List of winners of the 2023 Berlin Film Festival

February 25, 2023

See who won big at the first major international film festival of the year.

As the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival drew to a close, the first of the three major international film festivals began handing out its awards. This year’s Berlin jury was chaired by Kristen Stewart, and the selections promised to reflect the actress’ famously good taste in movies. But a strong line-up featuring a wide range of innovative films from the world’s best directors ensured that their work was never going to be easy. From a timely documentary about the war in Ukraine to various dramas about men trapped in small spaces (see “Inside” and “Akút”), the eclectic collection of films has something for everyone.

At last year’s festival, Carla Simon’s Spanish drama “Alcarras” won the coveted Golden Bear. Several of the biggest names in global cinema walked away with big prizes, as Claire Denis received the Silver Bear for Best Director for “Both Sides of the Blade” and Hong Sang-soo the main jury Silver Bear for “The Novelist’s Film”. .”

This year’s jury awarded the French documentary “On the Adamant” with the Golden Bear. Nicolas Philibert’s film tells the story of a unique mental health institution that uses art as a primary method of care. Stewart praised the film for expanding the jury’s understanding of art. The Silver Bear for Best Director went to Philippe Garrel for “The Plow,” while the Silver Bear for Best Actor went to child star Sofia Otero for “20,000 Species of Bees.”

At this year’s festival, Steven Spielberg also traveled to Berlin to receive the honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement. He gave an impassioned acceptance speech in which he reflected on his unique relationship with the German public and made it clear that he had no plans to retire anytime soon.

“If this honor means that my work has found a home in Germany, then tonight I feel like I am at home,” Spielberg said (via Species). “This honor is of particular importance to me because I am a Jewish director. I’d like to believe that this is a small moment in a much larger, ongoing effort to heal the broken places of history—what Jews call Tikkun Olam, the repair and restoration of the world.

Read on for the full list of Berlin Film Festival 2023 winners.

Golden Bear – “On the Adamant” by Nicolas Philibert

Silver Bear is the main prize of the jury – “Afire”, Christian Petzold

Silver Bear Jury Award – “Bad Living” by João Canijo

Silver Bear for Best Director – “The Plow”, Philippe Garrel

Silver Bear for Best Actress – “20,000 Species of Bees,” Sofia Otero

Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance – “Till the End of the Night” by Thea Ehre

Silver Bear for Best Screenplay – “Music” by Angela Schanelec

Silver Bear for outstanding artistic contribution – Disco Boy”, Hélène Louvart, cinematographer

Winners of meetings:

Best Film – “Here” by Bas Devos

Best Director – “The Echo” by Tatiana Huezo