Gripping film stories from Babelsberg about artistic and political ups and downs. The guide accompanies the exhibition of the same name with first-hand information and material.

Like no other studio, Babelsberg reflects film, cultural and contemporary history. Here, films have been produced for almost a century and in the context of five political systems. Babelsberg was the home of Bioscop for 10 years, of Ufa for 23 years and of DEFA for another 46 years. Today, the thoroughly modernized Studio Babelsberg facilities offer attractive locations for international big-budget productions as well as for popular TV series.

Stars like Asta Nielsen, Marlene Dietrich, Hans Albers, Manfred Krug or Matt Damon worked in the studios. Some of the Babelsberg films – more than 3000 altogether – have been screened all over the world and achieved legendary status, some have been – justifiably or unfortunately – forgotten. Others are worth (re-) discovering. Especially films from the DEFA era, the longest and least-known period of the studio’s history so far, are described extensively and with much attention to detail.
Publisher: Filmmuseum Potsdam, Editors: Jürgen Bretschneider, Bärbel Dalichow, Henschel Verlag Berlin, 2005, ISBN 3-89487-508-9, 17 x 24 cm, paperback, 176 pages (including register), 150 images (black and white / colour), German / English, 9.90 Euros