Bambi Article...

Germans honor Houston, Dion

By Liza Foreman

BERLIN (Variety) - Staged for the first time in Berlin, the Bambi Awards, Germany's oldest media prizes, honored artists as diverse as Whitney Houston and Jean Paul Gaultier, who were both on hand to collect the golden Bambi trophies Saturday.

At the ceremony's 51st edition, the international film prize went to Goldie Hawn.

``I loved hearing myself in German,'' the actress said after seeing a trailer of her work presented in a dubbed version. ``What a riot.''

Hosted by German publishing house Burda, the Bambis honor those involved in endeavors ranging from sports and showbiz to charity.

The wisecracks of designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, winner of this year's fashion award, drew giggles from an audience of select German showbiz personalities.

``I am not going to say 'Ich bin Berliner' because someone has been here and said that before,'' he said. ``But I love the Eurovision song contest and I am especially glad to be here tonight because there are two people from the Eurovision Song Contest.''

One of these was Celine Dion, who was present to receive the Special Bambi Award for the hit single ``My Heart Will Go On.'' Whitney Houston took away the international pop prize.

Dr. Motte, founder of Berlin's infamous annual techno street party the Love Parade, which this year attracted more than 1.5 million fans, took home the prize for creativity.

The awards wrapped with a party in the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Potsdamer Platz, the future venue for the Berlin Intl. Film Fest, where Gaultier models took to the dance floor with local guests, and supermodel Claudia Schiffer put in an appearance.

Reuters/Variety

NEWSFILE: 17 NOVEMBER 1999