The 2025 Berlin International Film Festival awarded its prestigious Golden Bear to “Dreams (Sex Love),” a film by Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud. Unveiling the tale of a student’s affection for her compelling teacher and the girl’s eventual sharing of her written narrative with her grandmother and mother, the movie stands out as a compelling, deeply moving narrative highlighting strong female roles. Jury president Todd Haynes lauded the film’s original approach and profound global resonance.
Alongside other jury members from various backgrounds, Haynes was part of the panel that selected not only the Golden but also the Silver Bears. The Silver Bear for Grand Jury Prize and Jury Prize were awarded to Gabriel Mascaro’s “The Blue Trail” and Ivan Fund’s “The Message,” respectively, both centered around journeys – through the lush Amazon in Mascaro’s work and Argentina’s countryside in Fund’s.
Chinese filmmaker Huo Meng’s “Living the Land” claimed the best director award with its compelling rural saga. Acting awards were distributed, with Rose Byrne and Andrew Scott being recognized for outstanding performances, reflecting the Berlinale’s commitment to gender-neutral awards in acting. Marion Cotillard and her team received the Silver Bear for an exceptional artistic contribution, and Radu Jude earned the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay.
The Berlin festival, renowned for its political themes, showcased a different tone this year. Though the political films that showcased at the event, such as “Timestamp,” failed to win any awards.
The Berlin International Film Festival under the leadership of Tricia Tuttle introduced a new section called Perspectives, featuring debut feature films. Ernesto Martinez Bucio’s “The Devil Smokes (And Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box),” won the top prize in this category. Throughout the festival, Tuttle emphasized the importance of film as an art form without overly focusing on political statements.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/coming-of-age-film-from-norway-wins-berlinale-s-golden-bear/a-71716079?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
