54th Berlin International Film Festival
The 54th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 5–15 February 2004. The festival opened with out of competition film Cold Mountain by Anthony Minghella. 25 Degrees in Winter by Stéphane Vuillet served as the closing film.
The Golden Bear was awarded to Head-On directed by Fatih Akın.
The retrospective dedicated to films from 1967 to 1976 titled New Hollywood 1967-1976. Trouble in Wonderland was shown at the festival. It focuses on the films from the period known as New Hollywood or American New Wave, and attended by some of the film-makers and actors of that era including Peter Davis, Peter Fonda, William Greaves, Monte Hellman and Melvin Van Peebles.
Juries
The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:Main Competition
- Frances McDormand, American actress - Jury President
- Maji-da Abdi, Ethiopian filmmaker and producer
- Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Italian actress
- Samira Makhmalbaf, Iranian filmmaker
- Peter Rommel, German producer
- Gabriele Salvatores, Italian filmmaker
- Dan Talbot, American distributor
Short Films Competition
- Christine Dollhofer, Austrian journalist and event creator
- Sophie Maintigneux, French director of photography
- Vinca Wiedemann, Danish producer
Official Sections
Main Competition
The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear and Silver Bear awards:Out of Competition
Cold Mountain by Anthony Minghella 25 Degrees in Winter by Stéphane VuilletShort Films Competition
The following short films were selected:Official Awards
Main Competition
The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:- Golden Bear: Head-On by Fatih Akın
- Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix: Lost Embrace by Daniel Burman
- Silver Bear for Best Director: Kim Ki-duk for Samaritan Girl
- Silver Bear for Best Actress:
- *Catalina Sandino Moreno for Maria Full of Grace
- *Charlize Theron for Monster
- Silver Bear for Best Actor: Daniel Hendler for Lost Embrace
- Silver Bear for Best Film Music: Banda Osiris for First Love
- Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Achievement: Leif Andrée, Pernilla August, Jan Coster, Jakob Eklund, Ingvar Hirdwall, Magnus Krepper, Johan Kvarnström, Camilla Larsson, Marika Lindström, Peter Lorentzon, Hampus Penttinen, Ann Petrén, Marie Richardson, Jenny Svärdsäter, Claes-Göran Turesson for ''Daybreak''
Honorary Golden Bear">Golden Bear#Golden Bear .E2.80.93 Honorary Award">Honorary Golden Bear
Short Films Competition
- Short Film Golden Bear: Cigarettes and Coffee by Cristi Puiu
- Silver Bear: Great! by Karin Junger, Brigit Hillenius
- Honorable Mention: Public/Private by Christoph Behl
Berlinale Camera
- Willy Sommerfeld
- Regina Ziegler
- Erika Rabau
- Rolf Bähr
Independent Awards
Panorama Audience Award
- Best Feature Film: Addicted to Acting by Andres Veiel
- Best Short Film: Passing Hearts by Johan Brisinger
Crystal Bear
- Best Short Film: Stormy Night by Michèle Lemieux
- *Special Mention:
- **Circuit marine by Isabelle Favez
- **Maree by James Pellerito
- Best Feature Film: Magnifico by Maryo J. De Los Reyes
- *Special Mention:
- **The Blind Flyers by Bernd Sahling
- **Raining Cats and Frogs by Jacques-Rémy Girerd
- 14plus: Best Feature Film: The Wooden Camera by Ntshaveni Wa Luruli
- *Special Mention: Quality of Life by Benjamin Morgan