Dialect Prize Bavaria: Michael von Hohenberg impresses with Franconian!

Dialect Prize Bavaria: Michael von Hohenberg impresses with Franconian!

July 18, 2025 was a very special day for the Franconian region and especially for the reigning filmmaker Michael von Hohenberg. The talented director was awarded the coveted Bavarian Dialect Prize. The honor was presented to him personally by Finance and Home Affairs Minister Albert Füracker in a celebratory ceremony at 10:12 a.m. This award recognizes not only his artistic work, but also his tireless efforts to keep the Franconian dialect alive in his films, such as Frankenpost reported.

Von Hohenberg, who comes from the region and predominantly uses the Franconian dialect in his works, has proven to be an important ambassador of the cultural identity of his homeland. The dialect is firmly rooted, especially in the Wunsiedel district, where an invisible border separates towns like Selb and Marktleuthen. Here the residents speak Northern Bavarian, while Franconian sounds can be heard in Weißenstadt, Marktleuthen and Kirchenlamitz.

Dialect maintenance is very important

The award of the dialect prize aims to promote the diversity of Bavarian dialects. The prize is awarded annually to various winners from the areas of theater, film, cabaret, music, media and dialect culture. The award ceremony took place on July 17, 2023 at the Kaiserburg in Nuremberg, where nine prize winners were honored, as noted isrg.bayern is to be read.

Each award is endowed with 1,000 euros and particularly values ​​the commitment to maintaining and researching regional dialects. One award is given out annually for each administrative district and an additional prize for Sudeten German dialect maintenance. The nominations are made by the Bavarian district home guardians, which forms a solid foundation for the selection of the prize winners.

Diversity also in youth

Particularly noteworthy is the “Youth Dialect Prize”, which was awarded for the second time. This gives the younger generation the opportunity to engage intensively with their regional forms of expression. An example of such awards is the music group Luegstoa C from the Inn Valley in Upper Bavaria, which has made a name for itself with modern dialect and strong, groovy rhythms. Their music is both folk and youthful and appeals to a wide audience, as on home.bavaria can be read.

These initiatives clearly show that the cultivation of dialects in Bavaria is not just a tradition, but also remains relevant for the future through innovative approaches. The award for personalities like Michael von Hohenberg is therefore not only an honor for the individual, but also a commitment to Bavarian identity and culture.