The two cities are known to ignite a spectrum of emotions from frustration to euphoria. They are emotional and creative playgrounds for us to think and express ourselves without restrictions. The cities pave their own path with little regard to traditional norms, resulting in redefined standards. Berlin and Los Angeles continue to be the backdrops for creatives and innovators to revolutionize the arts, sciences, and technology industries.
50 years of history
In 2017, Los Angeles and Berlin celebrated their 50th anniversary as sister cities.
Their stories first collided in the early 1920s and 1930s, when 800 members of the creative community fled to Los Angeles due to the Nazis. In the beginning, Berliners called the city “Weimar at Pacific” or “Living hell”. Directors like Billy Wilder bloomed at the time, while others like Fritz Lang fought for creative freedom with his cinematic style. Eventually, Lang compromised and traded in his monocle for cowboy boots and glasses.
During the 90s, more Berliners were drawn to LA: Udo Kier - the hero of Warhol, as well as Wim Wenders who has now been in LA for years.
Regarded as two of the best cities for creatives, Los Angeles and Berlin have garnered a flourishing creative community in the arts, tech, and film industries over the years. Musicians, artists and start-up founders look to the cities to start fresh and begin their creative careers. The cities are made for transformation, which is why they have been closely associated for 50 years as 'Sister Cities'.
Mission 'people to people'
We live in the digital age, one that brings people, ideas and visions together. This website is a digital platform that intends to communicate on a more direct human-to-human level. Berliners and Angelenos who have businesses and ideas will meet here in a more direct and uninhibited way. From now on, a new era begins, a new life for the "Sister Cities", and it will start here.
Who we are
The digital space, Berlin-Los Angeles, is run by the boutique marketing agency, ALLY Communications and Marketing. With offices in LA and Berlin, our team shares the connection between the cities as we live and breathe the Angeleno and Berliner lifestyles. ALLY LA is proud to oversee this digital platform and bring community to those who also appreciate the beauty of both Berlin and Los Angeles.
BERLIN LOS ANGELES is the digital home of the two sister cities
and is supported and co-funded by the Sister Cities of Los Angeles and The Governing Mayor of Berlin – Senate Chancellery.
ALLY LA is responsible for project management and curated content.
Douglas and Braxton are students at Elon University, where they are currently interning as part of the school's Elon LA program. They both quickly fell in love with the city and are excited to have the excellent opportunity to work with ALLY. Douglas has a background in world travel and is grateful to be helping celebrate Berlin/LA because of his German ancestry and passion for helping unite people of different cultures and parts of the world. Braxton has a background and passion in marketing; learning through people is important to his chosen profession. Given this, he is excited to help celebrate the Berlin/LA connection and learn more about the people, places, and relationships.
Los Angeles is an extraordinary city, brimming with culture, contrasts, and possibilities. Home to a diverse community, from lifelong locals to people of all nationalities, it is a vibrant creative hub - in many ways reminiscent of Berlin.
For me, LA has been a chosen home since 2008, though my roots lie in southern Germany, in the beautiful region of Lake Constance . Cultivating connections between these two distinct environments - Berlin and Los Angeles - has become a meaningful way to bridge the gap between the two countries I call home, bringing them closer together
I didn’t know what to expect when I came to live in Los Angeles for a year. This was over 12 years ago, and what I know now: I love the city with its special vibe of possibilities, the diversity of daring and creative Angelenos, and my newfound community in Malibu. It’s the best place in the world to raise my little son, Theodor. Born and raised in Halle/Saale, East Berlin was the chosen city for travel; I still recall wandering the streets of Berlin, ending up in front of the wall with no access to West Berlin and the rest of the world. Berlin now? It became a great city, open and multi-cultural - just like LA. And I am enjoying being a small part of both.
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