Boulevard der Stars

The Boulevard der Stars is a growing monument in Berlin's Mitte district, stretching along the area near Potsdamer Platz. Along the median of the two-lane Potsdamer Straße, all the way to Ben-Gurion-Straße, it honors figures from the German-speaking world who have achieved outstanding success in film and television. The project goes back to an idea from film historian Gero Gandert in 2002. After several revisions and a design competition won by the Berlin firms Graft and ART+COM, the foundation stone was laid in February 2010 during the Berlinale. The official opening followed in September of that year with the presentation of a total of 40 stars, including the first one, honoring Marlene Dietrich.

The boulevard's design is marked by a red carpet of dyed asphalt, set with polished bronze stars embedded flush with the surface. Each star is engraved with the honoree's name, profession, life dates, and signature. In the evening, the stars are lit by small spotlights whose color can be changed to suit the occasion. One special feature is the Pepper's Ghost cameras, which use an interactive mirror trick to let visitors have their picture taken alongside their favorite star. The honorees were chosen by a five-member jury of representatives from leading film institutions, and only organizations with many years of experience in film and television were allowed to submit nominations.

Although the project was originally planned as a permanent memorial, it drew criticism because the site was designated in the urban development plan as a reserved corridor for a planned tram line. Growing dirt and grime also sparked debate, leading to a renovation with a new surface in 2013. After the reopening in 2014, more stars were added, before responsibility passed to the Mitte district office in 2018 and the managing company was dissolved. Since then, the red asphalt and the stars have no longer been actively maintained, which shapes the boulevard's condition today.