The Franco-German Film Meetings Association mourns the loss of Peter Sehr.
It is with great sadness that we must say goodbye to a dear friend. Peter Sehr, a member of our executive committee, passed away May 8. Peter was not only a committed filmmaker and an enthusiastic teacher, he was for many of us, first and foremost, a great friend.
Peter had fought for many years to improve the relationship between the French and German movie industries. After the Franco-German Academy was created, it was Peter Sehr's idea to set up a Franco-German master class (which has now become the Ludwigsburg-Paris Workshop). In collaboration with Jan Schütte and Marc Nicolas from the FEMIS Film School, he devised and organized a training program that has continued to enjoy outstanding success after ten years, and whose high training standards are recognized throughout Europe. These master classes have now become a fixture and have trained many of the current driving forces of the movie industry. This exceptional achievement carries the mark of Peter Sehr.
Peter committed himself to the Franco-German Film Meetings fully and unswervingly. His constant priority was to foster the creation of better and better films, of increasingly high quality—films like those he directed himself. Peter always considered films to be a precious cultural asset that contributes to mutual understanding between different cultures. It was with great passion that he defended his idea of activist cinema that was capable of bringing to the spectator emotions and social truths. All of his films express this passion.
It is for this reason that we remember, in particular, his films The Serbian Girl, Kaspar Hauser, Obsession, The Anarchist's Wife, and Love the Hard Way.
Peter's wife of many years Marie Noëlle, was co-director on his last film, Louis II, which was released in Germany last winter.
We must say farewell to Peter, but that does not mean we will forget him. Quite the contrary, because many of his ideas will remain with us in the future and will inspire us to achieve the goals he aimed for. The Ludwigsburg-Paris Workshop, the Franco-German Film Meetings, and his impressive films will always remind us of our friend, Peter.
Alfred Hürmer
President
Jean-Paul Salomé
UniFrance Films
Mariette Rissenbeek
German Films
The Franco-German Film Meetings Association (in French: Les Rendez-vous franco-allemands, and in German: Das deutsch-französische Filmtreffen) was founded in 2003 as part of the Franco-German Film Academy. In conjunction with uniFrance Films and German Films, the Association organizes an annual Film Meeting that brings together a group of selected French and German movie industry professionals.
