Werner Herzog is head of the jury at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. He spoke with SPIEGEL ONLINE about why he agreed to judge the competition, his sanity in an insane industry and why his books will outlast his films.
Question: You have a reputation as something of a lone wolf who doesn't look for external validation in the form of awards. And yet here you are at the Berlinale, heading a committee which is going to judge the competition. What's going on?
Herzog: I admit I had to be kind of persuaded to do this. But I see a lot of sense in taking part. Firstly, I thought it was right to return to the Berlinale with a real duty, as a working member of the festival. (Editor's note: When Herzog last appeared at the festival in 1992, his film "Lessons of Darkness" triggered a furious reaction from the audience .) Also, I do believe it makes sense to give awards to films. Last year a young female director from Peru, Claudia Llosa, won the Golden Bear for her film "The Milk of Sorrow." I believe the award is extremely helpful for this young filmmaker. When I was in Peru not long ago, I saw how it has somehow translated into a certain pride for an entire nation. Of course, the other side of the coin, as I've always said, is that films do not really need awards. Prizes are much more something for the agricultural fair, something you give to the best milk cow.
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