​30.09.2024

Eyes & Ears of Europe mourns the loss of Stephan Riebel

by Eyes & Ears of Europe

With deep sorrow, we must announce the loss of Stephan Riebel, our beloved and dedicated board member and treasurer, who passed away in early September after a short but severe illness. He will be laid to rest in Berlin at the end of this week.

Stephan had been a member of Eyes & Ears of Europe since 2007. He was very excited to be appointed as a board member in September of last year and subsequently elected by the members in December. He gladly embraced the new role of treasurer as well.

For many years, Stephan was a passionate host of our Promotion Jury for the International Eyes & Ears Awards. We spent countless hours discussing in the DW conference room on the 6th floor. Besides actively participating in the discussions, Stephan always brought fresh ideas and ensured we were well taken care of.

Stephan was the Head of Program Promotion and Broadcast Management at Deutsche Welle and dedicated over 25 years of his career to promoting DW’s multilingual, transnational offerings. Before that, he worked successfully as a freelance TV writer and director, where he expressed his creative talent and passion for the medium of television. “I am very excited about working on the board of Eyes & Ears. The diversity of platforms that media companies engage with today opens up a world of creative possibilities. We can tell and present stories in new ways. Eyes & Ears is the institution that supports and inspires creatives in this process. Being able to contribute here is a wonderful task,” Stephan said in one of his last interviews. These words not only reflect his enthusiasm for the industry but also his commitment to Eyes & Ears of Europe and our creative community, especially its internationalization. Recently, Stephan felt the painful loss of international connections and formats in our industry. He was determined to step into the breach and drive the European advancement of Eyes & Ears of Europe forward. Stephan was not only an outstanding professional but also an inspiring person. Even in the last weeks, he actively participated in our strategy and structure meetings, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to the interests of Eyes & Ears of Europe.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden death of our board member Stephan Riebel. Stephan was connected to our European vision like hardly anyone else. He still had many plans to support and represent our association and make us better known across Europe. With his passing, we not only lose an absolutely dedicated and loyal colleague but also a wonderful, warm-hearted person. Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife and two children during this difficult time. We will miss you dearly, dear Stephan. You will always remain in our hearts and memories. Rest in peace, 'Riposa in pace,' 'Repose en paix,' 'Rust zacht,' 'Descanse en paz,' 'Спочивай з миром,' 'Descanse em paz,' 'Hvil i fred,' 'Mach es gut lieber Stephan.'"

Your EYES & EARS team: Corinna, Ina, Anna, Maria, Miriam, Luise, Miguel, and the entire board and association of Eyes & Ears of Europe.