Awards

"How do you find your way as a young person in a world that provides no security? Do you become a security guard yourself? Do you expose yourself to art, casual sexual partners, or perhaps seek spirituality and try to see into the future?” Francisco Lezama demonstrates sharp insight into the dynamics between young people and society, adeptly highlighting social issues without resorting to accusation. Through the protagonist's 22-minute journey, the film brims with vitality, wry humor, and nuanced social commentary, all encapsulating the absurdity of our capitalist times. This film thoroughly impressed the jury with its cleverness, youthful insight, and masterful craft. This year's Golden Bear for Best Short Film goes to Francisco Lezama's Un movimiento extraño.

Depicting the world, especially the one we live in, is no longer a question of general views. Just as the map can’t represent the world, and when it does, we know the tragic consequences of that attempt. Cinema must aspire to show what does not fit on the map. All that exceeds the frame. Sometimes, listening, just for a while, is enough to understand that the world is made up of infinite overlapping layers, hundreds of simultaneous details, hidden sensibilities and subtle emotions. For its elegance and delicacy, and the extreme care shown to invite us to observe and listen to a small portion of the world, this jury has decided to award with the Silver Bear Jury Prize the film Re tian wu hou by Wenqian Zhang.

Over this past week, we the International Short Film Jury , have been reminded over and over how the short form itself can allow for the kind of bold and unexpected moves, which would likely not work in a feature length. This is precisely why we are awarding a Jury Special Mention, and the Berlin Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards to a short film that uses creative non-fiction to reflect on a life lived between two consuming monoliths, filmmaking, and motherhood. An exchange of letters between women, no playgrounds and a bird watcher come together to tell a truly special story which may or may not actually be true. It is also a perfect example of why short films are people too. Congratulations to Eva Könnemann for That’s All from Me.

This film took us on a humorous and emotional rollercoaster ride with the courageous protagonist. We witnessed how two very different characters found each other and that life shouldn’t be ruled by perfectionism. We particularly liked the dance sequences, which gave us insights into a culture that was foreign to us.

A romantic and creative film that evoked many emotions and moved us in a magical way. The realistic journey of two young people falling in love brilliantly delivers the message: love whomever you want!

An entire life story is told in a child-friendly and exciting way in a very short space of time. The beautifully painted images are rounded off by fascinating transitions. The thought-provoking story of a swimmer delivers the message: No room for racism and anti-Semitism in our world! Together, we can achieve this!

The realistic depiction made it easy for us to identify very well with the feelings of a girl. We saw and heard how her world became distorted by an unexpected assault. Sexual violence concerns us all and should be addressed more!

A film that really stayed with us tells a story about the beauty of life and of things coming to an end. It is a film that does not shy away from portraying the messy and consuming feelings that can arise when you know your dreams may not be fulfilled. However, it also invites the viewer into the joyful and lively world of a teenager and her friends as they celebrate their youth. This masterful balance between fear and loneliness our main protagonist tries to suppress, and her joy as she spends time with her friends is what enraptured us and is the reason why we chose this film.

For us, this film was love at first sight. It is a tender depiction of two characters who are drawn to each other by both fate and their own uniqueness. The film follows these two characters with an almost poetic flow as it explores the multitude of ways one can be extraordinary. Rich with a quiet beauty and rife with symbolism, it offers a window into the lives of these two teens and their intricate personalities, and permits the viewer entry into a world that is not their own.

A movie that deeply moved us all was able to evoke a wide range of emotions within us, encompassing feelings from sadness and anger to tenderness and love. Supported by stunning visuals, the film authentically follows the struggles of a young person. It creates an intimate insight into their life so that all emotions and actions are tangible, even if our own personal circumstances significantly differ from theirs.

This film is a powerful yet unique love story of two teenagers. Where it really shines is its ability to inspire the viewer to empathize with two characters that have very different circumstances and challenges. Together with them, we embark on a journey of learning that provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of two people whom the world has not taken the time to comprehend. The film is truly a celebration of how the courage to understand can be immensely powerful and overcome barriers.

For a film in which the acting, the light, the characters, and the story are all working in tandem and great symmetry, a film of everyday familial life that at the same time gives voice to a country, Peru, and its very specific political history.

For a beautifully made film that contains in its images the strongest feelings of childhood, a film in which the social and the political frame an indelible story of a young Peruvian boy’s friendship with animals, particularly with his beloved dog and his cherished alpaca.

For a film in which a haircut becomes a metaphor for the journey of self-discovery for a very charismatic Chinese teenager; a film by a filmmaker who understands that the profundity of adolescent life can be found in the travails of the everyday.

For a film that balances observational cinema with the feeling of a fairy tale – to raise questions of both gender and childhood, without forcing answers.

For a deeply original film made by an artist who isn’t afraid to take chances, a work of cinema that seems both very new and also rooted in the history of drama, from Chekhov to Bergman, creating a precise portrait of a particular social milieu; a film full of life’s contradictions – love and hate, maturity and childishness, beauty and violence; a work of art in which the foibles and failures of adult life reflect the troubling futures of the young protagonists.

For a film that is in itself a political act, using the tools of verité cinema to tell the story of a young Afghan woman living without papers, or autonomy, in Iran, a film in which the strength and fortitude of the protagonist radiates from the screen.

For a film that uses the poetry of cinema to express the emotions of life and loss and sadness; a film shot in Cuba that examines masculinity with the most sensitive of images, never forgetting that the unspoken – the mystery found in life and art – remains the most beautiful thing in cinema.

For a film that understands that the beautiful fragility of cinema mirrors the tenderness of our most personal human relationships; a film from Nepal that effortlessly connects the experience of love to the restrictions of a society and culture.