69th Berlin International Film Festival
The 69th annual Berlin International Film Festival took place from 7 to 17 February 2019. French actress Juliette Binoche served as the Jury President.
Lone Scherfig's drama film The Kindness of Strangers opened the festival. The Golden Bear was won by Israeli-French drama Synonyms directed by Nadav Lapid, which also served as the closing film of the festival.
Juries
Main competition
- Juliette Binoche, French actress - Jury President
- Justin Chang, American journalist and film critic
- Sandra Hüller, German actress
- Sebastián Lelio, Chilean film director and screenwriter
- Rajendra Roy, American chief curator of MoMA
- Trudie Styler, British actress, producer and film director
First Feature Award Jury
- Katja Eichinger, German journalist, writer and film producer
- Alain Gomis, French filmmaker
- Vivian Qu, Chinese filmmaker and producer
Documentary Award Jury
- Maria Bonsanti, Italian artistic director and director of the Eurodoc program
- Gregory Nava, American film director, screenwriter and producer
- Maria Ramos, Brazilian film director
International Short Film Jury
- Jeffrey Bowers, American curator
- Vanja Kaludjercic, Croatian programmer and purchasing director of MUBI
- Koyo Kouoh, Cameroonian author, curator and artistic director of RAW Material Company
Official Sections
Main Competition
The following films were selected for the main competition for the Golden Bear and Silver Bear awards:Out of competition
The following films were selected to be screened out of competition:Panorama
The following films were selected for the Panorama section:Berlinale Special
The following films were selected for the Berlinale Special section:Short Film Competition
The following films were selected for the Berlinale Shorts section:Official Awards
The following prizes were awarded:Main Competition
- Golden Bear: Synonyms by Nadav Lapid
- Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize: By the Grace of God by François Ozon
- Alfred Bauer Prize: System Crasher by Nora Fingscheidt
- Silver Bear for Best Director: Angela Schanelec for I Was at Home, But
- Silver Bear for Best Actress: Yong Mei for So Long, My Son
- Silver Bear for Best Actor: Wang Jingchun for So Long, My Son
- Silver Bear for Best Screenplay: Maurizio Braucci, Claudio Giovannesi and Roberto Saviano for PiranhasSilver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution: Rasmus Videbæk for ''Out Stealing Horses''
[Golden Bear for Best Short Film]
Umbra by Florian Fischer and Johannes KrellPanorama
Panorama Audience Award
1st Place: 37 Seconds by Hikari2nd Place: Stitches by Miroslav Terzić3rd Place: Buoyancy by Rodd RathjenPanorama Audience Award – Documentaries
1st Place: Talking About Trees by Suhaib Gasmelbari2nd Place: Midnight Traveler by Hassan Fazili and Emelie Mahdavian3rd Place: Shooting the Mafia by Kim LonginottoGeneration
Generation 14Plus
Crystal Bear for Best Film: Stupid Young Heart by Selma Vilhunen- * Special Mention: We Are Little Zombies by Makoto NagahisaCrystal Bear for Best Short Film: Tattoo by Farhad Delaram
- * Special Mention: Four Quartets by Marco Alessi
Generation KPlus
Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Film: House of Hummingbird by Kim Bo-ra- * Special Mention: Bulbul Can Sing by Rima DasSpecial Prize of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Short Film: Liberty by Faren Humes
- * Special Mention: The Jarariju Sisters by Jorge Cadena
Independent Awards
[Teddy Award]
Best Feature Film: Brief Story from the Green Planet by Santiago LozaBest Documentary/Essay Film: Lemebel by Joanna Reposi GaribaldiBest Short Film: Entropia by Flóra Anna BudaSpecial Jury Award: A Dog Barking at the Moon by Xiang ZiSpecial Teddy Award: Falk RichterTEDDY Readers’ Award Powered by QUEER.DE: Brief Story from the Green Planet by Santiago LozaFIPRESCI Prize">International Federation of Film Critics">FIPRESCI Prize
Competition: Synonyms by Nadav LapidPanorama: Dafne by Federico BondiForum: Die Kinder der Toten by Kelly Copper and Pavol Liska[Prize of the Ecumenical Jury]
Competition: God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunija by Teona Strugar MitevskaPanorama: Buoyancy by Rodd Rathjen- * Special Mention: Midnight Traveler by Hassan Fazili and Emelie MahdavianForum: Earth by Nikolaus Geyrhalter
CICAE">International Confederation of Art Cinemas">CICAE Art Cinema Award
Panorama: 37 Seconds by HIKARIForum: Our Defeats by Jean-Gabriel Périot[Berliner Morgenpost] Readers' Jury Award
System Crasher by Nora FingscheidtTagesspiegel">Der Tagesspiegel">Tagesspiegel Readers' Jury Award
Monsters. by Marius OlteanuGuild Film Prize
God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunija by Teona Strugar MitevskaCaligari Film Prize
Heimat Is A Space in Time by Thomas HeiseHeiner Carow Prize
Beauty and Decay by Annekatrin HendelCompass-Perspektive-Award
Born in Evin by Maryam ZareeKompagnon-Fellowship
Perspektive Deutsches Kino: To Be Continued by Julian PörksenBerlinale Talents: Transit Times by Ana-Felicia ScutelnicuARTEKino International Prize
A Responsible Adult by Shira Geffen[Eurimages] Co-Production Development Award
- Avalon PC for ''Alcarràs''
VFF Talent Highlight Award
- Vincenzo Cavallo for ''Bufis''
[Amnesty International] Film Award
Your Turn by Eliza CapaiLabel Europa Cinemas
Stitches by Miroslav TerzićPeace Film Prize
Your Turn by Eliza Capai- * Special Mention:
- ** System K by Renaud Barret
- ** Midnight Traveler by Hassan Fazili and Emelie Mahdavian