großem Staraufgebot weiter: Colin Firth, Kirsten Dunst, Jude Law, Julianne Moore, Tim Robbins, Isabelle Huppert, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, Doris Dörrie und Julia Jentsch gaben sich auf Berlin’s Rotem Teppich die Ehre. Julia Jentsch, unvergessen aus Marc Rothemunds „Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage”, ist die Hauptdarsteller in des zu Herzen gehenden Dramas „24 Wochen”. Großen Applaus gab es für Jury-Präsidentin Meryl Streep, die mit ihren Co-Juroren am 20. Februar die Hauptpreise des weltweit bedeutenden Filmfestivals vergab. Auch der Besucherandrang bei den 66. Internationalen Filmfestspielen Berlin war trotz des kalten Wetters ungebrochen. Zur Mitte des Festivals wurden knapp 250.000 Eintrittskarten verkauft. „Wir freuen uns sehr darüber, dass sich auch in diesem Jahr Tausende von Menschen aus Berlin und aus aller Welt bei uns auf eine filmische Entdeckungsreise begeben“, so Festivaldirektor Dieter Kosslick. Auch der Europäische FilmMarkt (EFM) der Berlinale war erneut auf Erfolgskurs. 2016 verzeichnete die internationale Plattform für den Handel mit Lizenzen und audiovisuellen Inhalten wachsende Besucher- und Ausstellerzahlen. ¦

he Berlinale 2016 Film Festival got off to a thundering start with the opening film “Hail, Caesar!” screened in the presence of writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen, as well as actors George Clooney and Tilda Swinton. The star-studded festival also attracted Colin Firth, Kirsten Dunst, Jude Law, Julianne Moore, Tim Robbins, Isabelle Huppert, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, Doris Dörrie and Julia Jentsch to its red-carpet galas. Julia Jentsch, well known from her portrayal of Sophie in Marc Rothemund’s “Sophie Scholl – The Final Days,” stars in the heartbreaking drama “24 Weeks.” The Berlinale 2016 Jury President was Meryl Streep, who along with her co-jurors chose the winners of this world-renowned festival. The flow of visitors to the 66th Berlin International Film Festival was unbroken, despite cold weather. At the festival’s midpoint, almost 250,000 entry tickets were sold. “We’re overjoyed that thousands of people from Berlin and from all over the world have come to us this year, to depart on a cinematic exploration adventure,” said festival director Dieter Kosslick. The Berlinale’s European Film Market (EFM) is also on the path to success. In 2016 the number of both visitors and exhibitors to this international platform for license and audiovisual content trading continues to grow. ¦

Source: IMH / International Medienhilfe - www.imh-service.de

12 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

Music Scene Germany

| IN BRIEF

n Helene Fischer

Ahead of Adele

A Russian-German is Germany’s Most Popular Singer By Björn Akstinat

n Helene Fischer

toppt Adele

Die Russlanddeutsche ist Deutschlands beliebteste Sängerin Von Björn Akstinat

(IMH) - Die 1984 in Krasnojarsk geborene Helene Fischer hat bereits mehrere Millionen Tonträger verkauft. Ihr neuestes Album “Weihnachten” war die erfolgreichste Musik-CD des Jahres 2015. Schon 2014 und 2013 kamen von ihr die meistverkauften Alben Deutschlands. Dreimal in Folge gelang das noch keinem anderen vor ihr. “Weihnachten” ist darüber hinaus das erste Weihnachtsalbum an der Jahresspitze. Helene Fischer liegt mit dieser CD in der Verkaufsstatistik weit vor ausländischen Interpreten wie Adele. Die Ausnahmesängerin wurde als zweites Kind des russlanddeutschen Ehepaares Maria und Peter Fischer in Sibirien geboren. Ihre Großeltern waren Deutschstämmige, die 1941 aus der autonomen deutschen Republik an der Wolga nach Sibirien deportiert worden waren. 1988 siedelten ihre Eltern mit ihr und ihrer Schwester nach Rheinland-Pfalz um. Schon früh nahm sie an der heimischen Realschule an Theater- und Musical-Arbeits-gemeinschaften teil. Nach dem Realschulabschluss im Jahr 2000 absolvierte Helene Fischer an einer Gesangsschule in Frankfurt/Main eine dreijährige Ausbildung, die sie 2003 beendete. Fischers Mutter schickte eine DemoCD mit ihrem Gesang an einen Künstlermanager. Dem gefiel, was er da hörte. So erhielt Helene einen Plattenvertrag. Ihren ersten Fernsehauftritt hatte sie 2005 in einer Volksmusiksendung. Helene Fischer ist nicht die erste berühmte Russlanddeutsche im Musikgeschäft. In den 80er und 90er Jahren stürmte bereits Jule Neigel aus Barnaul mit ihren Liedern (u.a. “Schatten an der Wand”) die deutsche Hitparade. ¦

(IMH) - Helene Fischer, born 1984 in Krasnoyarsk, has already sold millions of recordings. “Weihnachten” (Christmas)” her latest album, was 2015’s bestselling CD. Her albums already counted as Germany’s bestsellers in 2014 and 2013. No one else has been able to achieve this three times in a row, much less top the charts with an album released so soon before year’s end. Further, “Weihnachten” is the most popular Christmas album at the year’s peak, putting Helene Fischer far ahead of foreign ar-tists like Adele. The exceptional singer was born in Siberia as the second child of Russian-German couple Maria and Peter Fischer. Her grandparents, originally from Germany, were deported to Siberia by the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1941. Fischer’s parents moved her and her sister to the Rhineland in 1988. She began participating in the local technical school’s theater and music groups at an early age. After graduating in 2000, Helene Fischer trained at a singing school in Frankfurt Main for three years, completing her education in 2003. Fischer’s mother sent a demo CD of her singing to a talent manager. He liked what he heard, and Helene received a recording contract. She first appeared on TV in 2005 on a folk music channel. Helene Fischer isn’t the first famous Russian-German in the music business. In the 80s and 90s, Jule Neigel of Barnaul whirled onto the German charts with her songs including “Schatten an der Wand” (Shadow on the Wall). ¦

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 13

BUSINESS

WIRTSCHAFT

n WirtschaftsOskar 2016 Österreichische Unternehmen zeigen weiter Spitzenleistungen auf dem US-Markt

n US-A-Biz Award 2016 Austrian companies continue to excel in the U.S. Market

uch wenn Österreich dieses Jahr leider nicht im Rennen um den Oscar in Hollywood war, so haben doch heimische Unternehmen die Chance auf den WirtschaftsOskar 2016, der am 25. Februar bereits zum sechsten Mal vom AußenwirtschaftsCenter Los Angeles vergeben wurde. Die Spitzenleistungen österreichischer Unternehmen am US-Markt haben die USA erstmals zur zweitwichtigsten Exportdestination Österreichs gemacht. „Diese Hidden Champions sind der Öffentlichkeit meist unbekannt und sollen mit dem Award für Spitzenleistungen in den USA auf den roten Teppich geholt werden,” erklärt Rudolf Thaler, Wirtschaftsdelegierter in Los Angeles. Im Rennen um den WirtschaftsOskar 2016 waren acht Unternehmen in den Kategorien „Spektakuläres,”„Innovation” und „Marktdurchdringung”. In der Kategorie „Spekatakuläres” gewann Steyr Motors GmbH aus Oberösterreich und ließ den Skiausrüstungshersteller Head Sport GmbH aus Voralberg hinter sich. Steyr Motors war es nämlich trotz starker amerikanischer Konkurrenz gelungen, von der U.S. Navy den Auftrag zu bekommen, eine Flotte von 400 Patrouillebooten herzustellen. Den WirtschaftsOskar für „Innovation” sicherte sich die EV Group aus Oberösterreich, Marktführer für Präzisions-anlagen zur Bearbeitung von Substraten in der Halbleiterindustrie, Mikrosystemtechnik und Nanotechnologie.

ven though Austria unfortunately was not in the running for a film Oscar this year, Austrian enterprises doing business in the United States could still compete for the “WirtschaftsOskar 2016” (the “Business Oscar”), which was awarded for their 2015 successes by the Austrian Trade Commission Los Angeles. The excellent work of Austrian enterprises in the U.S. market has, for the first time ever, pushed the U.S.A. into second place for Austrian export destinations. “With this award, we wish to welcome Austrian companies that are successful in the United States onto the red carpet and put them into the media spotlight,” explained Rudolf Thaler, Austrian trade commissioner in Los Angeles. Eight enterprises competed for the US-A-Biz Award 2016 in the “Spectacular,”“Innovation” and “Market Penetration” categories. In the “Spectacular” category, Steyr Motors GmbH from Upper Austria triumphed over the ski equipment manufacturer Head Sport GmbH from Voralberg. In a truly spectacular fashion, Steyr Motors received a U.S. Navy contract to supply a fleet of over 400 patrol boats, despite fierce American competition. In the category “Innovation,” the EV Group from Upper Austria won the competition against the two Styrian companies: ams AG, a successful sensor technology manufacturer, and smaXtec animal care sales GmbH, the world leader of recording body data of dairy cows. EV Group is the market leader for precision facilities to process substrata of the semiconductor industry, microsystem technology and nanotechnology.

Der US-A-Biz Award im Bereich „Markt durchdrin- Consul General Ulrike Ritzinger (l.) and Rudolf Thaler (c.) congratulate the winner of the WirtschaftsThe US-A-Biz Award in gung” ging an die SkiOskar 2016, SKIDATA, represented by the Lester Mascon and Timothy Flanagan of Sentry Control Systems in California (2nd and 3rd f.l.). Other winners who attended the Oscar Viewing Party the category of “Market data AG aus Salzburg. were Bill Capaldi, Director of Customer Support of EV Group, and Dipl.-Ing. Michael Brandl, Penetration” went to SkiDie Firma ist die Nr.1 in Head of Sales and Marketing, STEYR MOTORS GmbH. data AG from Salzburg, a den USA für Zugangscompany that is Number 1 in the U.S.A. for access-control systems in systeme bei Flughäfen, NFL, NHL und NBA Sportsarenen, Parkgaragen airports, stadiums, parking garages and ski lift as well as in famous NFL, und Skiliften. Konkurrenten in dieser Kategorien waren Bachmann ElecNHL and NBA sports arenas. Competitors were Bachmann Electronic tronic GmbH, Hersteller von Steuerungen für Windenergieanlagen, GmbH, a manufacturer of company controls for wind-energy facilities, und Hans Künz GmbH, führerender Hersteller für schienengeand Hans Künz GmbH, the leading producer of rail-mounted contaibundene Containerkrane für Bahnterminals und Binnenhäfen. ner cranes for train terminals and inland ports. Der U.S. Markt wird auch weiter für österreichische Unternehmen The attractiveness of the U.S. market for Austrian businesses will conattraktiv bleiben und kleine sowie mittelständische Unternehmen tinue to increase in the coming years, and small- and medium-sized werden von dem Freihandelsabkommen TTIP profitieren. Doch der businesses will benefit from the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement. Schlüssel zum Erfolg allerdings, so Rudolf Thaler, liege darin, nie die The keys to continued success in America for Austrian companies, kulturellen Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Märkten zu vergeshowever, are taking the cultural differences into account, continusen. Auch ständige Innovation und ein hundertprozentiges Engageing to innovate and committing to the marketplace, according to ment seien für den Erfolg unerlässlich. Rudolf Thaler. Die Gewinner der österreichischen WirtschaftsOskars wurden am 28. The Austrian “Business Oscars” were presented to the winners at the Februar 2016 bei der traditionellen Oscar Viewing Party in der ResAcademy Awards Oscar Viewing Party held on February 28, 2016, idenz von Österreichs charmanter Generalkonsulin Ulrike Ritzinger in hosted by the charming Austrian Consul General Ulrike Ritzinger in Los Angeles geehrt. ¦ Los Angeles. ¦ 14 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

Oscar JUBEL mit ernsten ZwischentÃ&#x2013;nen LEONARDO DICAPRIO WINNING BIG AND KEEPING SOCIAL ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER

-------- By Jenny Peters --------

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 15

COVER STORY

TITELGESCHICHTE

Leonardo DiCaprio … … with Robert De Niro in his breakthrough film “This Boy’s Life” (1993)

… starring with Johnny Depp in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993)

… convincing in “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) … unforgettable in “Titanic” with Kate Winslet (1997)

ür Schauspieler und Umweltaktivist Leonardo DiCaprio war 2016 ein Jahr der Superlative, denn der deutsch-amerikanische Filmstar hat für seine Darstellung von Hugo Glass in dem brutalen Western „The Revenant” (Der Rückkehrer) eine Hollywood-Auszeichnung nach der anderen als „Bester Darsteller” geholt. Angefangen mit den Golden Globes und den Critics’ Choice Awards wurde er auch von der Screen Actors Guild (SAG) und der British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) ausgezeichnet und gewann schließlich, als krönenden Abschluss, noch den Oscar als „Bester Schauspieler” in einer Hauptrolle.

“Climate change is real. It is happening right now.… We need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.”

or actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio, 2016 has been a banner year. The German-American superstar swept through Hollywood’s awards season, scooping up trophy after trophy as best actor for his portrayal of the indomitable Hugo Glass in the brutal Western “The Revenant,” beginning with the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards, rolling straight through the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) prizes and finally culminating with the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

It’s been a great run for the 41-year-old thespian, whom I first interviewed as a slightly gawky 18-yearDer 41-Jährige, den ich 1993 für seine Rolle in „This old back in 1993 for “This Boy’s Life,” his big breakBoy’s Life” als damals noch leicht ungelenken 18-Jährithrough into film after spending his teenage years gen zum ersten Mal interviewte, kann auf eine sagendoing commercials and TV shows. Even then, Leo was hafte Karriere zurückblicken. Nachdem er als Teenager a studious, friendly person and he hasn’t changed all in Werbespots und Fernsehshows mitwirkte, kam mit – Leonardo DiCaprio that much since gaining massive wealth and world„This Boy’s Life” sein großer Durchbruch ins Filmgewide fame. That’s clearly a credit to his mother, Irmelin schäft. Schon damals war Leo ein hart arbeitender, Indenbirken DiCaprio, his date to most of the awards freundlicher Mensch. Daran hat sich auch nicht viel shows during his victory season. geändert, seit er zu großem Reichtum und Ruhm gekommen ist. Diesen Umstand hat er ganz klar seiner Mutter Irmelin Indenbirken DiCaprio “There’s one person I have to thank,” the actor said emotionally to her zu verdanken, die auch bei den meisten Preisverleihungen in diesem during his BAFTA acceptance speech in London in February. “I would siegreichen Jahr seine Begleitung war. not be standing up here if weren’t for this person. I didn’t grow up in a life of privilege. I grew up in a very rough neighborhood in East Los „Es gibt eine Person, der ich danken muss,” sagte der Schauspieler sichtAngeles and this woman drove me three hours a day to a different lich bewegt in seiner Dankesrede bei der BAFTA Preisverleihung im school to show me a different opportunity.” Februar in London zu ihr. „Ich würde hier nicht stehen, wenn es nicht diese Person in meinem Leben gegeben hätte. Ich bin nicht im ReichIrmelin, who was born in a World War II air-raid shelter in Germany in tum aufgewachsen, sondern in einem recht rauhen Stadtteil von Los 1943 during an Allied bombing raid, immigrated with her parents to Angeles. Und diese Frau hat jeden Tag eine Fahrt von drei Stunden auf New York in 1955 and eventually made her way to Hollywood, with sich genommen, um mich zu einer anderen Schule zu fahren und mir her college sweetheart, George DiCaprio (who is also the son of Gerdadurch ein anderes Leben zu ermöglichen.” man and Italian immigrants). The pair only stayed married for a short time, but both remained in Los Angeles and each had a strong influIrmelin, die 1943 inmitten des Zweiten Weltkrieges in einem Luftschutzence on Leonardo’s formative years, as he reminded the world while keller in Deutschland während eines Bombenangriffs der Alliierten accepting his SAG Award for Best Actor on January 30. “[Thanks to] my geboren wurde, wanderte mit ihren Eltern 1955 nach New York aus. parents. Thank you for listening to an overly ambitious, slightly annoySpäter zog sie dann mit ihrer College-Liebe, George DiCaprio, einem ing, 13-year-old kid, who wanted to go on auditions every day after Deutsch-Italiener, nach Hollywood. Das Paar war nur kurze Zeit verschool. I would not be standing here without you.” heiratet, aber beide blieben in Los Angeles und hatten einen starken Einfluss auf Leonardo DiCaprio, während er heranwuchs. Dies erwähnte DiCaprio wouldn’t have his social conscience without the influence of der Schauspieler auch in seiner Dankesrede bei den SAG Awards am 30. his parents, either. In 1998, the actor founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Januar: „Ein großes Dankeschön an meine Eltern. Vielen Dank, dass ihr Foundation (LDF), with the stated mission of “protecting the world’s einem dreizehnjährigen, überehrgeizigen und leicht nervigen Kind, das last wild places” by implementing “solutions that help restore balance jeden Tag nach der Schule zum Vorsprechen gehen wollte, Beachtung to threatened ecosystems.” The LDF has awarded more that $45 million geschenkt habt. Ohne euch würde ich hier heute nicht stehen.” in the ensuing years to over 65 organizations working towards protectOhne den Einfluss seiner Eltern hätte DiCaprio auch nicht sein soziales ing the planet and its inhabitants. Bewusstsein entwickelt. 1988 gründete der Schauspieler die Leonardo 16 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

COVER STORY

… accepting his first Oscar (2016)

… on the set with director Alejandro Iñárritu (2015)

DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) mit der Zielsetzung „die letzten ursprünglichen Regionen der Welt zu schützen”. Die LDF hat seither 45 Millionen US Dollar erhalten und damit mehr als 65 Organisationen unterstützt, die sich für den Umweltschutz einsetzen. Das erklärt auch, warum Leo in seiner Dankesrede bei der Oscar-Verleihung am 28. Februar in Hollywood einen leidenschaftlichen Appell für mehr Umweltbewusstsein an die Zuschauer richtete und sagte: „In dem Film„Der Rückkehrer” geht es vor allem um das Verhältnis des Menschen zur Umwelt. Und gerade 2015, als wir den Film drehten, haben wir als das wärmste Jahr in der Geschichte empfunden. Unser Produktionsteam musste an den südlichsten Zipfel der Erde reisen, um noch ausreichend verschneite Landschaften zu finden. Die Klimaerwärmung ist eine Tatsache. Sie passiert in diesem Moment. Es ist die derzeitige, größte Bedrohung für die Menschheit. Wir müssen gemeinsam an einer Problemlösung arbeiten und dürfen dies nicht weiter aufschieben.” Mit dieser Rede, der besten des Abends (in voller Länge nachzulesen auf www.german-world.com), sowie des folgenden Oscar-Gewinns von „Spotlight” für den besten Film ging eine Oscar-Show zu Ende, die in diesem Jahr sozialkritischen Filmen viel Bedeutung geschenkt hatte: „Raum”, ein Film über sexuellen Missbrauch, „Das dänische Mädchen”, das trans- und homosexuelle Themen aufgreift, „Der Jagdgrund”, der die Vergewaltigungsdelikte in Amerika zum Thema macht, und „Spotlight”, ein Film über Kindesmissbrauch in der Katholischen Kirche in Boston. Allerdings hatte die diesjährige Oscar-Verleihung schon seit Bekanntgabe der Nominierten gesellschaftskritische Diskussionen ausgelöst. Es ist das zweite Jahr in Folge, in dem jede Person, die für einen der 20 Oscars nominiert wurde, weiß ist. Die öffentliche Empörung und die Kontroversen, die angesichts dieser Tatsache laut wurden, warfen ein ganz eigenes Licht auf die Academy. Denn, obwohl die Vorsitzende der Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, selbst eine Schwarze ist, so waren gerade Schwarze, Latinos und Frauen schmerzlich unterrepräsentiert, und zwar unter den Mitgliedern der Academy sowie auch unter den Schauspielern, denen die anspruchsvollen Rollen angeboten werden. Tatsache ist, dass 91 Prozent der stimmberechtigten Mitglieder der Academy weiß sind, und 76 Prozent männlich. Schwarze, Asiaten und Latinos beider Geschlechter machen jeweils nur drei Prozent aus.

F E AT U R E D . . . .

… with his close friend Kate Winslet at the Golden Globes (2016)

Which helps explain his impassioned plea for environmental responsibility during his Best Actor Oscar-winning speech at the 88th Academy Awards on February 28 in Hollywood, when he said, “Making “The Revenant” was about man’s relationship to the natural world, a world that we collectively felt in 2015 as the hottest year in recorded history. Our production needed to move to the southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow. Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.” That best-of-the-night speech (read in full on www.german-world. com) and the following Best Picture Award for “Spotlight” capped off a thought-provoking Oscar show that was fraught with social significance, including the themes of many nominated films: “Room,” which addressed sexual abuse, “The Danish Girl,” highlighting transgender/ homosexual issues, “The Hunting Ground,” investigating America’s rape culture, and “Spotlight” which chronicles the molestation of children by Catholic priests in Boston. The social impact of the Oscars this year actually began with the nominations. For the second year in a row, every person nominated for an acting award – 20 in all – was white, prompting the widespread use of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite across social media. That outcry and controversy put its own spotlight on the Academy. For despite the fact that Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs is a black woman, both blacks and women (as well as Latinos and Asians) are woefully underrepresented in both Academy membership and among the cast and crews of most Hollywood films. In fact, the people who currently vote to give the Oscars are 91 percent white and 76 percent male, with blacks, Asians and Latinos of either sex accounting for only about 3 percent each. Hollywood’s history began in the early 1900s and was shaped by Northern Europeans like Carl Laemmle, the German immigrant who founded Universal Studios in 1915, and the four Polish Warner brothers (born: Wonskolaser). A wave of male European Jews escaping the Nazi regime, such as Billy Wilder, came along in the 1930s and 1940s; later, in the 1950s, as television joined the film community, it was also dominated by white males.

… in his Oscar-winning role as Hugo Glass in “The Revenant” (2015)

TITELGESCHICHTE

Leo’s Acceptance Speech - Now on www.German-World.com Leonardo DiCaprio did not only win the Oscar for Best Actor, he arguably also gave the best speech at this year’s Oscar award show. Read it in full on German World’s website. www.german-world.com -> Featured. SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 17

COVER STORY

TITELGESCHICHTE

…. and now. At the Oscar’s in Leonardo 2016. DiCaprio …

… meeting Pope Francis in January 2016.

… with his mother Irmelin then (1993)

Die Geschichte Hollywoods begann Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts und wurde von Nordeuropäern wie Carl Lämmle, einem deutschen Einwanderer, der 1915 die Universal Studios in Hollywood eröffnete, und von polnischen Einwanderen wie den vier Warner Brüdern (Geburtsname: Wonskolaser) nachhaltig geprägt. Es folgte eine Welle männlicher, jüdischer Europäer, wie Billy Wilder, die in den 1930er und 1940er Jahren vor dem Nazi Regime flohen. Und auch als mit Fernsehproduktionen in den 50er Jahren begonnen wurde, dominierten auch in diesem Bereich weiße, männliche Akteure.

… speaking at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Leonardo DiCaprio pledges $7 Million towards ocean conservation projects Photo: Courtesy ©Inhabitat.com

Aber wir schreiben heute 2016, Jahrzehnte nach den Menschenrechtsbewegungen und dem Kampf für die Gleichstellung der Frau - eine moderne Zeit in Amerika, in der jeder, ungeachtet seiner Hautfarbe, seine Geschlechts die gleichen Chancen auf Erfolg haben sollte. Aber wie die Statistiken beweisen, ist Hollywood davon noch weit entfernt. Eine Studie der Universität von Südkalifornien, die kurz vor den Oscars veröffentlicht wurde, ergab, dass Frauen, Minderheiten und Homosexuelle in der Film- und Fernsehindustrie chronisch unterrepräsentiert sind. Regisseure sind zu 87 Prozent weiss und bei nur 3,4 Prozent der 109 Filme, die 2014 produziert wurden, führten Frauen Regie. Nur 28 Prozent der Sprechrollen wurden mit Schauspielern besetzt, die Minderheiten repräsentieren, und nur ein Drittel waren Frauen.

Ironischerweise gewann der Mexikaner Alejandro Iñárritu für „Der Rückkehrer” den Oscar für die beste Regie, sein zweiter Oscar in Folge. In seiner Ansprache machte er auf das Ungleichgewicht in Hollywood aufmerksam und sagte: „Ich habe viel Glück gehabt, heute hier zu stehen; viele andere hatten leider nicht dasselbe Glück. In meinem Film sagt Hugo Glass zu seinem Mischlingssohn ‘Sie hören Dir nicht zu, sie sehen nur die Farbe Deiner Haut.’ Was für eine wunderbare Gelegenheit unsere Generation jedoch heute hat, sich wirklich von allen Vorurteilen zu befreien, damit die Farbe der Haut bald so unwichtig ist wie die Länge unserer Haare.” ¦

A b o ut t h e A ut h o r

…. with his father George DiCaprio.

But this is 2016, decades after the civil rights movement and the women’s equality fight, a modern time in America when everyone – white, black, Asian, Latino, male or female – ostensibly has the same opportunity for success. But as the statistics prove, there is still a long way to go for parity in Hollywood. In a study released by University of Southern California just days before the 2016 Oscar ceremonies, investigators found an “epidemic of invisi-bility” throughout the film and television industries for women, minorities and LGBT people. Directors are 87 percent white, with only 3.4 percent of the 109 films made in 2014 directed by women, for example. Only 28 percent of speaking parts in those films were minorities; only one third were women. The investigators concluded that “overall, the landscape of media content is still largely whitewashed.” Ironically, despite the lack of diversity in Hollywood, “The Revenant” director Alejandro Iñárritu, a Mexican native who also produced and wrote the film, took home the 2016 Best Director Oscar, his second Academy Award in a row. In his acceptance speech, he addressed the inequities in Hollywood, leading the charge for change: “I am very lucky to be here tonight, but unfortunately, many others haven’t had the same luck. There is a line in the film that Glass says to his mixed-race son, ‘They don’t listen to you, they just see the color of your skin.’ So what a great opportunity to our generation to really liberate ourselves from all prejudice and this tribal thinking, and make sure for once and forever that the color of the skin becomes as irrelevant as the length of our hair.” ¦

Jenny Peters has been a film critic and Hollywood correspondent for Variety and other outlets over the last 25 years. She currently reviews movies for AARP.com and is a founding and voting member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. 18 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

COVER STORY

HOLLYWOOD’S

BIG MOVIE AWARD SHOWS By Jenny Peters

Screen Ac tors Guild Awards (SAG)

Academy Awards The Oscars are the ultimate Hollywood award, the Holy Grail of acclaim for everyone who works on films. The 2016 show was the 88th (the first Academy Awards were given in 1929), presented by the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre, which was constructed as Oscar’s permanent home in 2001. Every one of the 7000+ voting members must be invited to join. They are usually awarded on the Sunday of the last weekend of February to the best films of the previous year. The gold-plated Oscar is 13.5 inches tall and weighs 8 pounds.

Given solely to actors in both film and television, the Screen Actors Guild Awards debuted in 1995. Voted on by the recently combined union members of SAG-AFTRA (over 100,000 thespians), there are 17 awards presented at the annual gala in Los Angeles held in late January. This is the award that is second only to the Oscars for stars of big screen and small, an incredibly prestigious anointment that every actor craves.

The Independent Spirit Awards Celebrating the independent film-maker since 1984, the Independent Spirit Awards are traditionally given out the day before the Academy Awards, usually at an afternoon ceremony held in a huge tent on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif. Films made outside of the studio system for under $20 million are eligible and the awards are voted on by the members of Film Independent, which includes anyone who supports the idea of independent movie production.

The Direc tors Guild Awards (DGA) The Directors Guild union formed in 1936 and began presenting the DGA Awards in 1948. As the guild points out, “only seven times since the DGA Awards inception has the DGA Award winner not won the Academy Award.” Just about every famous film director you can name has won a DGA Award, including Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and Kathryn Bigelow. This significant award is considered on a par with the Oscar and is given out in late January/early February every year.

The Critics Choice Awards The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA), affiliated groups of American and Canadian journalists who review movies and television shows, give the Critics Choice Awards each year in mid-January. Now in its 21st year, the 300-plus membership of the BFCA consistently predict the year’s Oscar winners better than any other awards group. In 2016, 15 of 19 CCA film awards winners went on to take home the Oscar as well.

The Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are prizes presented every year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), a group of 90 journalists representing over 55 countries. First given in 1944, the Globes celebrate accomplishments in both film and television and are traditionally held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on the second Sunday in January, kicking off Awards Season in Hollywood.

The Golden R aspberr y (R azzie) Awards Celebrating the worst of Hollywood movies, the Golden Raspberry Awards began as a parody created by author John Wilson back in 1980; 36 years later, the Razzies have an awards show of their own, held in Los Angeles the night before the Oscars. Naturally, they award prizes for Worst Picture, Worst Actor and more. Anyone can nominate and vote, simply by joining the “Razzie Academy.” SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 19

GERMANY IN

DC & SouthEast

Homestory Deutschland

Black Biographies in Historical and Present Times By Brian Austin

oday, according to a 2009 report from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, there are an estimated 200,000 – 300,000 black people living in Germany, some of whom trace their lineage back to 19th-century immigrants who came from Germancontrolled colonies. Germany’s current population consists of people from Europe, Africa and the Americas. “Homestory Deutschland: Black Biographies in Historical and Present Times” is a photographic exhibit designed by the Initiative of Black People in Germany that was recently shown at Howard University in Washington, D.C. I had the opportunity to experience the exhibition, which showed from February 4 to March 10, 2016 and is now touring in the other cities in the U.S. Because I have a strong desire to travel to Germany, I wanted to see this exhibit to learn about the impact that people of African heritage have had in German society. I was surprised to learn that people of African heritage have been in Germany for over three hundred years. “Homestory Deutschland” tells the story of this fascinating history using portraits and pictures of 27 black people who have lived in Germany since the 1700s. Through these biographies, the lives of each come to life for the viewer. For in-

stance, the historian and scriptwriter Fatima El-Tayeb shared that her concept of the depth of the diaspora occurred only after she began to look into African history and it led her to coming out of isolation and not feeling out of place. To me, those words are powerful and I really appreciated her perspective. I found the exhibit to be eye opening and refreshing in the fact that I never considered that the Black diaspora away from Africa had such a long reach. “Homestory Deutschland: Black Biographies in Historical and Present Times” is a traveling exhibit funded by the Federal Agency for Civic Education of Germany. It is a collective self-portrait that gives voice to the complex and varied biographies of black German women and men. ¦

EVENTS DC

The Goethe-Institut Moved! Check out its new location on K Street! April 25 – 26, 2016, 8 PM

Dance: Isabelle Schad & Laurent Goldring: The Burrow

The intoxicating dance work The Burrow, created by Berlin-based choreographer Isabelle Schad and French artist Laurent Goldring, is inspired by Franz Kafka’s unfinished novella of the same title. With a mix of lush, ferocious, and sometimes spare movement, performed nude, Schad uses an animal’s burrow as a metaphor for the human body. Location: Theatre Project, 45 W Preston St, Baltimore, MD 21201 Information: (202) 847-4700 May 23 – June 12, 2016 Exhibition: Math to Touch Location: Goethe-Institut Washington, 1990 K St. NW, Suite 03, Washington, DC Information: (202) 847-4700

20 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

Consul General Jürgen Borsch opens Exhibition “German Roots of Zionism” at Miami Dade College North Campus On Thursday, February 04, Consul General Jürgen Borsch opened the exhibition “German Roots of Zionism” at Miami Dade College North Campus. Before the official opening, Consul General Jürgen Borsch, Mr. Borsch gave an interesting Dr. Zoraya Cuesta - Director, International Student Services lecture to students at the college. (© Germany.info/Miami) The exhibition was on display until February 29. It was provided by the German Embassy Washington and created by the Leo Baeck Institute.

The best location to meet Germans or German-speaking Americans in Atlanta is the Goethe-Zentrum.

Upcoming Events

Sunday 6/12/2016 3 PM | Soccer UEFA Euro 2016 Screening Germany v Ukraine

Past Events in Miami

April 24 Frühschoppen in the Biergarten Every 4th Sunday of the Month. Come join the American-German Club of the Palm Beaches for a traditional Bavarian tradition with Weisswurst and Bretzeln before Noon. Location: 5111 Lantana Ave, Lake Worth, FL Information: www.americangermanclub.org

Meet Germans in Atlanta

9:30 AM | Bundesliga Breakfast Kick-off your weekend with our Bundesliga Soccer Breakfast and a game LIVE on our big screen! Sunday, 4/24/2016, 3 PM | Book Club Goethe-Zentrum Book Club “Der Tag, am dem unser Vater erzählte, dass er ein DDR-Spion sei” by Thomas Raufeisen Saturday, 6/11/2016,7 PM | Save the Date!

40th Anniversary Party Like It’s 1976! Join us as we celebrate 40 years of Goethe in Atlanta!

Location: Goethe-Zentrum, Colony Square, Plaza Level, 1197 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta GA Information: (404) 892-2388 www.goethe.de/atlanta

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 21

HERITAGE

AHNENFORSCHUNG

Das Wunder von Kallstadt Dokumentarfilm spürt Donald Trumps deutsche Vorfahren auf

Die Familie des New Yorker Immobilienkönigs und Polit-Provokateurs Donald Trump stammt aus dem kleinen Ort Kallstadt in Rheinland-Pfalz. Der Film „Kings of Kallstadt” begibt sich auf eine Spurensuche.

A view of the wine-producing town of Kallstadt The former house of the Trump family in Kallstadt

Birthplace of Donald Trump’s grandfather Friedrick

Three generations of the Trump family The Trump Tower in New York

“

infahrt verboten, Kanalbauarbeiten”, steht auf dem Schild. Die letzten einhundert Meter zum TrumpHaus geht es zu Fuß weiter. Freinsheimer Straße 20 in Kallstadt, einem Winzerdorf in Rheinland-Pfalz. Wer hier herkommt steht vor einem bescheidenen Haus mit blasser Fassade und winzigen Fenstern. Es ist das Stammhaus der Familie Trump, jenen Trumps, die es in den USA zu sagenhaftem Reichtum gebracht haben und deren prominentester Vertreter Donald gerade mit viel Getöse darum kämpft, Barack Obama als US-Präsident nachzufolgen. Die heutige Welt der Trumps liegt im New Yorker Trump Tower, einem Wolkenkratzer an der 5th Avenue, nicht nur geographisch weit entfernt von dem bescheidenen Haus in Kallstadt. Und doch gibt es einen Moment, in dem diese beiden Welten aufeinandertreffen, festgehalten in dem großartigen Dokumentarfilm „Kings of Kallstadt” von Simone Wendel. Die Regisseurin, selbst in Kallstadt geboren, drückt Trump in seinem New Yorker Büro ein Foto des Kallstädter Hauses in die Hand. „Beautiful”, sagt der, was angesichts des bescheidenen Bauwerks reichlich lächerlich wirkt. Trump sei anfangs reserviert gewesen, im Laufe des Gesprächs aber aufgetaut, sagt Regisseurin Wendel. Es sei schließlich noch nicht oft vorgekommen, dass jemand mit ihm über seinen Großvater reden wollte. Trumps Großvater, Frederick Trump, verließ 1885 Kallstadt und immigrierte in die USA. Von New York aus ging er nach Yukon, im Nordwesten Kanadas, um sein Glück beim Goldrausch am Klondike River zu versuchen. Am Yukon selber nach Gold zu graben sei Donalds Opa übrigens nicht eingefallen, erzählt ein Verwandter im Film. Dafür sei er zu schwächlich gewesen. Stattdessen habe er eine Art Restaurant aufgemacht und die Goldschürfer mit Essen versorgt. Die hätten ihn mit Nuggets bezahlt, die Frederick Trump dann an seine ebenfalls aus Kallstadt stammende Frau Elisabeth 22 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

nach New York geschickt habe. Diese habe dort mit den Nuggets Grundstücke gekauft, der Grundstock des Trumpschen Immobilienimperiums. Heute würde Frederick Trump wohl als Wirtschaftsflüchtling gelten, eine Personengruppe, gegen die sein Enkel Donald im US-Wahlkampf rhetorisch mit viel Inbrunst zu Felde zieht. Das hat ihm auch in Kallstadt Sympathien gekostet. In einem Punkt ist Trump allerdings noch ganz der Kallstädter. In der Pfalz nennt man die Leute aus Kallstadt „Die Brulljesmacher”, was übersetzt Angeber bedeutet. Trump ist nicht das einzige ökonomische Schwergewicht mit Wurzeln in Kallstadt. Auch Gründer der amerikanischen Heinz-KetchupDynastie, H. J. Heinz und zwei seiner Brüder, stammen von dort. Regisseurin Wendel geht in ihrem Film der Frage nach, wie es sein kann, dass diese beiden überaus erfolgreichen Geschäftsmänner aus Kallstadt kommen und entwirft dabei ein wunderbar skurril anmutendes Porträt ihres Heimatdorfes. Mittlerweile hadern einige in Kallstadt aber schon mit ihrem Ruhm. Journalisten klingeln Sturm bei den Verwandten der Trumps. Einer, auf dessen Tisch besonders viele Anfragen von Journalisten landen, ist Hans-Joachim Bender. Der Winzer im Ruhestand ist verwandt mit den Trumps: Seine Großmutter war eine geborene Trump. Doch nicht nur das. In seinen Adern fließt auch Blut der zweiten berühmten Familie mit Kallstädter Wurzeln, den Begründern des US-Ketchup-Konzerns Heinz. „Wir haben nichts mit den Trumps zu tun”, sagt er, „Die hat es nicht interessiert, als es uns schlecht ging.” Bei einer Reise in die USA hat Bender deshalb auch keinen Kontakt zu den entfernten Familienmitgliedern gesucht. Den Trump Tower in New York hat er sich aber angeschaut: „Überwältigend ist das schon. Das sind wir hier in Deutschland nicht gewohnt. Und in Kallstadt schon gar nicht.” ¦ Quelle: DW – www.dw.com

HERITAGE

AHNENFORSCHUNG

The Miracle of Kallstadt A documentary explores the ancestry of presidential hopeful Donald Trump

Two American billionaires trace their roots back to the wineproducing village in the south-western part of Germany

he house at Freinsheimer Strasse 20 is a modest one, with a pale façade and tiny windows. This is the residence where Donald Trump’s grandfather, Frederick Trump, lived Teresa Heinz Kerry before he emigrated from Germany to the U.S. and made his legendary fortune. This little house and the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York City are worlds apart, but they briefly collide in the documentary film “Kings of Kallstadt,” directed by Simone Wendel who explores the modest roots of the Trump real estate empire. The filmmaker, also born in Kallstadt, met Donald Trump in his New York office while doing research and showed him a picture of his ancestor’s house. “Beautiful,” he says, which sounds a bit exaggerated, considering how modest the building is. The film director remembers that Trump was a bit reserved at the beginning of their conversation, but he warmed up as they further discussed his grandfather - a topic he didn’t get to talk about very often. Trump’s grandfather, Frederick Trump, left Kallstadt for the United States in 1885 and started out in New York. From there, he headed off to the Yukon, in north-western Canada, following the Klondike Gold Rush. Donald’s grandfather didn’t go digging for gold himself. One of his relatives explains in the film that he was too weak for that type of work. He rather opened a restaurant for the miners and they paid him with their gold. Frederick Trump sent the gold nuggets to New York to his wife, Elisabeth. She bought land with the gold, and that would serve as the foundation of the Trumps’ real estate empire. Ironically, Frederick Trump would probably be defined as an economic refugee, that category of people that his grandson Donald does not hesitate to use a belligerent tone against throughout his presidential election campaign. This attitude doesn’t make him very popular in Kallstadt. The villagers used to have a better opinion of Donald Trump, before he started his boisterous campaign, as the interviews Simone Wendel led with German relatives of the Trump family a few years ago for her film “Kings of Kallstadt” reveal. Donald Trump seems to have inherited at least one typical characteristic attributed to the people of Kallstadt: In the region, they are nicknamed the “Brulljesmacher,” regional dialect for “bragger.” Trump is not the only billionaire with roots in Kallstadt. Surprisingly enough, the family of the founder of the Heinz ketchup dynasty, H. J. Heinz, also happen to come from the same village. In her film, Wendel asks why these two exceptionally successful businessmen came from Kallstadt and creates a wonderfully bizarre portrait of her home town.

H. J. Heinz

Since the film’s release in 2014, Kallstadt has become famous. Journalists keep showing up at the doors of Donald Trump’s German relatives. One of them, Hans-Joachim Bender has had to deal with the brunt of the questions. The retired wine-grower is a direct relative of the Trumps; his grandmother was born with the now famous name, Drumpf (later changed to Trump in the US). What’s more, he’s also related to the Heinz clan. “We don’t have anything to do with the Trumps,” says Bender. “They weren’t interested either when we were doing poorly.” While traveling in the US, Bender did not try to get in contact with his famous relatives. However, he did stop by at the Trump Tower in New York City. “It’s very impressive. We’re not used to things like that here in Germany. And especially not here in Kallstadt.” ¦ Source: DW – www.dw.com

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 23

ENTERTAINMENT

UNTERHALTUNG

GERMAN WORLD BILINGUAL MAGAZINE

Discover

German World’s

FREE

E-Magazine! Great for sharing with friends and relatives all around the world!

Perfect for students of German!

No Download Fee! Thanks to the generous sponsorship of DW-TV. www.dw.com Visit

www.german-world.com -> Archive to download German World’s E-Magazines!

Deutschland, Deine Hörspiele

Germany’s Love for Audio Plays

Die beliebtesten Produktionen des Jahres 2015

The most popular productions of 2015

eutschland ist die Hörspielnation Nr. 1 weltweit. In keinem anderen Staat werden mehr Hörspiele produziert und konsumiert. Man kann sagen, dass dieser Kulturbereich wirklich typisch deutsch und international die größte Domäne der Bundesrepublik ist. Björn Akstinat, Autor des bedeutendsten Buchs über die deutsche Hörspielszene „Besonders beliebt sind hierzulande die Serien „Die drei ???”, „Bibi und Tina”, „Die drei !!!” und „John Sinclair”, eine Gruselreihe. Eine gute Übersicht bieten die monatlichen Verkaufsranglisten auf www.hoerspielcharts.de. „Das meistverkaufte EinzelHörspiel des vergangenen Jahres gehört jedoch nicht zu diesen Serien. Es ist „Die Eiskönigin - Völlig Unverfroren”, eine Produktion zum gleichnamigen populären Disney-Kinofilm „Frozen”. Warum Hörspiele in Deutschland so gefragt sind, erklärt Akstinat folgendermaßen: „In den 70er und 80er Jahren wurden Hörspielkassetten sehr, sehr günstig verkauft. Dadurch hatten fast alle Kinder gleich mehrere davon zu Hause. Die Begeisterung dafür behielten sie nicht selten bis ins Erwachsenenalter. Heute gibt es für alle Altersgruppen entsprechende Produktionen.” ¦ Nachdruck mit freundlicher Genehmigung von Internationale Medienhilfe e.V. – www.medienhilfe.org

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lobally, Germany is the Number One nation for audio plays, for no other country produces or consumes more of these dramas designed for listening, rather than for the stage. One could say that this cultural area is typical of Germany, and is the state’s biggest domain. Björn Akstinat, the author of the most significant book on the German audioplay scene, explains. “In this country, the most loved series are “Die drei ???,” “Bibi und Tina,” “Die drei !!!” and “John Sinclair,” a horror series. The monthly sales lists at www.hoerspielcharts.de offer a good overview.” The bestselling individual audio play of last year isn’t part of these series, however. It is “Die Eiskönigin - Völlig Unverfroren (The Ice Queen - Fully Unfrozen),” a production linked to the Disney film of a similar name (“Frozen”). Akstinat elaborates on why audio plays are so in demand in Germany, saying, “in the 70s and 80s, audio-play cassettes were sold very, very cheaply. Because of this, all children suddenly had more of them at home. It wasn’t uncommon for them to keep this fascination into adulthood. Today, there are corresponding productions for all age groups.” ¦

Source: Internationale Medienhilfe – www.medienhilfe.org

EDUCATION & LANGUAGE | LERNEN & SPRACHE

n Deutsch mit

Socke

How socks help to learn a new language

How can children learn German with hand-made sock puppets and tablets? The creators of “Deutsch mit Socke” (German with Sock) show how easy it is. A red puppet called “Socke” (Sock) meets Esther, a person. Esther speaks to Sock in German – a language in which the little puppet is not very fluent. Whatever could go wrong with that? A lot, hopefully – and that’s what “Deutsch mit Socke” is all about. The new TV series has been produced by Puppet Empire, a group of puppeteers and filmmakers from Cologne, for WDR/KiKa. Sock parrots everything Esther says and doesn’t worry too much about German grammar. Communication is effective nevertheless. It’s a great introduction to a world of German language. ¦

n Join a German Summer School Are you a student of German and would like to enhance your language skills but do not have the opportunity to travel to Germany? Then a German Summer School might offer the solution.

• • • • •

Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik, Portland, Oregon June 29 – August 4, 2016; Teacher Training from July 27 – August 4, 2016 Information: http://www.pdx.edu/wll/dsap Summer German Graduate Program at Millersville University, Millersville, Pennsylvania | July 31 - August 6, 2016 Information: http://www.millersville.edu/forlang/hscamps.php Middlebury Language School, Middlebury, Vermont July 1 – August 19, 2016 Information: http://www.middlebury.edu/ls/german Deutsche Sommerschule at the University of New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley | June 21 – July 22, 2016 Information: http://germansummerschool.unm.edu/index.html Concordia Language Village “Waldsee” June 13 – August 27 (Day camps, weekend programs, family & youth programs, adult & educator programs) Information: www.concordialanguagevillage.org

•

Deutsche Woche in Bar Harbor, Maine | July 31 – August 6, 2016 Information: www.aatg.org -> Maine Chapter

n Tip for Teachers of German Are you interested in continued education? The Goethe-Institut supports teachers of German with $500 when enrolling in one of the above mentioned summer schools. For more information visit www.goethe.de –> Fortbildung or contact Anastasiya Hemberger in Washington DC at anastasiya.hemberger@washington.goethe.org

n German TV

everywhere mit YOUTV®

Mit YOUTV® holt man sich das Beste aus dem deutschen Fernseh’ Programm raus. YOUTV® ist ein persönlicher TV-Rekorder im Internet, mit dem man seine ganz persönlichen TV Shows aufnehmen kann.Mit einem einzigen Mausklick startet man seine Aufnahmeautomatik, die niemals stoppt.

Mit YOUTV® Pro greift man immer auf ca. 10.000 Aufnahmen der letzten sieben Tage zu. Und jeden Tag kommen 1500 neue Spielfilme, Serien, Dokus etc., dazu.YOUTV® ist somit eine persönliche TV-Mediathek mit allem, was man gerne aus dem deutschen Fernsehprogramm sehen möchte. YOUTV® funktioniert überall dort, wo es Internet gibt. Mit dem Mac/PC, iPhone, iPad, Android Tablet oder Smartphone, AppleTV, GoogleTV, NVIDIA SHIELD oder Amazon FireTV. Auch das Herunterladen und Abspeichern der Sendungen ist möglich und über die heutigen Internet fähigen TV Geräte dann ganz einfach als TV Sendung zu sehen. Das beste, so einfach funktioniert YOUTV® https://youtu.be/e0xqKbFP4ZI Mit der App können alle Services von YOUTV® uneingeschränkt verwendet werden. VIEL SPAß mit YOUTV®

n Have Fun

with German This Summer Be an apprentice at Waldsee

Ready for an adventure this summer? Be an apprentice at Waldsee, the German village of Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji, Minnesota! Our Lehrling program is a four-week long immersion program designed to give students the best of both worlds: increased responsibility with villagers to help create a community auf Deutsch, while also being immersed in the regular program learning Deutsch! Our Lehrlinge get a taste of what it is like to be a counselor working in the bakery, helping out in the bank or camp store, and assisting counselors with evening programs and their language groups. This type of immersion deepens language understanding because students are empowered to help teach the language in addition to being villagers. ¦ Check out www.Concordialanguagevillages.org or call 1-800-222-4750.

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 25

EDUCATION

AUSBILDUNG

Lehre statt College Abschluss

Apprenticeship Instead of a College Degree

Kann Deutschlands duales Ausbildungssystem den amerikanischen MIttelstand retten?

eit geraumer Zeit sind sich amerikanische Wissenschaftler, Gesetzgeber und Arbeitgeber darüber im Kla-ren, dass man das Problem fehlender Fachkräfte nur damit beheben kann, indem man die Ausbildung von Arbeitskräften dem Arbeitsmarkt besser anpasst. Aus diesem Grunde sind sie auch an der Übernahme einiger Aspekte des deutschen dualen Ausbildungssystem und der klassischen Lehre inte-ressiert. Zwei U.S.-Staaten – Georgia und Wisconsin – haben bereits ein Lehrstellenprogramm für Jugendliche, das dem deutschen System ähnelt, aber nur im begrenzten Rahmen. In anderen Staaten, besonders in Maryland und Minnesota, ist ein gesetzliches Regelwerk in Arbeit, das ein nachhaltiges duales Ausbildungssystem etablieren soll.

Das deutsche duale Ausbildungssystem ist eine exzellente Kombination von Fachausbildung, einer guten Vernetzung von Ausbildung und Berufstätigkeit, Beschäftigung von Jugendlichen, Vermittlung von Fachwissen und Identifizierung mit einem Beruf. Genau wie in Österreich und der Schweiz, wo auch ähnliche Systeme existieren, gibt es in Deutschland eine niedrige Jugendarbeitslosigkeit und viele Stellenangebote für hochqualifizierte Arbeitskräfte ohne Universitätsabschluss. Gleichzeitig profitieren ausbildende Unternehmen in Deutschland von einer hohen Lehrlingsproduktivität, von großen Kostenersparnissen im Bereich Rekrutierung, reduziertem Trainingsaufwand neuer Angestellter und einem höheren Grad an Innovation. Mit dem Ziel, deutsche Firmen in den USA dafür zu gewinnen, geeignete Elemente des deutschen dualen Ausbildungssystems in ihren Regionen zu etablieren, hat die Deutsche Botschaft am 16. Mai. 2012 offiziell die sogenannte „Skills Initiative” lanciert. Indem sie Unternehmen und amerikanische Ausbildungsstätten in bestimmten Regionen zusammenbringt und Anreize zur Kooperationen schafft, versucht die Deutsche Botschaft einen Beitrag zu leisten, erprobten Ausbildungssystemen zu mehr Verbreitung zu verhelfen. 26 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

Can Germany’s Dual-Education System Revive the American Middle Class?

n recent years, researchers, policymakers and U.S. employers have come to recognize that dealing with skill shortages requires improving how workers develop occupational and employability skills to enter careers. For this reason, they have become interested adapting aspects of the German dual system of apprenticeship. Already two states – Georgia and Wisconsin—have youth apprenticeships that resemble the dual system, but at a modest or low level. In other states, notably in Maryland and Minnesota, legislation is taking place that would establish sustainable elements of the dual system.

The German dual system or apprenticeship offers an excellent approach to skill development, links between education and career, youth employment, occupational competence and identity. Like Austria and Switzerland, which have similar dual systems, Germany achieves low youth unemployment and high-level skills and careers for workers without university education. At the same time, German employers benefit from sponsoring apprentices by the productivity of the apprentices, reduced recruitment and specific training costs, and enhanced innovation. Seeking to engage German companies in the U.S. as pioneers in implementing appropriate elements of German-style dual work force training in their communities in the U.S., the German Embassy officially launched the so-called “Skills Initiative” on May 16, 2012. By convening companies and U.S. training stakeholders in specific areas and encouraging them to cooperate more closely, the Embassy wants to spread best practice in workforce training. Why expand apprenticeship training in the U.S.? Although the U.S. has outpaced the original 15 European Union countries in GDP growth over the last two decades, the U.S. confronts several socioeconomic challenges for the foreseeable future. They include high youth unemployment, high levels of economic inequality, a hollowing out of middle-class jobs, rapidly

EDUCATION

AUSBILDUNG

escalating college and other education costs, weaknesses in reading and math skills in the adult population and an apparent mismatch between the skills employers seek and the skills workers possess. As of early 2013, 22 percent of prime-age men were not employed. On the other hand, a 2013 survey of executives of 400 large companies found out the companies had trouble to find sufficient skilled workers to meet their demands. There is a growing number of manufacturers for whom apprenticeships are an important part of the culture. The Charlotte-based Siemens plant, for example, started their own program in 2011, based on their German counterparts’ systems.

“...and showing them that their kids can earn more than some workers with four-year degrees.” Warum sollte die Ausbildungsform „Lehre” auch in den USA weiter verbreitet sein? Obwohl das Bruttosozialprodukt der USA in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten immer starker gestiegen ist als das der 15 EU-Gründerstaaten, sieht sich Amerika mit einigen sozialwirtschaftlichen Herausforderungen in naher Zukunft konfrontiert. Dazu gehört eine hohe Jugendarbeitslosigkeit, wirtschaftliche Ungleichheiten, der Wegfall von mittelständischen Jobs, explodierende Collegeund Universitätsgebühren, Verschlechterung der allgemeinen Lese- und Mathekenntnisse unter Erwachsenen und ein deutliches Unverhältnis zwischen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt nachgefragten Qualifikationen und solchen, die der zur Verfügung stehenden Arbeitskräfte. Anfang 2013, zum Beispiel, waren 22 Prozent der arbeitsfähigen Männer in den USA arbeitslos. Auf der anderen Seite ergab 2013 eine Umfrage unter 400 großen Unternehmen, dass es Probleme gäbe, geeignete Arbeitnehmer zu finden. Es gibt jedoch eine wachsende Zahl von U.S.-Unternehmen in der herstellenden Industrie, für die das Anbieten von Lehrstellen ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Unternehmenskultur ist. Eine SiemensNiederlassung in Charlotte, North Carolina, startete zum Beispiel 2011 ihr eigenes Lehrstellenprogramm angelehnt an das Vorbild der deutschen Mutterfirma. In einem Interview mit Industry Week berichtet Dawn Braswell, Ausbildungsleiterin bei Siemens in Charlotte: „Im Rahmen unseres Lehrstellenprogramms werden ca. zehn Studenten jeden Sommer für ein sechswöchiges Training gesponsort. Sechs oder sieben von ihnen setzen ihre Ausbildung mit einem vierjährigen Lehrprogramm fort, welches 6.400 Stunden praktische Ausbildung und 1.600 Stunden Theorie am nahegelegenen Central Piedmont Community College beinhaltet. Die Lehrausbilding ist von der Handelskammer in North Carolina offiziell anerkannt, so dass die Lehrlinge auch eine Berufsqualifikation neben der praktischen Erfahrung erhalten. Während der ersten zwei Ausbildungsjahre sind die Auszubildende freie Mitarbeiter. Ihnen wird ein Ausbilder zugeteilt und sie lernen alle Vorgänge einschl. des Sicherheitstrainings kennen.

In an interview with Industry Week, Dawn Braswell, training manager at Siemens in Charlotte, said, “Siemens’ Charlotte apprenticeship program sponsors about 10 students each summer for six weeks of training. Six or seven typically go on to the full four-year apprenticeship program, which includes 6,400 hours of on-the-job training and 1,600 hours of coursework at nearby Central Piedmont Community College. The apprenticeship is registered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce, so apprentices earn credentials along with their training.” For the first two years in the program, apprentices are contract workers. They are each assigned a mentor and go through onboarding including safety training. After that, they apprentice as full-time employees. Once they graduate with a degree in applied science in either computer integrated machine or mechatronics, they receive employment at Siemens if a job is available. Braswell added that parents are often harder to sell on a career in manufacturing than students, thinking manufacturing is dirty, unreliable, lower-class work. Part of her job is educating the adults – taking them on a tour of the plant, and showing them that their kids can earn more than some workers with four-year degrees. Another example is Bosch Rexroth. This German-owned manufacturer of drive and control technologies, started in 1886 by an engineer and an apprentice, partners with local community colleges near its operations in North and South Carolina, training students in machining and mechatronics. Apprentices learn on the job as they take classes. New graduates train the next class of apprentices on the machines, so they learn to be teachers as well. And the Swiss-based Daetwyler Group, supplier of precision machinery, has been running an apprenticeship program in the

Baron Caber,left, a machinist, works with Hope Johnson, right, a third year apprentice at the Siemens plant in Charlotte, N.C

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 27

EDUCATION

AUSBILDUNG

At Bosch Rexroth, an apprentice is trained by a mechatronic specialist.

Danach absolvieren sie eine Lehre als Maschinenbauer oder Mechatroniker und werden von Siemens als feste Angestellte übernommen, sofern eine Stelle frei ist. Braswell berichtet weiter, dass es oft schwieriger ist, die Eltern von einer Karriere in der verarbeitenden Industrie zu überzeugen als die Studenten, da die Eltern diese Stellen oft als schmutzige, unsichere und minderwertige Arbeit ansehen. Teil von Braswells Job ist es, die Erwachsenen aufzuklären, ihnen das Unternehmen zu zeigen und ihnen klar zu machen, dass ihre Kinder mehr verdienen können als so mancher CollegeAbsolvent. Ein anderes Beispiel ist Bosch Rexroth, Hersteller von Antriebs- und Kontrolltechnik. Das Unternehmen, das 1886 von einem Ingenieur und einem Lehrling gestartet wurde, ist Partnerschaften mit den Colleges, die sich in der Nähe seiner Standorte in North & South Carolina befinden, eingegangen, um junge Leue als Maschinenbauer und Mechatroniker auszubilden. Lehrlinge gewinnen praktische Erfahrung während sie auch noch theoretischen Unterrricht erhalten. Nach erfolgreichem Abschluss trainieren die frischgebackenen Facharbeiter die neuen Lehrlinge, so dass sie auch lernen, wie man Wissen vermittelt. Auch die Schweizer Daetwyler Gruppe, Hersteller von Präzisionsmaschinen, bietet seit 1995 ein Lehrstellenprogramm in den USA an. 2014 erhielt Daetwyler den Tell-Preis von der Schweizer Botschaft in Washington für die erfolgreiche Einführung eines nachhaltigen Ausbildungsprogramms. Obert Industries und Penn United Technologies in Pennsylvania sowie Volkswagen in Chattanooga sind drei weitere Arbeitgeber, die ein exzellentes Lehrstellenprogramm nach deutschem Muster anbieten. Lesen Sie in der nächsten Ausgabe welche Entwicklungen in den USA stattgefunden haben, seit die Deutsche Botschaft die „Skills Initiative” vor vier Jahren startete. ¦

28 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

United States since 1995. In 2014, Daetwyler received the TELL Award from the Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C., for successfully implementing a sustainable workforce development program. The Pennsylvania-based Oberg Industries and Penn United Technologies as well as Volkswagen in Chattanooga are three other employers that offer excellent apprenticeship programs – just to name a few. Stay tuned and read in the next issue how the German Embassy’s Skills Initiative has helped implement the Dual Education System in other areas since its launch four years ago. ¦

What exactly is the German Dual-Education System? Germany has a long history of apprenticeship programs. But only in the 1960s did the Confederation of German Trade Unions, employer organizations and the German government start to develop a close collaboration that resulted in what has become known as the German Dual Education System. The Vocational Training Act of 1969 began this tight-knit alliance between the German government, the German education system and industry to work together to devise a combination of academic theory and practical work experience for over 330 occupational standards that are modified each year based upon changes of technology, working environments and customer needs. Employer organizations, above all the German Chamber of Industry and Trade and trade unions, are the drivers when it comes to updating and creating the changes to training manuals, curriculum and standards throughout Germany, so that training and certifications are standardized for each of the 330 occupations in all industries throughout the country. Though there are standards, training manuals, curriculum and certifications in the U.S., very few of them are as robust, thorough or up to date in technology nor are they standardized methodically from year to year as in the German standardized dual education system. Excerpts from this article were taken the White Paper prepared by Bryan Kamm of AMskills (American Manufacturing Skills Initiative) and Robert Lerman of the Urban Institute for the German Embassy.

Page 50

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CULINARY

KULINARISCHES

Starkbierfest & Fastenzeit

tarting in late February, Starkbierfest is traditionally held in Munich for three weeks with beer halls and breweries hosting Starkbierfeste across the city. In the U.S. there are only a handful of cities keeping the tradition of Starkbierfests alive, serving up strong beer and bockwurst to celebrate Lent. The origins of this festival of strong beer (Starkbier) can be traced back to the Paulaner monks living in Munich during the 17th century, who originally prepared strong beer to endure Fastenzeit, the Lenten fast. Although it was forbidden to eat for 40 days during those times, the monks were allowed to drink.

How beer became a part of the Lenten fast

his goat-led chariot as the source. Donar was the symbol of fertility and ensured a good harvest. The dark beers, brewed from the harvested grains, were named after Donar and his pack of goats. Bock is the German word for a male goat (Ziegenbock). The strong, malty beer was classified as a Many Bockbiers feature a goat on the label, Doppelbock. Literally, Doppelbock means dou- strengthening this theory. ble bock (Bockbier). It is one of Germany’s signature beers, typically with an alcohol content Bockwurst is a special mild German sauby volume of around 7 percent, but some sage invented in Berlin in 1889 by restaurant owner R. Scholtz, created Doppelbocks go up to 13 percent in strength. to pair with Bockbier and There are many theories about the origins mustard. Bockwurst is usuof the name Bockbier. One of them is that it ally cooked by simmering evolved from Einbecker Bier (named for the although it may also be German city of Einbeck, famous for its beers in grilled. ¦ the Middle Ages) into Bockbier.

They dubbed the beverage “Flüssiges Brot” (liquid bread) as it helped them survive their 40 days of fasting with full bellies and good spirits. Bavarian rulers began joining in the tapping of the first Starkbier kegs in the early 1700s and Another theory cites the Germanic god Donar the first public beer festival was held in 1751. (the equivalent to the Norse god Thor) and

Jeoffrey Pulfer, Peoria German American Central Society, Illinois, contributed to this article.

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 31

HEFEZOPF

BRAIDED YEAST BREAD

“Hefezopf”

The “Hefezopf”(Braided Yeast Bread) is one of the distinct pastries in Germany that is served on Easter Sunday. It is easy to make, just requires some time. This it how it works: 1 2/3 c whole wheat flour, 1 1/5 c flour, ¼ c sugar, 1 tsp lemon zest, 2 ¼ tsp dry yeast 2 4/5 tbsp margarine, 2/3 c milk, 1 c curd (“Quark”) 1/3 c Sultana raisins

Preparation Mix flours with sugar, lemon zest and dry yeast in a large bowl. Dissolve margarine in lukewarm milk, add curd and knead into pliable dough. Allow dough to rise to double its size in a warm place (about 30 minutes). Then add raisins and knead dough again. Divide dough into three 15 inch long rolls and form into a braid. Let the braid rise again for 20 minutes on a baking paper-covered baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.

Tip For a bright yellow braid, use only 1 ¾ c flour type 405 and a pinch of saffron powder for color.

32 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

CULINARY

KULINARISCHES

Frühlingszeit = Spargelzeit Springtime = White Asparagus Season You know you are German if you crave white asparagus in May

Americans understand our love for German beer, sausage, dirndls and oompah music but when it comes to white asparagus they just cannot follow us. In 2014, the Fairway Market on the Upper West Side of New York City offered fresh white asparagus from Europe but did not find enough buyers to cover the costly import fees.

hite asparagus is the same as green asparagus but grown without daylight. Denying the spears daylight as they grow prevents photosynthesis from taking place, the process that produces the green coloring in plants.

The plants are grown in the dark by piling soil on top of the spears as they appear and then cutting them well below the surface with a special knife before they grow through the soil into the daylight. The farmers must keep a close watch on the white asparagus crop, which is typically harvested by hand at dawn. All newly planted asparagus beds may take two to three years of cultivation before they produce a crop. The Netherlands, Spain, France, Switzerland and especially Germany are all big white asparagus consumers. Certain regions of Germany have very sandy soils that are particularly suited to the growing process and in these areas, like Schwetzingen, near Heidelberg, white asparagus or Spargel is big business. Closer to home, you’ll find white asparagus at these locations:

Some Surprising Facts About Asparagus from Michigan

• 120 Michigan family farms harvest approximately 20 million pounds of asparagus on 9,500 acres of land. • More than 40% of the crop is sold fresh in supermarkets, at farmers markets, etc.. • Michigan asparagus season begins in late April-early May in the southwest corner of the state. • It takes four years for an asparagus field to fully mature; fields last for approximately 20 years. • A mature field is picked 25-35 times per season. • About 500 million asparagus spears are harvested by hand each year. • Michigan ranks #2 in asparagus production (CA is #1, WA is #3). • Farmers can harvest both white and green asparagus off the same plant. • Purple asparagus is relatively new and is a product of conventional plant breeding (NOT GMO). Purple asparagus has caught on as a novelty vegetable. It’s Also Edelweiss Season Again

It’s Edelweiss season once again! Bavarian Specialties in Frankenmuth, Michigan, has a large number of Edelweiss plants ready to go with even more on the way! They also offer Edelweiss soap from Germany made with sheep’s milk, almond oil, shea butter and vegetable oils. The all-time favorite, a Edelweiss necklace, is in stock, too. Pick up in the store or have it mailed to you. Contact www.bavarianspecialty.net or call 989-262-4953 Location: Bavarian Specialties, 701 Mill St., Frankenmuth, MI

Restaurant News

Florida | Harald Neuweg’s Newest Gig: The TRIO! The owner of Fritz & Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables, Harald Neuweg, is back in Fort Lauderdale: The TRIO. This sports bar offers “Bavarian Tapas” and has a strong focus on soccer viewing events. Certainly a great place to watch the European Soccer championship in June. Visit www.the3o.com for updated events. Location: The TRIO, 2861 - 2881 East Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL WISCONSIN | Open on April 26, 2016: The Bavarian Bierhaus in Milwaukee Looking for something a little more intimate and edgy? Wander over to the Craft Beer restaurant and bar designed with the craft beer lover in mind. Rustic and industrial design elements will create a warm environment to enjoy some great food, beer and company. 6 Blvd., Glendale, WI Visit www.thebavarianbierhaus.com Location: Lexington

7 SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 33

TRAVEL

REISEN

Hier brennt’s

Something is Burning

Erleben Sie einzigartige Osterveranstaltungen in Deutschland

Experience unique Easter festivities in Germany

Falls Sie zufällig einmal zur Osterzeit in Deutschland sind, sollten Sie eine der folgenden vier Städte in Ihren Reiseplan mit aufnehmen, um an ganz einzigartigen Ostertraditionen teilzunehmen. Sie entdecken möglicherweise sogar das Haus vom Osterhasen!

In case you happen to visit Germany during the Easter holidays, you might want to include one of the following four cities into your itinerary in order to participate in some extraordinary events that are unique for its region. You might even discover the Easter Bunny’s home.

Compiled by Petra Schuermann

Ostereistedt: The Home of Hanni Hase The Lower Saxony town of Ostereistedt, literally “Easter egg town,” has made a tradition out of its name: legend has it that an Easter Bunny called “Hanni Hase” lives here. Thousands of children write letters to him with their wishes every year, and much like the letters to Santa that children send at Christmas, post office officials step in and send responses. And these days, a giant stuffed version of Hanni visits town and hides egg-filled baskets for the local kids. He’s even got a Facebook page! ¦

Easter Wheels Burns in NorthRhine-Westphalia Easter wheels are another variation of an Easter bonfire. The Westphalian town of Lügde is famous for its Osterräder Lauf (Easter Wheel Run) and an incredible sight to see. Giant flaming wheels made of wood and straw are rolled down hills, leaving a blazing trail stretching for several hundred meters. This tradition harkens back 2,000 years ago to the fiery wheels that early Germans burned to symbolize the sun. These, too, marked the end of winter. ¦ Source: German National Tourist Board – www.germany.travel

34 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

MedievalStyle Parade in Traunstein At precisely 10 a.m. on Easter Monday, hundreds of horses with colorful garlands parade through the center of the Upper Bavarian town of Traunstein. At that moment, the herald raises his baton, the air is filled with the sound of bells and the huge procession sets off. This annual spectacle known as St. George’s Parade (Georgi-Ritt) draws men and women from Traunstein and the surrounding area, who dress in medievalstyle costumes and decorate their horses accordingly. The herald dons a suit of armor, there are knights in historical garb, while other men wear leather jerkins, white shirts, waistcoats and wide-brimmed hats. The women are dressed as castle maidens or wear traditional Bavarian garments. Decorated horse-drawn carriages are reserved for local dignitaries, such as the mayor, the pastor and the district council representative. The central figure of the procession is St. George, the warrior saint, who rides on his white horse dressed in a red cape and armored breast plate. He is the patron of knights, farmers, horses and beasts in general and it is after him that the procession is named. While the pastor blesses all those taking part (including both man and beast), the procession comprising nearly 400 horses circles around the church as thousands of spectators look on. The St. George’s Parade has been held regularly since 1892. ¦

Easter Bonfires in Hamburg & Northern Germany Easter bonfires are one of the most common Easter customs in Germany. Their origins can be traced back as a custom to the 16th century, but likely actually date back to pre-Christian times. The light from the fire symbolically represents the driving out of winter and the coming of warmth and spring. The practice is also supposed to increase the fertility of the fields. In the Christian tradition the Easter bonfire is a sign of the resurrection of Christ. The tradition of lighting bonfires is especially popular in rural parts of Northern Germany, but some of the fires are lit in residential gardens in the city or along the beach of the Elbe River in Hamburg. Villagers, neighbors and friends traditionally gather around these bonfires, which are usually lit on the Saturday before Easter is celebrated. In some areas the custom does not take place until Easter Sunday or Monday. The bonfire is fueled with branches and twigs taken from the garden. ¦

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 35

TRAVEL

REISEN

Time to Log Off | Zeit zum Abschalten

Sleeping like a log in Switzerland From 5-star hotels to farm and tree houses to hammocks in the forest, Switzerland offers some spectacular new accommodations to turn off the world and just dream. On Stilts | Auf Stelzen Hotel Palafitte

The only hotel in Europe built on stilts sits above Lake Neuchâtel enjoys an exceptional setting. The Hotel Palafitte was designed to be open for only six months during the Swiss National Expo in 2002, but this unique 5-star hotel was just too wonderful to close. So 14 years later it is still gracing the shores of Lake Neuchatel, and offering a discreet escape from the world with breathtaking views of the Alps and the lake. The 24 individual lake pavilions are built out onto the lake on stilts and feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces with direct access to the lake for an easy swim. The 16 lakeshore pavilions have a similar modern design, with lake views. The hotel offers a romantic package for two: one night in a lake pavilion, large buffet breakfast or continental breakfast in your room, welcome drink, fruit plate and a flower bouquet, a bottle of champagne in your pavilion, four-course menu “Mille Saveurs” (beverages excluded), all for 850 Swiss Francs. Location: Route des Gouttes-d’Or 2, CH 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland More information: www.palafitte.ch

36 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

Edgy | Am Abgrund

Mountain Inn Aescher-Wildkirchli In order to discover this extraordinary retreat, guests need to take the aerial cableway, Ebenalpbahn, from Wasserauen, and then hike for 15 minutes to this rustic little hotel. Good hiking boots and backpacks are a must. Up there, the Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli leans on the rocky face of the mountain at an elevation of 1,454 m (4770 ft) and offers spectacular views of Appenzell, the region around Lake Constance, including the breathtaking panorama of the Alpstein mountain chain. The mountain inn is open from May 1 to November, and offers four dormitories outfitted with 3,10, 11 or 18 beds. There are no showers, only washrooms and toilets. Water supply is very limited, and guests are asked to bring their own towels.

How to get there SWISS offers daily flights from most U.S. destinations to Zurich. Take a rental car or the train (www.sbb.ch ) to Wasserauen, and then the aerial cableway Ebenalpbahn (www.ebenalp.ch) up to the hotel. More information: http://aescher-ai.ch/ www.alpstein.ch

Near Bern | Unweit von Bern Hotel for Two in the Diemtig Valley

Have you always longed for a vacation with the comfort of a hotel, but without other guests? The “Hotel for Two” is the answer to that prayer: a charming, generous blockhouse in the romantic Diemtigtal near Bern. The hotel offers spacious, sunny blockhouses (7 m x 7 m) on Springenboden equipped with designer furniture. If calmness, great views of alpine scenery and nature are important to you, this is the place to get away from it all. Special Offers: Treat yourself with a six-course gourmet menu by host Bruno Wüthrich, the well-known chef and Olympic champion of cooking. Join him on a amble through the gorgeous landscape, looking for herbs, berries, mushrooms, etc., all things that will be used afterwards to prepare a delicious menu. Location: Schlossstrasse 18, 3700 Spiez, Switzerland More information: www.hotel-fuer-zwei.ch info@hotel-fuer-zwei.ch

TRAVEL

REISEN

Happy Birthday, Condor! The German leisure airline celebrates 60 years in the skies

n May 29, 1956, the first Condor plane took off from Frankfurt, Germany, operating back then under the name Deutsche Flugdienst GmbH. Sixty years later, Condor has made aviation history, developing from an aviation pioneer into the most popular leisure airline in Germany. The year 2016 will be the main focus of this anniversary with celebrations and special events throughout the year. Condor Airlines will also paint one of its aircraft in an anniversary special livery. “In the last 60 years, Condor has grown to be a strong brand and has established itself firmly in the market,” said Ralf Teckentrup, chairman of Condor’s executive board. “Much has changed over the decades, but one thing has remained the same: we take people to the best holiday destinations. We now offer 75 dream destinations – considerably more than we offered in the 1950s.” The airline‘s first flight in 1956 using a Vickers Viking was to Jerusalem and to Egypt. During the first year of operations, Mallorca and Tenerife were also included in the airline’s flight schedule. To satisfy the evergrowing demand, Condor continuously increased the numbers of destinations thru the years. In 2015, more than 7 million passengers flew with Condor to around 75 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. According to an online survey among 700,000 participants conducted by the research institute YouGov on behalf of the business newspaper “Handelsblatt”, Condor can refer to itself as “Brand of the Year 2015.”

The Condor Team in the U.S.: Marketing Manager Janet Gorecki (front row, l.) with her colleagues Margita and Marie Colette (front) as well as Isabel Lindsay, Matthias Knobloch, Theresa, and Gabi Burgos (back row, f.l.t.r.)

Since 2013, the German airline Condor is part of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines, which comprises 91 modern and environmentally friendly aircraft. The expansion of the route network will continue during the anniversary year. A new service between Frankfurt and Austin, Texas, will start in June 2016. ¦

Condor’s Summer Destinations in the U.S.:

Anchorage, Austin, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle and many more. Connections to various German and European destinations are available with a connection in Frankfurt. The Las Vegas – Frankfurt nonstop service is offered year round. Starting on April 18, 2016, the nonstop flight between Seattle to Frankfurt will be available throughout the year as well.

Best Deal in the Sky:

The Condor Business Class meets the standard of other carriers at super low rates. Roundtrip from the U.S. to Europe is available for as low as $2,800 on specific dates, making it the best deal in the sky.

Second Best Deal:

Condor’s Premium Economy Class offers more legroom, an upgraded menu, free drinks, priority check in and early boarding for just $150- $250 more than regular Economy Class.

www.condor.com

For Aviation Geeks:

Check out Condor’s anniversary page on the blogging platform Tumblr (http://60years.condor.com) for historical picture galleries, short videos, information on activities and competitions.

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 37

EDUCATION

TRANS-LIT2 & More

TRANS-LIT2 & Mehr

German-Language Literature in the U.S.A.

Deutschsprachige Literatur in den USA

By Björn Akstinat

Von Björn Akstinat

ber 50 Mio. US-Amerikaner haben deutsche Vorfahren. Damit sind die Deutschamerikaner die größte Bevölkerungsgruppe der Vereinigten Staaten. Rund 10% von ihnen sprechen bzw. beherrschen noch die deutsche Sprache. Die Zahl deutschsprachiger Schriftsteller oder Dichter zwischen San Francisco und New York hat abgenommen, aber es gibt sie weiterhin. Es gibt sogar eine spezielle Zeitschrift für ihre Texte und Werke, die zweimal im Jahr erscheint: „TRANS-LIT2“. Herausgeber ist die Gesellschaft für zeitgenössische amerikanische Literatur in deutscher Sprache/ Society for Contemporary American Literature in German (SCALG). Hinter der SCALG stehen renommierte Autoren und Wissenschaftler wie Dr. Peter Blickle (Western Michigan University), Dr. Jolyon T. Hughes (Western Washington University), Dr. Albrecht Classen (University of Arizona) und Dr. Irmgard Hunt (Colorado State University). Neben Autoren aus den USA bietet die Zeitschrift auch Literaten aus anderen nicht-deutschsprachigen Ländern, die auf Deutsch schreiben, ein Forum. Bisher sind unter anderem schon Beiträge aus den Vereinigten Staaten, Argentinien, Belgien, England, Griechenland, Irland, Indien, Mexiko oder Slowenien erschienen. Zu den Beiträgen zählen Lyrik, kurze Prosa, Essays, dramatische Szenen, Buchbesprechungen, Übersetzungen und Interviews. Texte von jungen Nachwuchsautoren sind besonders willkommen. Kontakt peter.blickle@wmich.edu oder im Internet http://www.colostate.edu/~cwis538

ver 50 million Americans have German ancestry, making GermanAmericans part of the United States’ largest ethnic group. Ten percent of that group’s members still speak and, in some cases, have mastered the German language. The number of German-speaking authors and poets between San Francisco and New York has declined, but these individuals still exist. There is even a special bi-annual magazine for their texts and works, known as “TRANS-LIT2,” published by the Society for Contemporary American Literature in German (SCALG).

SCALG membership includes renowned authors and scholars like Dr. Peter Blickle (Western Michigan University), Dr. Jolyon T. Hughes (Western Washington University), Dr. Albrecht Classen (University of Arizona) and Dr. Irmgard Hunt (Colorado State University). In addition to publishing authors from the U.S.A., the magazine also offers a forum for literati from other non-Germanophone countries who write in German. Up until now, contributions from countries like the United States, Argentina, Belgium, England, Greece, Ireland, India, Mexico and Slovenia have been featured. Contributions include poetry, short prose, essays, dramaturgy, book reviews, translations and interviews. Texts from the new generation of authors are especially welcome. Contact peter.blickle@wmich.edu or the website http://www.colostate.edu/~cwis538 for more information.

Source: International Medienhilfe e.V. – www.medienhilfe.org - English version by I. S. Winter 38 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

Temporary Work Visa Options for German, Austrian & Swiss Citizens: The H-1B Visa Lottery and Beyond

By: Bernard P. Wolfsdorf, Esq. and Joseph J. Shepherd, Esq.

he Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 H-1B visa Cap filing season will open on April 1, 2016 and will likely close within five business days. Thus, there will only be one week during which private industry employers are able to file H-1B visa petitions for a start date of October 1, 2016, when the FY 2017 begins. U.S. employers would be wise to identify which employees require H-1B sponsorship, and begin developing their H-1B filing strategies as well as any alternative visa options, as soon as possible. Each FY, approximately 85,000 H-1B visas become available for what is referred to as the “Cap.” U.S. employers may file a petition requesting a Cap number up to 6 months prior to the beginning of each FY, i.e., April 1. During the first five business days of April 2015, approximately 233,000 H-1B petitions were filed, necessitating a random lottery to select the petitions that would be awarded a Cap number, as has been the case in Cap seasons before. For FY 2017, the Cap will likely be reached by April 7, 2016 (a window of 5 business days). As recent H-1B Cap seasons suggest, we can expect another one-week filing period within which the fate of hundreds of thousands of talented foreign nationals will be left to a luck-of-the-draw lottery. Private employers seeking an H-1B Cap number for a start date on or after October 1, 2016 must file their petition between April 1, 2016 and April 7, 2016. Otherwise, they will have to wait until the next H-1B Cap season opens in April 2017 for a chance to win a Cap number for a start date on or after October 1, 2017 – a long 18-month waiting period.

Alternative Options With April being around the corner, we received several questions from German World readers about other non-immigrant visa options which we forwarded to Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP for advice:

• The

owner of a German restaurant would like to hire a German native as a waiter or chef in order to enhance the authenticity the menu and ambiance at the restaurant. If an H-1B is no longer an option, is there another visa option to bring this person over? Answer: There are several non-immigrant visa options which depend on each specific situation. An O-1 visa can be an option for an acclaimed chef who has previously won awards or garnered press. Alternatively, perhaps an E-2 registration of the company could help. For an overview of non-immigrant visas, please visit www.wolfsdorf.com.

•

A student who just completed his Master’s Degree at a German university would like to work for one year in the U.S. before looking for employment in Germany. He found a U.S.-based company who would sponsor him and hire him as a paid trainee. What would be the appropriate option? Answer: Trainee visa options such as J-1 or H-3 are available. Program type, length of program, and employer are some of the factors that play a role. For more information, please call Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP: 310-570-4088.

• A German native and Permanent Resi-

dent needs to depart the U.S. for an unknown period of time in order to take care

Visa News

LEGAL TIPS

CALL 1-800-VISA-LAW for more information Mention “German World” for a FREE initial consultation

of a sick parent. How long can the person be absent from the U.S. without losing the Permanent Residence Status. Answer: It depends on the situation – if the person will be absent for an extended period (for example, a trip of approximately six months or more), he/she may be best served to apply for a re-entry permit prior to departing the U.S. to try to protect the Permanent Residence Status. For German-speaking assistance, please call 310-570-4088 and ask for extension 228. ¦

A bo u t t he Au t hors Joseph J. Shepherd is a midlevel associate in the firm’s Santa Monica office. Licensed in Massachusetts, he advises employers, institutions, investors, individuals, and families regarding all aspects of U.S. immigration and nationality law. Mr. Shepherd currently serves as a Member of the 2015 - 2016 AILA National ACES Committee and previously served as a Member of the 2014 - 2015 AILA National LGBT Immigration Issues Working Group. Mr. Shepherd has authored numerous articles published by AILA and Bender’s Immigration Bulletin, including Immigration Options for Artists & Entertainers, 2nd Ed. and the Inside Immigration Monograph Series. Bernard Wolfsdorf, Esq., is past president of the 14,000-member American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is managing partner of the 19-lawyer Wolfsdorf Immigration Law Firm. He has been selected as “Immigration Lawyer of the Year 2013” by Who’s Who Legal, the official research partner of the American and International Bar Association.

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 39

SPOTLIGHT

San Francisco

Happy 20! Berlin & Beyond Film Festival Celebrates Two S

ince its inception in 1996, the San Francisco Bay Area’s Berlin & Beyond Film Festival has evolved into America’s largest festival of contemporary films from German-speaking countries. In the last two decades, 150,000 visitors have seen more than 500 films and encountered prominent German film talent such as Wim Wenders, Bruno Ganz, Hannelore Elsner, Daniel Brühl, Mario Adorf, Fatih Akin, Barbara Sukowa, Doris Dörrie, Moritz Bleibtreu and many others at the festival. The festival, presented and produced by the Goethe-Institut San Francisco, has always had a great partner in the legendary Castro Theatre. Located in San Francisco’s ethnically diverse Castro district, the landmark venue is perfect for experiencing contemporary and thoughtprovoking movies from Europe.

This year from January 14-17, 14 movies were shown at the Castro Theatre and five films at the Goethe-Institut; then on January 31, five movies unspooled at the Janet Leigh Theater in Stockton in an encore. For opening night, Festival Board President Sabine Erlenwein and Festival Director Sophoan Sorn chose the German production “Who Am I – No System Is Safe” directed by Baran bo Odar and starring acclaimed German actors Tom Schilling and Hannah Herzsprung. Schilling plays Benjamin, a young German computer whiz who is invited to join a subversive hacker group.

Schilling, who has won many awards since his television debut in 1999, took home this year’s Berlin & Beyond Film Festival’s Spotlight Award. He was the guest of honor at the opening night, and another of his films, “A Coffee in Berlin/Oh Boy,” also screened. Other special guests included Christoph Groener, journalist and program director of the Filmfest Muenchen; Swiss director Nicolas Steiner whose graduation film “Above and Below” screened at the Goethe-Institut; the electronic music band ALP (Aggressive Loop Productions) with Tom van Alp; director Daniel Carsenty; director Mara Eibl-Eibesfeldt; and German TV and movie star Anke Engelke, who is best known for the German comedy sketch show “Ladykracher” as well as for presenting the Eurovision Song Contest and the Berlinale, Berlin’s International film festival, several times to much popluar acclaim.

Engelke was the guest of honor on closing night, January 17, as the festival showed her film “Ms. Mueller Must Go.” Engelke received a standing ovation after the screening of the comedy. In flawless English afterward, she discussed her career and current projects. 2 Opening Night with Sabine Erlenwein, Tom Schilling, Sophoan Sorn 3 Consul General Stefan Schlueter welcoming the guests on Opening Night 4 Daniel Carsenty (l.), Sabine Erlenwein (3rd f.l.), Tom Schilling (c.), Sophoan Sorn (3rd f.r.), and Christoph Goerner (r.) 5 Daniel Carsenty arriving at the festival 7 Sophoan Sorn with guest of honor Tom Schilling 8 The band ALP arriving at the festival.

6 40 www.german-world.com SPRING 2016

San Francisco

Decades of German Cinema in the Bay Area

SPOTLIGHT

By Petra Schürmann

In an exclusive interview with German World, Engelke mentioned that she really enjoys French arthouse movies and works of British directors. At the time of our interview at the festival, she was about to have two unique experiences back in Berlin: winning the Ernst Lubitsch Prize for Comedic Performance in a German Film and hosting the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Berlinale, which featured the Coen Brothers’ “Hail, Cesar” with George Clooney attending. Engelke, whose career has taken her many places, prefers to work in Germany, preferably shooting in her hometown of Cologne. “There is nothing better than taking the tram to the set in the morning and being home for the family in the evening,” the mother of three said. Being asked about the turmoil in Cologne on New Year’s Eve and her assessment of the overall situation in Germany with regards to the refugees, she said: “We should all be careful that there is no outbreak of hysteria. The focus has to remain on a humane, empathic and matterof-fact approach to the situation,” she said.

At the Berlin & Beyond Festival, Engelke’s much applauded appearance was followed by a live concert by ALP, who presented their audio version for the epic silent movie “Berlin, Symphony of a Great City.” The festival concluded with a reception generously sponsored by Dee Vine Wines, importer of superior wines from Germany. All in all, the producers, sponsors and volunteers of Berlin & Beyond deserve a big hand for celebrating their 20th anniversary with one of the most diverse and star-studded festivals ever. 10 Full house on most festival days. 11 Anke Engelke signing the official festival poster. 12 Excited to meet Anke Engelke in San Francisco: Sophoan Sorn, Sabine Erlenwein, Petra Schuermann (f.l.t.r.) 13 Consul General Schlueter and the guest of honor on Closing Night. 14 Petra Schuermann (l.) with Uwe Wagner, Wiebke Meineke (c.), and friends. 15 Beautiful display at the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival to welcome special guests, here Christoph Groener. 16 Fun, dynamic, and very personable: Anke Engelke 17 Festival guests and festival volunteers (18) enjoying the Closing Night reception generously sponsored by Dee Vine Wines represented by Fritz Wittkowski (19)

All photos by Barak Shrama, www.barakshramaphotography.com The official photographer for the 20th Berlin and Beyond Film Festival.

PUBLISHER Petra Schürmann EDITORIAL Editorial Director & Editor in Chief Petra Schürmann Senior Editor /English Language Editor Jenny Peters TRANSLATIONS Ida Sophie Winter

CONTRIBUTORS Brian Austin, Svetlana Azurmayan, Alexander Hast, Katja Lau, LAYOUT & DESIGN Art Director AMF Graphics | Anna-Maria Furlong amfgraphics@aol.com OFFICE MANAGEMENT & ADVERTISING Sandra Kashani / Hiltrud Altit sales@german-world.com Ph: 323.876.5843 / 310.801.0424 CONSULTANT AT LARGE Marianne Beland, Berlin

HOW TO REACH US Mailing Address German-World.com, Inc. PO Box 3541 | Los Angeles, CA 90078 Ph: 323.876.5843 office@german-world.com German-World.com Subscriber Services Phone Ph: 323.876.5843 subscriber@german-world.com GERMAN WORLD MAGAZINE is published quarterly by German-World.com, Inc. Subscription rate: $12.95/year Single copy: $3.50/issue

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GERMAN WORLD

SPRING 2016 www.german-world.com 41

SPOTLIGHT | Los Angeles

Oscar, Oscar! By Petra Schürmann

here are two annual German community events in Los Angeles that are always hot tickets: the reception celebrating Germany’s Day of Unity on October 3, and the Pre-Oscar Party honoring the German-speaking Oscar nominees of that particular year. The latter is traditionally hosted at the Villa Aurora on the Saturday prior to the Academy Awards and is co-hosted by German Films Marketing GmbH and the German Consulate General. This year’s bash was on Februray 27, as 400 guests, including members of the German and American film community, dignitaries and media representatives flocked to the beautiful villa in Pacific Palisades to celebrate. This year’s event saw two very distinguished guests from Germany: Prof. Monika Gruetters, State Minister for Culture and the Media, and Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin.

In her welcome address, State Minister Gruetters compared Villa Aurora and its location to the perfect film set. She also elaborated on how the know-how of German film professionals and the excellent infrastructure of the German film industry allow American filmmakers who choose Germany as their production base to start shooting their film immediately. Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin, confirmed the fact that a low level of bureaucracy, a high level of flexibility and the proximity to Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam combine to make Berlin an ideal location for international film productions. He also mentioned the 2017 50th anniversary of the sister-city partnership between L.A. and Berlin and the array of celebratory activities in the works for next year. When Consul General Hans Jörg Neumann concluded the welcome speeches with special thanks to the team of Margit Kleinman at Villa Aurora, the German Oscar nominees were called on stage and introduced. A big delegation from Studio Babelsberg included Best Picture nominee “Bridge of Spies” co-producers Charlie Woebcken, Henning Molfenter and Christoph Fisser, actor Burghart Klaussner and Best Production Design nominee Bernhard Henrich; Best Short Film Live Action nominee 1 The traditional venue of the German pre-Oscar party: Villa Aurora 2 Mariette Rissenbeek, German Films; State Minister Gruetters; Annette Rupp, Villa Aurora; 3 M. Rissenbeek with Bernhard

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Henrich (r.) and Marcel Reichart, Bertelsmann AG, one of the main sponsors of the event; 4 Patricia Riekel, Bunte; Sylvie Meis; Marie von Waldburg, Bunte; (f.l.t.r.) 5 Kirsten Niehuus, Burghart Klaussner 6 Petra Schuermann in conversation with Oliver Moser, one of Heidi Klum’s lawyers; 7 Nicole Kaufmann, German Films; and actress Nina Rasch 9; an aerial view of the beautiful Villa Aurora in Pacific Palisades 10; 8 Patricia Riekel, Mayor Michael Mueller

Los Angeles | SPOTLIGHT

At the Pre-Oscar Party for German Oscar Nominees in Los Angeles All photos: Courtesy German Films Service & Marketing GmbH

“Ave Maria” with German producer Helge Albers; Best Foreign Film nominee “Mustang” with the German producer Frank Henschke; and director Patrick Vollrath, of Best Short Film Live Action “Everything Will be Okay.” The nomination of Patrick Vollrath also made the Austrian guests happy. Although the 30-year-old was born in Lower Saxony and started his professional film career at ARRI in Munich, he is currently enrolled at the Vienna Film Academy, wrote and produced the film during his time at the academy.

Other prominent guests included Austrian Consul General Ulrike Ritzinger, Adam Stockhausen, the 2015 Oscar winner for Best Production Design of “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Ulf Israel, German co-producer of “The Danish Girl,” actress Brigitte Nielsen, German TV personalities Verona Pooth and Sylvie Meis as well as Patricia Riekel, editor in chief of Bunte. Burkhard Kieker of VisitBerlin, Kirsten Niehuus of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Prof. Carl Bergengruen, MFG Baden-Württemberg, German actors Thure Riefenstein, Nina Rausch, Nina Franoszek, Christian Oliver and Urs Rechn, who starred in “Son of Saul.”

The next day, Germany was thrilled for Urs Rechn, as “Son of Saul” won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, and for Mark Rylance’s win for Best Supporting Actor in “Bridge of Spies,” shot at Studio Babelsberg and in Potsdam. That day, Studio Babelsberg celebrated in style and hosted an Oscar viewing party at the Sunset Marquis Hotel with State Minister Gruetters and Mayor Mueller in attendance. Meanwhile, Austria’s Consul General Ulrike Ritzinger and the Austrian Trade Commissioner Rudolf Thaler (Photo 10, left) hosted their own Oscar viewing party at the consul general’s residence (Photos 8 -15). Over 100 people, among them Oscar winner Arnold Schwartzman and his wife Isolde, Yvonne Jurmann (widow of composer Walter Jurmann) and many Austrian film and music professionals, crossed fingers for Patrick Vollrath while noshing on Austrian specialties prepared by chef Bernhard Mairinger and enjoying wines from Austria. In the end, an Oscar could not be toasted to, but Trade Commissioner Rudolf Thaler did introduce the winners of the “WirtschaftsOskars” to the audience, celebrating a successful year of Austrian companies in the U.S. (see page 14 for more).

1 Dr. Klimmer, Villa Aurora; Mariette Risssenbeek, German Films; Bernhard Henrich; Berlin’s

Mayor Mueller, State Minister Gruetters; Oscar Nominee Patrick Vollrath, Consul General Neumann (f.l.t.r.); 2 Patrick Vollrath (l.) and Urs Rechn; 3 The team of Studio Babelsberg; 5 Bunte’s Simone Vollmer (2nd f.l.) and Svetlana Azurmayan (r.); Prince von Anhalt with two beauties: Verona Pooth 6 and Brigitte Nielsen in a Ted Baker dress 7; Photos 8-15 show guests at the Austrian Oscar Viewing Party: 8 Consul General Ritzinger with successful Styrian entrepreneurs and with the musicians Reinhold Schwarzwald (l.) and Steve Cooke 11. Rudolf Thaler and General Consul Ritzinger were also happy to welcome Dr. Bernd and Jutta Fischer (r.) to the red carpet event. 15

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SPOTLIGHT

Las Vegas

GAMGA Gala 2016 in Las Vegas

Costume and Party Craze in Sin City with a German Touch By Alexander Hast

oughly 1,000 German-American Karneval fools toasted to each other in the holiday spirit of the Fifth Season with GAMGA’s “Helau” and “Alaaf.” The revelers traveled to Las Vegas from all regions of the U.S.A., Canada and Germany, including a delegation from Berlin, to represent 22 clubs bound under the GAMGA. “Einmal im Jahr zum Karneval” (“Once a year for Carnival”) begins the GAMGA song performed for every Karneval Prince’s official waltz written by Georg Breitling (lyrics) and Alexander Hast (music), which also accompanied the 2016 GAMGA royal pair, Prince Keith I and Princess Sabine I (Keith and Sabine Seifert), of the Floridabased Karnevalgesellschaft Rot-Weiss Casselberry. For members who attend the GAMGA gala, which takes places every year in the second week of January, the event most importantly facilitates an exchange of ideas, offers the opportunity to learn about new developments in the German Karneval.

For two days this year, the German-Amerikan Karneval Jecken (Carnival fools) occupied the Tuscany Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, only a few steps from the famous Strip. A costume ball on Friday evening always marks the festival’s beginning. The event was once again a hit this year, with performances by diverse Karneval groups and music by musical masters Jürgen Picard and the BlueBirds Showband. From cabaret, Greek gods and Mainz court singer parodies to Copacabana, Western and step dancing, everything foolish was represented. It was especially beautiful to see that German Karneval groups don’t lack young members. Children and youth are excited by the events, and learn German along the way. On the second evening, the events were somewhat more formal, with a traditional Rhenish-Karneval style Prunksitzung with the Karneval Royal Couples and the GAMGA Board. The march of the elegantly dressed royal couples and their courts in the style of the Rhenish Karneval tradition is always a particularly rich eye candy for the guests. GAMGA Vice President Holger Claus occupied a double role this time, since he has also reigned as Prince Holger I of the Anaheim Karnevalsgesellschaft since 11/11/2015, along with his wife, Princess Kerstin I. And while the second night was less casual, dance performances, good music and wine and beer ensured another all-night celebration.

The GAMGA board, as always charmingly and masterfully led by President Walter Lübke, and ably supported by Vice President Holger Claus, Treasurer Bill Collins and Secretary Kurt Hauptmann (who also performed wonderfully as the MC) as well as members Lana Fauskin and Georg Breitling, is already planning new surprises for the GAMGA Gala 2017. Hopefully you’ll join the Las Vegas celebration next year, as well! ¦

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1: Going strong: Anaheim Karnevalsgesellschaft from California in Las Vegas. 2: Prince Holger I. and Princess Kerstin I. from Anaheim. 3: GAMGA Royalty 2016: GAMGA Prince Keith I. and Princess Sabine I. with their court. 4: Richard Lund 5: Funkenmariechen. 6: GAMGA Secretary Kurt Hoffmann and his wife Patricia. 7: Pirate Mona Lübke (l.) and friends. 8 & 9: German Karneval is popular with all generations. 10: Prince and Princess of the Las Vegas Vagabonds.

TV TIPS

Frauke Ludowig, presenter of RTL’s Exclusiv

Peter Klöppel, Chief Anchorman of RTL Aktuell Erdogan Atalay in Alarm für Cobra 11

The team of RTL Aktuell: Christian Häckl, Peter Klöppel, Ulrike von der Gröben

Mehr

RTL’s hit series Doctor’s Diary

Deutsches Fernsehen für USA

German TV in the USA

RTL International ist ab Frühjahr über Charter Cable erhältlich

RTL International available on Charter Cable this Spring

Das Programm von RTL International besteht fast ausschließlich aus Programmen, die derzeit erfolgreich auf RTL, Marktführer unter Deutschlands privaten Fernsehanbietern, laufen und können nun zum ersten Mal im deutschen Original auch in Kanada und USA sowie anderen Ländern geschaut werden.

The program offering of RTL International comprises almost exclusively of the currently successful RTL programs, Germany’s market leader in the private TV sector. For the first time the programs can now be viewed by Germans in the U.S. and Canada as well as in other overseas countries.

eit dem 18 Januar 2016 gibt es einen nagelneuen deutschsprachigen Fernsehsender: RTL International. Der neue Sender der Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland ist seitdem in Kanada, Australien, Israel, Georgien sowie im südlichen Afrika empfangbar. RTL International ist ein Pay-TV-Kanal, der rund um die Uhr an sieben Tagen die Woche deutsche Fernsehproduktionen liefert.

n January 18, 2016, a brand new German language channel was launched: RTL International. Since then, this new channel of the Media Group RTL Germany has been available in Canada, Australia, Israel and Georgia as well as in Southern Africa. RTL International is a Pay-TV channel that offers German TV programming 24/7. Current platform partners in Canada are Bell, Rogers and Telus Sat (Canada).

As of late March 2016, RTL International will also be available in the U.S. via Charter Cable. The main distribution areas of Charter Cable include regions in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia. Talks with additional platform partners are under way. RTL International shows up-to-date RTL content, such as live news covRTL International zeigt aktuelle RTL-Inhalte und strahlt At the launch on January 18, 2016: Klaus erage (e.g. RTL Aktuell and Punkt beispielsweise die beliebten Nachrichtensendungen Holtmann, Head of Digital Special Interest Division, Anke Schäferkordt, CEO 12), and popular drama series. „RTL Aktuell“ und „Punkt 12“ live aus, aber auch Erfolgs- Channels of Media Group RTL Germany, Stefan Sporn, “There is a lot of interest in RTL inserien wie „Alarm für Cobra 11“ und „Der Lehrer“. „Es gibt General Manager International Distribution RTL International and Andre Prahl, Head ternational being expressed by TV sehr viel Interesse diverser Plattformen in der ganzen of of Programme Distribution (f.l.t.r.) Carolin Lefting, platforms all over the world,” says Welt an RTL International,” so Stefan Sporn, General Product Manager RTL International. Stefan Sporn, General Manager Manager International Distribution von RTL International, „da der International Distribution of RTL International, ”because the station Sender eine einzigartige Chance bietet, deutsche Auswanderer mit offers a unique opportunity to reach German ex-pats with its premium einem deutschen Premium Kanal zu erreichen.“ German content.“ Der neue Fernsehsender der Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland richtet The new channel is designed to appeal to Germans, Austrians and Swiss sich vorwiegend an Deutsche, Österreicher und Schweizer, die im Ausliving abroad, German-speaking tourists and all people who study land leben, an deutschsprachige Urlauber sowie an Menschen, die die German. deutsche Sprache lernen. Die derzeitigen Partner in Kanada sind Bell, Rogers und Telus Sat. Ab Ende März 2016 soll RTL International auch über Charter Cable in den USA erhältlich sein. Das Hauptverbreitungsgebiet von Charter umfasst Regionen in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin und Virginia. Gespräche mit anderen Plattformpartnern in den USA laufen.

Der Verbreitung des Kanals wird durch weitere Kabel- und Satellitenplattformen in USA und Kanada kontinuierlich vergrößert. Im zweiten Quartal von 2016 wird der Sender dann auch per App und online auf PC und Mac abrufbar sein. „Jeder, der RTL International schauen möchte, sollte seinen TV-Operator anrufen, und seinen Wunsch äußern. Denn nur wenn die Plattformen das Zuschauerbedürfnis spüren, sind sie bereit neue Fernsehsender anzubieten“, so Product Manager Carolin Lefting. ¦

The distribution of the channel will be gradually and continuously expanded through additional cable and satellite platforms in the U.S. and Canada. As of the second quarter 2016, it will be also available via an App and online (PC/Mac). “Everybody who would like to watch RTL International should contact the local TV provider and ask for it. Only when the various TV platforms notice the demand from the audience will they be more inclined to offer an additional channel,” explains Carolin Lefting, Product Manager with RTL International.¦

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January 25, 2016

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January 26, 2016

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