Berlinale Winners Named Amid Protests And Delays
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By PAGE Editor
The 75th Berlinale ended with big surprises and a lot of drama. Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud’s Dreams (Sex Love) won the top prize, the Golden Bear. The Blue Trail by Gabriel Mascaro took the Grand Jury Prize.
Things got heated when a Chinese director’s speech caused anger, leading to a police investigation. Many argued over the jury’s choices and some criticised how the festival was run. This made it one of the most talked-about Berlinales ever.
Top awards go to daring and talked-about films
Fans and critics were filled with thrill, with some wishing Stake Casino offers betting on their favourite films nominated in Berlinale. The Golden Bear went to Dreams (Sex Love) by Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud. The film tells the story of a teenage girl who has strong feelings for her teacher.
Meanwhile, the Grand Jury Prize went to The Blue Trail by Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro. It is a sci-fi film about a troubled future. It combines politics with deep emotions.
The Jury Prize went to The Message by Iván Fund. On the other hand, Huo Meng won Best Director for Living the Land, a Chinese film about life in the countryside. Rose Byrne won Best Leading Performance for If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You, a comedy-drama about a woman with a rare disability.
Andrew Scott won Best Supporting Performance for Blue Moon, a love story by Richard Linklater. The film stars Ethan Hawke, who's also talked about for his amazing performance.
Radu Jude won Best Screenplay for Kontinental '25, a dark comedy about Europe’s future. Lucile Hadžihalilović won the Outstanding Artistic Contribution award for La Tour de Glace, a fantasy film with amazing visuals.
Jury choices stir debate among critics and fans
Jury president Todd Haynes and his team made bold choices that people disagreed on. Dreams (Sex Love) was praised for its strong emotions, but some thought a bigger film should have won. Mascaro’s The Blue Trail impressed many, but some critics questioned if it was as urgent as other films. The Jury Prize for The Message was also a surprise and its experimental style left audiences divided.
Huo Meng’s Best Director win for Living the Land surprised some people. Some liked its quiet storytelling, but others thought better films were ignored. Rose Byrne’s win was also popular. Andrew Scott’s win for Best Supporting Performance, however, caused debate. Some thought Ethan Hawke’s performance in the same film was better.
Festival faces criticism over shocking events
The festival upset many when Hong Kong director Jun Li read a message from Iranian actor Erfran Shekarriz. Shekarriz skipped the event to protest Berlinale’s silence on Israel’s attack on Gaza. The message ended with ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’ This phrase is controversial in Germany and led to a police investigation.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany said it was not okay. Berlinale organisers tried to step back. They said they supported free expression but knew the topic was sensitive. People also said the issue took focus away from the films. It also restarted talks about politics at film events.
What’s next for Berlinale after a rocky year?
After a year of bold films and debate, Berlinale has big choices to make. The festival must support free expression while handling sensitive issues. New director Tricia Tuttle may need to improve film selection and fix event problems.
The backlash could also lead to clearer rules on political messages. It’s unclear if these changes will help Berlinale’s image or cause more arguments. With film fests playing bigger roles in shaping society, betting on these events is expected to become popular on sites like Stakecasino.
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