“More than Honey” won the most important award in Swiss show business, the Prix Walo for best film production.

Producer Pierre-Alain Meier (middle), „Alpöhi“ Fred Jaggi (left) and Elisabeth Schnell (2.from left) “Bee Inspector“ were honoured to receive the award. Markus Imhoof visited via Skype from Warsaw.

In his address Fred Jaggi emphasized: „The best thing this award does is to raise awareness in the audience, the public and among politicians, that the bell tolled five minutes before twelve o’clock for bee breeding. The moment is serious. We are fighting for the conservation of our bee and the pollination of our food crops. Please support us in this cause to save our bees.”

The award ceremony took place on Sunday, 12. May in the “Mythenforum Schwyz”. Here a picture showing the jodeling group “Echo vom Mythen”.

More about the award ceremony for best film production:  Here

The German Film Academy in Berlin awarded «More Than Honey»  the Goldenen Lola statuette for the “Best Documentary” on Friday last week.

Markus Imhoof recieved 200’000 Euro for a new production.

The documentary had also been nominated for a Lola for “best cut”.

The French Minister for Agriculture, Stephane Le Foll, took on the patronage of the documentary “More than Honey”. 

 He also developed a 40-page plan to develop a sustainable honeybee industry, starting: “In France there shall be no area where honeybees are not entitled to live” – Hats off and thank you, Mr. Foll! 

At the International Film Festival in Santa Barbara, California, More than Honey won the Price for the Best Documentary. 

This will position the film exceptionally well for an official start at movie theatres in New York on the 12. of June 2013. 

The PRIX DU PUBLIC 2013 is awarded to «More Than Honey» by Markus Imhoof

Markus Imhoof with audience award 

On the January 31. the audience of the “Solothurn Film Days” chose  its favourite Swiss film out of twelve nominations.  The «PRIX DU PUBLIC» includes prize money of CHF 20’000.–. It is sponsored by “Die Schweizerische Post” and Swiss Life, in collaboration with the festival organizers. 

“…In the jury we were mesmerized by „More than Honey“. Best to award it the subtitle “Most Important Film of the Year” as well. Because: Without the bees we are lost – and without this film we would not even know!”

Markus Imhoof received the “Pierrot” and 10 000 Euros for the best documentary in the “Prinzregententheater” Munich on Friday, 18. January 2013. The film price of Bavaria is awarded for the 34. time this year for excellent German cinematography.

More from the jury statement: “A film has reached its goal when the audience leaves the theatre moved and all in thoughts, discussing its content. „More than Honey“ manages this effortlessly – and much more: The film does not only move the audience, it apparently touches a raw nerve in our times.”

“A heartfelt documentary.”

More here (in German): München DE und München Exklusiv

100 000 entries for “More than Honey” during the first six weeks since it is shown in movie theatres around Switzerland turns this film into the most successful Swiss Movie for 2012.

Only two documentaries ever reached more than 100 000 entries since 1976. According to the Federal Office of Culture, which recorded the 500 most successful Swiss movies, these were: “Mani Matter. Why are you so sad?” By Friedrich Kappeler in 2002 with 150 000 entries, and “The Wisdom about Healing” by Franz Reichle in 1997 with 105 000. Entries.

The mayor of Zurich, who is also president of the film foundation, Corine Mauch awarded this prestigious film award of 30 000 Swiss Francs to Markus Imhoof on the 28^th of November 2012.

This price is awarded by the City of Zurich for outstanding achievements in professional cinematography.

German press hier: NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger, Stadt Zürich

This is a cartoon by the artist Lawrence Grimm. He created it after watching “More than Honey”. Enjoy and find more by Lawrence here