Christian Petzold’s Afire Wins Grand Jury Award
The 73rd Berlin Film Festival, which took place in person after two years of pandemic break, is coming to an end. Many films premiered at the intense festival, including Todd Field’s Tár sequel of sorts, The Fundraiser, which is screened only in Berlinale.
Kristen Stewart, who attracted attention with her statements, was the president of the jury. Besides the Oscar-winning actress, Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, directors Valeska Grisebach, Radu Jude, Carla Simón, Johnnie To, and casting director Francine Maisler are among the jury members.
Awards were given in 17 categories, and the winners of the Silver Bears and Golden Bear were announced. Angela Schanelec won the Silver Bear Award for Best Screenplay for the movie Music, which tells the story of a boy named Jon, who was adopted after losing his parents. In addition, child actress Sofía Otero won the Best Actor award for her acclaimed performance in the 20,000 Species of Bees. The film tells the story of a young trans girl finding herself.
74-year-old auteur French director, Philippe Garrel (The Inner Scar & In the Shadow of Women), won the Best Director award for the family drama The Plough. Silver Bear Jury Prize was given to the Portuguese-French drama Bad Living, directed by Joᾶo Canijo. It tells the story of five women from different generations struggling to keep a hotel alive on the axis of their relationships with each other.
The Silver Bear Grand Jury award was given to Christian Petzold, one of the most respected directors of European cinema, for the highly anticipated film Afire, which tells the emotional journey of a group of friends who went on vacation to the Baltic Sea. The film’s cast includes Berlinale award-winning actress Paula Beer, to whom the master director has entrusted the leading roles in his latest pictures.
The most significant award of the ceremony, the Golden Bear for Best Film, was awarded to the French documentary film On the Adamant, directed by Nicolas Philibert. The documentary depicts the floating structure on the Seine, a special center for treating adults with mental disorders.
73rd Berlin International Film Festival: Full List of Winners
The complete list of winners for the Berlin International Film Festival can be found below:
GOLDEN BEAR for BEST FILM
On the Adamant (Nicolas Philiber)
THE ENCOUNTERS JURY – BEST FILM
Here (Bas Devos)
SILVER BEAR – JURY PRIZE for SHORT FILM
Dipped in Black (Matthew Thorne & Derik Lynch)
THE ENCOUNTERS JURY – BEST DIRECTOR
Tatiana Huezo (The Echo)
SILVER BEAR – GRAND JURY PRIZE
Afire (Christian Petzold)
SILVER BEAR – JURY PRIZE
Bad Living (Joᾶo Canijo)
SILVER BEAR for BEST DIRECTOR
Philippe Garrel (The Plough)
SILVER BEAR for BEST LEAD
Sofía Otero (20,000 Species of Bees)
SILVER BEAR for BEST SUPPORTING
Thea Ehre (Till the End of the Night)
SILVER BEAR for BEST SCREENPLAY
Angela Schanelec (Music)
SILVER BEAR for OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION
Hélène Louvart (Cinematography) – Disco Boy
THE SPECIAL JURY AWARD of ENCOUNTERS JURY
Orlando, My Political Biography (Paul B. Preciado)
Samsara (Lois Patiño)