The Golden Bear, the Berlin International Film Festival’s top prize, was awarded to the political drama Yellow Letters by German director Ilker Catak. Catak, whose previous film The Teachers’ Lounge (2023) was Oscar-nominated, tells the story of married artists whose relationship is tested as they come under state scrutiny. The film stars Tansu Bicer as a playwright and Ozgu Namal as a famous actress. Though set in contemporary Turkey, Yellow Letters was filmed in Germany, with Berlin and Hamburg standing in for Ankara and Istanbul.
Decidedly the most political entry among the 22 works in the main competition, Yellow Letters provided a pointed finale to a festival marked by heated debates — including controversy after jury president Wim Wenders said filmmakers “have to stay out of politics” at the opening press conference. Presenting the award, Wenders also praised the film for speaking “very clearly about the political language of totalitarianism as opposed to the empathetic language cinema.”
In his acceptance speech Catak urged unity among artists, saying: “Let’s not fight each other, let’s fight them.”
Festival director Tricia Tuttle framed the Berlinale as reflecting “a world that feels raw and fractured,” referencing viral political debates during the event, such as an open letter criticizing the festival’s “silence” on Gaza. Tuttle said criticism is vital in a democracy and acknowledged the courage of those who speak out: criticism is “good for us — even if it didn’t always feel good.” Wenders, before announcing winners, contrasted social media’s “affective language” with cinema’s long-form power to transmit empathy.
The Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize went to Emin Alper’s Salvation, a timely film examining mechanisms behind politically driven mass violence. Alper used his acceptance speech to express solidarity with people suffering in Gaza, Iranian protesters, Kurds fighting for rights, and Turks imprisoned for political beliefs: “You are not alone.”
Other Silver Bear awards included recognition for Lance Hammer’s Queen at Sea, a drama about dementia starring Juliette Binoche; Tom Courtenay and Anna Calder-Marshall received the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for their heartbreaking roles as a husband and wife. Grant Gee won the Silver Bear for Best Director for Everybody Digs Bill Evans, a stylized biopic of the jazz pianist. Sandra Hüller earned the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for Rose, in which she plays a woman passing as a man in the 17th century. Genevieve Dulude-De Celles received the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay for Nina Roza. The Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution went to Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird), a playful documentary about a special friendship between two creative women.
In the Perspectives section for debut features, the GWFF Best First Feature Award was given to Palestinian director Abdallah Alkhatib for Chronicles From a Siege. A refugee in Germany, Alkhatib used his speech to challenge Germany’s stance toward Gaza, accusing the country of being “partners of the genocide in Gaza by Israel” and saying, “I believe you are intelligent enough to recognize this, but you choose not to care.”
Lebanese filmmaker Marie-Rose Osta, who won the Golden Bear for best short film for Someday a Child, also referenced the suffering of Palestinians in her acceptance remarks.
Closing the politically charged gala, Tricia Tuttle reiterated the festival’s commitment to free expression: “We defend everyone’s right to speak.”
Edited by: Andreas Illmer
