The Grimme Institute announced this Wednesday, the winners of the 61st Grimme Awards, with raucous comedy Player of Ibiza scooping an award in the Entertainment competition.
The acclaimed comedy Player of Ibiza (5 x 25’) had its world premiere at Series Mania in 2024. Produced by Pyjama Pictures and Kleine Brüder – the prolific creators behind hit comedy Die Discounter – in coproduction with NDR, the mockumentary takes viewers on a riotous ride through the underbelly of reality TV, sexism and the fragile male ego.
The Grimme Prize is one of the most prestigious German television awards, and is awarded to television programs and services that are exemplary and model for programming practice. A total of 16 Grimme Awards and three special prizes will be presented at the city of Marl’s Theatre on April 4, 2025. In the Entertainment category, “Player of Ibiza”, a production by Pyjama Pictures/Kleine Brüder for NDR, has been awarded. The award ceremony will take place on April 4 at the Marler Theater.
Bruno Alexander, Oskar Belton and Emil Belton of Kleine Brüder will receive the Grimme Award for writing and directing, actress Larissa Sirah Herden will receive the Grimme Award on behalf of the ensemble, and producer and co-creator Ina-Christina Kersten will be awarded the Grimme Award on behalf of the production company Pyjama Pictures.
Excerpt from the jury’s statement:
“The story itself is full of exciting and entertaining tension: a trash TV production that is unexpectedly moved to Buchholz. A bunch of dudes who are supposed to become feminists. A female director who plays a dirty game. ‘Player of Ibiza’ is a wild media satire that not only takes on the trash genre in a very entertaining way, but also cleverly weaves in current discourses.”
Ina-Christina Kersten, Pyjama Pictures: “I warmly congratulate my fellow award winners and am very happy to receive this prestigious award. ‘Player of Ibiza’ was a wild ride made on a small budget with great passion. Thanks to the jury and NDR, who recognized both the entertainment value and the ambition of the media satire on the topic of toxic masculinity.”
Die Kleinen Brüder: “We are thrilled to receive the Grimme Award 2025 and would like to thank a courageous editorial team that allows experiments!”
In the five-part comedy series in mockumentary style, reality TV, sexism and fragile male egos are scrutinized. The five participants in the reality show are played by Bruno Alexander, Emil Belton, Charles Booz Jakob, Arman Kashani and Sammy Scheuritzel, with further appearances by Martin Brambach, Altine Emini, Paula Goos and Larissa Sirah Herden.