Presented annually in Munich, the Bambi Awards are among the most prestigious media awards in Europe. The first season of Maxton Hall – Die Welt zwischen uns (Maxton Hall – The World Between Us) beat Die Zweiflers and Crooks to be voted ‘Best Series of the Year’ by the audience. Cast members Harriet Herbig-Matten, Martin Schreier, Ceylan Yldirim, Daphne Ferraro, Valentin Debler, Petra Hengge, Philip Pratt, Runa Greiner and Andrea Guo accepted the award, which takes the shape of a golden deer.

The jury said: “The visually opulent series introduces us to a world that is closed to many. We see a modern fairy tale with an outstanding cast of young actors, led by Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matten. Maxton Hall – Die Welt zwischen uns presents the classic adolescent longings for love, recognition and self-determination in a contemporary light.”

Directors Martin Schreier and Tarek Roehlinger say: “At a time when authoritarian forces and algorithms are increasingly trying to divide us, it is crucial that we artists not only point out grievances, but also give people inspiration and hope by showing what really matters to us and what is worth fighting for. Love is the strongest force that unites us. It is all the more wonderful that love has won at the Bambi Awards.”

Produced by UFA Fiction for Prime Video, Maxton Hall tells the love story between Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Mate) and James (Damian Hardung). The young adult series, which is Prime Video’s most successful non-US original title to launch on the streaming service to date, is currently in production for its second season. Alongside the Bambi Award, Maxton Hall recently won a Blauer Panther Award in the ‘Best Series’ category.

Margot Friedländer, who is the subject of UFA Documentary production Ich bin! Margot Friedländer (I am! Margot Friedländer), was presented the Honourary Bambi Award. The documentary, which tells Margot’s life story as an eyewitness to the Nazi regime, has already been awarded a Deutscher Fernsehpreis, Robert Geisendörfer Award and Blauer Panther Award in recent months.