Berlinale 2026 In Berlin

From February 12 to 26

Analysis of the Berlinale 2026 in Berlin, Germany, from February 12, to February 22.

One of the biggest international film festivals world wide, the Berlinale in Berlin,

Germany, is again history for this year. Around 200 films from all over the globe were

shown in Berlin at the Potsdamer Platz film headquarters and in movie theaters around town.

Judging from the main series, the Competition, with about twenty-two (22) films, the

overall impression was of a non controversial festival, focusing on interpersonal

situations, set within the surroundings and cultures of particular countries where it

was created. Attention was given to mostly personalized foci, highlighting daily

behavior patterns of people, mostly of partners, trying to find a footing in a not so

comforting world.

The views were conveyed more quietly, more gently, than in previous festivals, at

least in the main series. The Competition, that decides the big awards, the Golden

and the Silver Bears. The chair of this jury, world renowned German filmmaker,

Wim Wenders, stated the goal of "staying out of politics," which the direction of

this festival wanted and did take.

The selections of the big prizes reflected this concept. The biggest prize, the Golden

Bear for best film went to Ilker Atak for Gelbe Briefe (yellow letters), a German,

French, and Turkish co-production. It investigates an artist couple that lost their job and

showed how it affected their mutual life in a negative way.

The second biggest prize, the Silver Bear of the jury, was given to Ernin Alper for

Kurtulus (Salvation). It deals with the villager,Mesut, who wants to fight a clan that

brings an old vendetta back into his Turkish mountain village.

The Silver Bear, as well as the one for the Silver Bear for Best Acting, was given to

Lance Hammer's, Queen at Sea, a US and Great Britain co-production, that was

extremely moving. Juliette Binoche as daughter comes to take her demented

mother (Anna Calder-Marshall) to a home, away from her mother's husband (Tom

Cortenay). At the end she concedes to let them stay together, seeing how much they

depend on each other.

The Silver Bear for Best Direction was claimed by Grant Gee for Everybody Digs

Bill Evans, an Irish/British co-production. It focuses on the torn emotions of a Jazz

pianist who lost his soul mate and bass player in a tragic car accident.

Another quite moving US film is Josephine by Beth de Araujo. The eight year old

Josephine had seen a rape and must be a witness at a trial. She cannot handle the

situation well and becomes violent.

These films, and many others not mentioned here, were part of this year's Berlinale.

It was a festival of account taking of human behaviors that were universal although

the settings differed each time.