The TEDDY AWARD, a solid institution of the International Film Festival Berlin, will be given out 13 February 2009 in the following categories: Short Film, Documentary, Feature Film. The advance sale for the world’s most important queer film award has started.

Special Award for Joe Dallesandro on the occasion of his 60th Birthday.
This year’s Special TEDDY will be awarded to Joe Dallesandro who, in the 70’s became as Warhol’s muse a sexual icon for a whole generation. Films by Andy Warhol, Paul Morrissey or Serge Gainsbourg’s `Je T’aime Moi Non Plus` (1975) made Dallesandro a legend. Wieland Speck, director of the Berlinale Panorama section and executive of the association TEDDY e.V. remembers: “Dallesandro was not only the most beautiful man in his medial generation at the time, but also put his erotic appeal out to consciously be objectified. He has this physical appearance you never get tired of watching. This is true for the moving picture as well as photographs – and for men as for women.” Also the American director John Waters raves: „A wonderful actor who forever changed male sexuality on the screen“. Two weeks prior to the awards ceremony Joe Dallesandro celebrates his 60th Birthday. Coming to Berlin he will be accompanied by his daughter Vedra.

More space for guests
“In 2009 we will count on the transference possibilities within the building so that even guests who were not able to get tickets for the big auditorium will be able to attend the awards ceremony live” says Elser Maxwell of Cine Plus. “ The Party afterwards will impress with several “chill-out-zones” with lounge and ambient sounds and a live Rock-Show at midnight with Squeezebox. So, strolling through the Haus der Kulturen der Welt after the ceremony is well worth it.”
For the traditional Gala the TEDDY-Makers managed to take Las Vegas star and performance artist Joey Arias on board. Many more international festival guests are to be expected.

Interview with Berlinale Jury -President Tilda Swinton
Even before the festival starts the TEDDY-Organisers will publish a thirty minute interview with actress Tilda Switon at www.teddyaward.tv. This year’s Berlinale Jury-President, Academy Award and TEDDY winning actress talks about personal matters and life and work with Derek Jarman.