A Series of Outstanding Radio Features

"All four features masterfully depict how the policies of the U.S. president are changing American society.

Kerstin Zilm gets close to her protagonists and gives listeners a chance to learn more about the divisions in the United States."

Jury RIAS BERLIN KOMMISSION

The good news came in an Email from Berlin: I will receive the RIAS BERLIN KOMMISSION 2018 radio award! I was jumping up and down in my studio. I was - and still am - super happy. For years I entered radio stories for this award. It is given once a year to journalists from Germany and the United States whose reports further the understanding between both countries. I had almost given up. Fortunately I did not! ...

It is a wonderful ritual at the Villa Aurora, artists residence and former home of Lion and Marta Feuchtwanger: every year they open the door to celebrate German filmmakers nominated for Oscars.

This year we were all hoping to welcome Fatih Akin and his "In The Fade" team to wish them good luck for the Foreign Language Category. But the Academy members did not nominate the German entry. Short disappointment and sadness were followed by the insight, that we still have a lot to celebrate and plenty of German filmmakers to cross our fingers for come Oscar night. ...

Here Comes The Magic:

Hip Hop, Rap, and cotton candy

Bodypaint, accordeon

Moonlight in dark alley puddles

Smiles and hugs and dancing bodies

Tacos, ice cream, sugar cone

This night on Mar Vista sideways

None of us will be alone

LOVE Mar Vista Art Walk. 

I would have never thought to ever encounter the music of Fanny Mendelssohn in a Culver City home, but here I was, at Angela Thompson's house listening to the swelling piano notes in her living room with concert pianist Violeta Petrova at the piano and soprano Elif Savas singing Fanny's lieder.  I am a novice regarding classical music, but even I can tell: this woman was a musical genius. And so it is rather upsetting ...

First there is the call: your books have arrived and are ready for pick up. Then there is the walk towards the library's book shelves looking for my name. Sometimes I have forgotten what I ordered. Most of the times, I am really excited because I know what is waiting for me: a poet I want to discover, a first time female novelist I hope to learn from, a self improvement book to finally teach me how to find my real inner voice. And use it.

Today FOUR books were waiting for me! I picked up one more on the way out....