74th edition

Berlinale Awards: Who Secured Which Bears?

সিনেমা দর্শন ডেস্ক প্রকাশিত: ফেব্রুয়ারি ২৫, ২০২৪, ০৫:৪৪ পিএম Berlinale Awards: Who Secured Which Bears?

Dahomey, a documentary by Mati Diop, a filmmaker of French-Senegalese descent, has been awarded the Golden Bear for best film at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. The documentary, a blend of factual and fictional elements, delves into the repatriation of looted royal treasures from the African Kingdom of Dahomey to the present-day Republic of Benin in November 2021. It scrutinizes the complex reactions of the people in Benin, whose culture has evolved for over a century without these historical artifacts.

Upon accepting the award, Diop seized the moment to make a direct political statement, declaring, "I stand with Palestine!"

Dahomey becomes the second African film to claim the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, following Breathe Umphefumlo (U-Carmen eKhayelitsha) from South African filmmaker Mark Dornford-May in 2015. Art house streaming platform Mubi secured the rights for Dahomey in North America and various parts of the world in a deal announced on Friday. This marks the second consecutive year for a documentary to win Berlin's Golden Bear, with Nicolas Philibert's On the Adamant taking the honor in the previous edition.

Renowned filmmaker Hong Sangsoo, a familiar face at the Berlinale awards stage, clinched his fourth win with the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize for A Traveler’s Needs. Collaborating for the third time with French star Isabelle Huppert, their project adds to the series that includes In Another Country (2012) and Claire’s Camera (2017). Best director accolades went to Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias from the Dominican Republic for Pepe, a unique blend of documentary and fiction narrated by a hippo brought to Colombia by drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Bruno Dumont's sci-fi satire L’ Empire, distributed by Memento International, received the Silver Bear jury prize.

Sebastian Stan, known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, earned Berlin's Silver Bear for best leading performance in Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man. The film, set in New York, tells a twisted fable of a man undergoing radical plastic surgery, prompting introspection about his identity.

Emily Watson was awarded the best supporting actor honor for her portrayal of a chilling nun alongside Cillian Murphy in Tim Mielants' Irish drama Small Things Like These, with international sales managed by FilmNation.

Amidst the ongoing political discussions related to the Gaza conflict during this year's Berlinale, the best documentary prize was presented to No Other Land. Directed by a collaboration of Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, the film provides a poignant examination of the Israeli government's efforts to displace Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, a rural village in the occupied West Bank. No Other Land, showcased in Berlin's Panorama sidebar section, not only secured the audience award for best documentary but also prompted a powerful plea from its directors, representing both sides, urging the influential individuals present to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and to end the occupation of the West Bank by Israel. One of the directors suggested, at the very least, that Germany should halt the supply of weapons to Israel.

Juliana Rojas, recipient of the Encounters prize for best director for Cidade; Campo, and Ben Russell, along with co-director Guillaume Cailleau, winners of the best film prize in the Encounters section for Direct Action, also utilized the Berlinale platform to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Russell explicitly stated their stance against genocide.

Winners of the 74th Berlinale

Golden Bear for Best Film

Dahomey dir. Mati Diop

Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize

A Traveler’s Needs dir. Hong Sangsoo

Silver Bear Jury Prize

L’ Empire dir. Bruno Dumont

Silver Bear for Best Director

Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias for Pepe

Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance

Sebastian Stan for A Different Man

Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance