TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Golden Bear, the Berlin International Film Festival's top prize, was awarded on Saturday to the political drama Yellow Letters by German director Ilker Catak. His previous film, The Teachers' Lounge (2023), was nominated for an Oscar.
Starring Tansu Bicer as a playwright and Ozgu Namal as a famous actress, Yellow Letters follows a married artist couple whose relationship is tested as they get caught in the state’s crosshairs.
The allegorical story on authoritarian oppression is set in contemporary Turkey but was shot in Germany, with Berlin and Hamburg standing in for Ankara and Istanbul.
“Yellow Letters was decidedly the most political of all 22 works in the main competition,” jury president Wim Wenders said, reflecting the politically charged atmosphere of this year’s festival. Wenders had sparked debate at the opening press conference by saying filmmakers “have to stay out of politics.” Yet, presenting the award, he praised the film for speaking “very clearly about the political language of totalitarianism as opposed to the empathetic language of cinema.”
In his acceptance speech, Catak urged unity among artists: “Let’s not fight each other, let’s fight them,” referring to the world’s autocrats.
A Festival Reflecting ‘a Polarized World’
“This Berlinale took place in a world that feels raw and fractured,” festival director Tricia Tuttle said at the gala opening, referring to viral debates including an open letter criticizing the festival’s “silence” on Gaza. She highlighted the role of criticism in democracy and praised the courage of those voicing opinions publicly: “Criticism is good for us — even if it didn’t always feel good.”
Before announcing winners, Wenders contrasted social media’s “affective language” with cinema’s enduring power to transmit empathy.
Silver Bear Winners
The Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize went to Emin Alper’s Salvation, a timely exploration of politically driven mass murders. Alper expressed solidarity with those suffering in Gaza, protesters in Iran, Kurds fighting for their rights, and Turks imprisoned for political beliefs: “You are not alone,” he said.
Lance Hammer’s Queen at Sea, a drama on dementia starring Juliette Binoche, and Tom Courtenay and Anna Calder-Marshall, whose performances as a husband and wife were recognized, won the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance.
Grant Gee took the Silver Bear for Best Director for Everybody Digs Bill Evans, a biopic on the jazz pianist. Sandra Hüller earned the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance in Rose, portraying a woman passing as a man in the 17th century. Genevieve Dulude-De Celles won Best Screenplay for Nina Roza, and Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird) won for Outstanding Artistic Contribution.
Palestinian Director Wins Debut Film Award
The Perspectives section, focusing on debut features, awarded the GWFF Best First Feature to Palestinian director Abdallah Alkhatib for Chronicles From a Siege. A refugee in Germany, Alkhatib criticized the German government for partnering with “the genocide in Gaza by Israel” despite warnings not to speak out.
Lebanese filmmaker Marie-Rose Osta, winner of the Golden Bear for best short film for Someday a Child, also referenced Palestinian suffering in her acceptance speech.
“We defend everyone’s right to speak,” Tuttle concluded, closing the politically charged festival with a call for acceptance and tolerance.
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