Prizes for Actors from Hörbuch Hamburg Verlag

Actress Stefanie Stappenbeck - known in Germany for her stage, screen, TV and radio roles - and stage and TV actor Matthias Brandt were recently honored by Hörbuch Hamburg Verlag in the publisher's seventh annual Osterwold 2010 recognition for outstanding audiobook performances. Stappenbeck and Brandt were joined by Hamburg comedian and best-selling author Hans Scheibner, who received an honorable mention for best interpretion of his own texts. Hörbuch Hamburg Verlag is a part of Bonnier.

The awards are given for audiobook performers who "manage to pull the listener into the mind of the author, making audiobooks an extra pleasure for readers," said Johannes Stricker, CEO of Hörbuch Hamburg Verlag at the ceremony. Some 150 guests attended the ceremony, which was held at the villa and gardens of the publishing house in Hamburg.

Stricker praised Stappenbeck for her interpretations, saying: "It is more than just craft. You look closely and penetrate the characters and text both emotionally and intellectually." Margrit Osterwold, founder of Hörbuch Hamburg had high praise for Brandt as well, calling his performance a "pure listening pleasure."

The unique statuettes given out to the winners are designed as every year by Berlin artist Volker März.