Bernhard Hausberger
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:20 am
I am very sorry to tell you, that Berhard Hausberger, the great Austrian amateur film maker, died on the evening of Easter Saturday.
Many of you will know from his film A Rather Different Year, that he developed lung cancer. That film showed how he fought it, had treatments and the removal of one lung. He made a good recovery and carried on filming, visiting festivals and giving anti-smoking talks to schools.
Then another tumour appeared in the remaining lung. It was a different type of cancer and apparently unrelated to the first one. He took treatment for that which seemed to stop its growth. In the last couple of months, however, he became very short of breath. A form of pneumonia struck. He happened to be in Germany (at a film festival, of course) when he had to call the emergency services. In hospital and on oxygen, he continued to send positive emails to friends around the world.
Sadly he lost his battle against the illness.
Our hearts go out to Karin and his family, but his closest friends have asked us NOT to telephone or email.
Among his countless trophies and awards, Bernhard had twice in succession won The Daily Mail Trophy, Britain's top amateur film award. He attended BIAFF festivals in Tonbridge and Harrogate, where he made many friends. A gesture of remembrance he would approve, is to buy a bottle of Wlliams Schnapps, take a sliver of fresh pear into your mouth and drink the schnapps over it, while thinking of him.
Dave
Many of you will know from his film A Rather Different Year, that he developed lung cancer. That film showed how he fought it, had treatments and the removal of one lung. He made a good recovery and carried on filming, visiting festivals and giving anti-smoking talks to schools.
Then another tumour appeared in the remaining lung. It was a different type of cancer and apparently unrelated to the first one. He took treatment for that which seemed to stop its growth. In the last couple of months, however, he became very short of breath. A form of pneumonia struck. He happened to be in Germany (at a film festival, of course) when he had to call the emergency services. In hospital and on oxygen, he continued to send positive emails to friends around the world.
Sadly he lost his battle against the illness.
Our hearts go out to Karin and his family, but his closest friends have asked us NOT to telephone or email.
Among his countless trophies and awards, Bernhard had twice in succession won The Daily Mail Trophy, Britain's top amateur film award. He attended BIAFF festivals in Tonbridge and Harrogate, where he made many friends. A gesture of remembrance he would approve, is to buy a bottle of Wlliams Schnapps, take a sliver of fresh pear into your mouth and drink the schnapps over it, while thinking of him.
Dave