Berlin Film Festival 75th Anniversary Awards Ceremony
The 75th Berlin Film Festival concluded with a grand awards ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievements in global cinema. This year, the festival spotlighted unique storytelling and remarkable performances, as it has done for nearly a century.
Key Highlights of the Awards
Major Awards
Golden Bear for Best Film: The top honor went to “Dreams (Sex Love)” directed by Norwegian filmmaker Dag Johan Haugerud. This film tells the engaging story of a teenage girl whose vibrant imagination leads her to express her feelings for a teacher in a transformative essay.
- Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize: This award was claimed by Gabriel Mascaro for his film “The Blue Trail,” which tackles societal attitudes towards older adults in a thought-provoking way.
Best Performance Awards
Best Leading Performance: Rose Byrne was recognized for her powerful role in “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You.” In this film, she portrays a mother who is overwhelmed as she manages her job as a therapist while caring for a special needs child.
- Best Supporting Performance: Andrew Scott won for his role as Richard Rodgers in “Blue Moon,” bringing recognition to his work and highlighting his participation in the European Film Promotion’s Shooting Stars program.
Full List of Award Winners
Competition Awards
- Golden Bear for Best Film: “Dreams (Sex Love)”
- Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize: “The Blue Trail”
- Silver Bear Jury Prize: “The Message”
- Silver Bear for Best Director: Huo Meng for “Living the Land”
- Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance: Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You”
- Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance: Andrew Scott for “Blue Moon”
- Silver Bear for Best Screenplay: “Kontinental ’25” by Radu Jude
- Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution: “La Tour de Glace” by Lucile Hadžihalilović
Documentary Awards
- Best Documentary: “Holding Liat” by Brandon Kramer
Perspectives Jury Awards
- Best First Feature: “The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box)” by Ernesto Martínez Bucio
Berlinale Shorts Awards
- Golden Bear: “Lloyd Wong, Unfinished” by Lesley Loksi Chan
- Silver Bear: “Ordinary Life” by Yoriko Mizushiri
- Special Mention: To be announced.
Additional Recognition and Prizes
The festival also recognized several other films and filmmakers in various categories:
Panorama Audience Awards
- Panorama Audience Award: “Sorda” by Eva Libertad
- Second Prize: “Lesbian Space Princess” by Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese
- Third Prize: “Home Sweet Home” by Frelle Petersen
Generation Awards
- Best Film in Generation 14plus: “Christy” by Brendan Canty
- Best Film in Generation Kplus: “The Botanist” by Jing Yi
- Crystal Bear for Best Short Film (14plus): “Wish You Were Ear” by Mirjana Balogh
Independent Jury Prizes
- Ecumenical Jury Prize: “The Blue Trail” by Gabriel Mascaro
- FIPRESCI Jury Prize: “Dreams (Sex Love)” by Dag Johan Haugerud
Special Awards
Various special awards were also given, recognizing unique contributions:
- Teddy Awards: Best Feature Film went to “Lesbian Space Princess” by Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs.
- Peace Film Prize: “Khartoum” by Anas Saeed et al.
Conclusion
The 75th Berlin Film Festival demonstrated the power of filmmaking to tell compelling stories, address significant societal issues, and highlight strong performances. The range of films presented showed the diversity of thought and creativity in the industry today. As the festival celebrates its legacy, it continues to foster new voices in cinema, making it an essential platform for filmmakers worldwide.
