In September 2007, "The Reader" began shooting in Berlin, Cologne, and Görlitz. In Stephen Daldry's adaption of the best-selling novel by Bernhard Schlink, Kross plays the lead role of Michael Berg, opposite Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, and Bruno Ganz. He had to learn to speak English to appear in the film. The world premiere was at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on December 3, 2008. The film was presented in the 2009 Berlinale but did not compete. In May 2009, Kross was honored for his performance in "The Reader" at the 62nd Cannes Festival, winning the Chopard trophy. Kross was nominated for a European Film Award as best actor.