The 75th edition of the Berlin Film Festival concluded on Saturday night, marking a new era under the direction of its recently appointed chief, Tricia Tuttle. The festival culminated with the prestigious Golden Bear awarded to Dag Johan Haugerud for his film “Dreams (Sex Love).”
This award-winning film portrays the compelling journey of a teenage girl whose vibrant imagination leads her to express her deep emotional connection to a teacher through a transformative personal essay. Notably, “Dreams” serves as the third part of Haugerud’s “Dream Sex Love” trilogy, with its predecessors, “Sex” and “Love,” having premiered at previous international festivals.
In his acceptance speech, Haugerud expressed his astonishment, stating, "The film is titled ‘Drømmer,’ which translates to ‘dreams’ in Norwegian, and this honor is beyond anything I could have imagined. I encourage everyone to write more and read more; it is a wonderful way to expand your mind."
The Grand Jury Prize, recognized as the second-best film, was awarded to Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Mascaro for “The Blue Trail.” This thought-provoking film explores societal attitudes towards elderly individuals in a dystopian setting where those over 75 are forced into isolation. However, the narrative takes a hopeful turn as the main character seeks freedom from her grim situation.
The Jury Prize was awarded to Argentine director Iván Fund for his film “The Message,” while Huo Meng took home the Best Director accolade for “Living the Land.” These selections contrasted with the widely celebrated choices of "Dreams" and "The Blue Trail," catching many festival attendees off guard.
In terms of standout performances, Rose Byrne received praise for her powerful portrayal in Mary Bronstein’s “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You,” depicting the challenges of a mother balancing her career as a therapist with raising a child with special needs. Andrew Scott was recognized for his supporting role as Richard Rodgers in “Blue Moon,” a film highlighting a pivotal moment in Rodgers’ life and career transition.
Among the festival’s new initiatives under Tuttle’s leadership was the Perspectives section, emphasizing debut features from emerging directors. The Perspectives jury honored Mexican filmmaker Ernesto Martínez Bucio for “The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box),” recognizing it as the best first feature in this newly established category.
Other notable awards included the Best Documentary Prize awarded to Brandon Kramer’s “Holding Liat,” a film exploring an Israeli family’s response to their son’s abduction, and the Teddy Award for best LGBTQ+ feature, which went to an animated Australian film titled “Lesbian Space Princess,” rather than the expected choice of “Dreams (Sex Love).”
Here’s a full list of the festival’s winners:
COMPETITION
- 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, “Living the Land”
- Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance: Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You”
- Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance: Andrew Scott, “Blue Moon”
- Silver Bear for Best Screenplay: “Kontinental ’25,” Radu Jude
- Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution: "La Tour de Glace,” Lucile Hadžihalilović
BERLINALE DOCUMENTARY AWARD
- Best Documentary: “Holding Liat,” Brandon Kramer
PERSPECTIVES JURY
- GWFF Best First Feature: “The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box),” Ernesto Martínez Bucio
BERLINALE SHORTS
- Golden Bear: “Lloyd Wong, Unfinished,” Lesley Loksi Chan
- Silver Bear: “Ordinary Life,” Yoriko Mizushiri
PANORAMA AWARDS
- Panorama Audience Award: “Sorda,” Eva Libertad
- Second Prize: “Lesbian Space Princess,” Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese
- Third Prize: “Home Sweet Home,” Frelle Petersen
GENERATION AWARDS
- Grand Prix for Best Film in Generation 14plus: “Christy,” Brendan Canty
- Special Mention: “Têtes Brûlées,” Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama
- Grand Prix for Best Film in Generation Kplus: “The Botanist,” Jing Yi
- Special Mention: “Seaside Serendipity,” Satoko Yokohama
INDEPENDENT JURY PRIZES
- Ecumenical Jury Prize in Competition: “The Blue Trail,” Gabriel Mascaro
- FIPRESCI Jury Prizes: “Dreams (Sex Love),” Dag Johan Haugerud
OTHER PRIZES
- Berliner Morgenpost Readers’ Jury Award: “The Blue Trail,” Gabriel Mascaro
- Amnesty International Film Award: “The Moelln Letters,” Martina Priessner
As the festival draws to a close, it reflects a celebration of cinematic arts, highlighting diverse voices and innovative storytelling from around the globe.
