Remote VNC connection to mac fails after remote restart OS Big Sur and OS Monterey

I had a working VNC connection with a M1 Mac Mini running OSX Big Sur. At one point I rebooted the M1 Mac Mini through VNC. Ever since when I try to establish a remote VNC connection to the M1 Mini, I am unable to establish the remote connection. Any subsequent connection attempt is unsuccessful, and I can never access the login screen. This was never a problem with earlier MacOS.

I the hope of resolving the issue I updated to OSX Monterey, but the issue persists- no more VNC connection possible anymore to my Mac Mini M1.

I've tried everything to no avail: rebooting, switching the remote desktop client sharing off and on again, swithing all firewall settings off and connecting directly between the computers... Nothing works.

It seems a remote reboot of the M1 Mac Mini completely broke remote desktop functionality.

Is there anything else I can try? Is this on Apples radar?