Max Richter to receive the Berlinale Camera Award at the Berlin Film Festival, presented by Chloé Zhao, with a panel discussion on his artistic impact.
- January 12, 2026
AceShowbiz - British-German composer Max Richter is set to receive the honorary Berlinale Camera Award at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. The award ceremony will take place on February 18 at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
The esteemed filmmaker Chloé Zhao, who recently collaborated with Richter on her upcoming film Hamnet, will present the award and give a speech during the event. Following the presentation, there will be a panel discussion featuring Richter, allowing attendees to delve deeper into his artistic vision and contributions.
Richter is renowned for his work on acclaimed films such as Waltz with Bashir (2008), Ad Astra (2019), and Mary Queen of Scots (2018), as well as the celebrated HBO series The Leftovers. He has been recognized with a European Film Award for Waltz with Bashir and received a Grammy nomination for his work on Ad Astra.
In addition to his film scores, Richter has released several notable solo projects, including The Blue Notebooks and SLEEP (2015), an extensive 8.5-hour piece exploring sound and sleep, created in collaboration with Yulia Mahr. His most recent solo album, In A Landscape, was released in 2024.
Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle praised Richter, stating, “Max Richter is one of the great contemporary composers, and film fans can count themselves lucky that he has such a profound passion for cinema.” She emphasized that his compositions transcend mere accompaniment, serving as narratives that enhance and transform the cinematic experience.
The Berlinale Camera Award has been awarded since 1986, with previous honorees including Agnes Varda, Richard Linklater, and Edgar Reitz. Designed by goldsmith artist Georg Hornemann, the award is crafted from 128 individual components and modeled after an actual film camera.
