Berlinale: Nicolas Philibert wins Golden Bear for On the Adamant

20 years on from his successful documentary Être et avoir, French director Nicolas Philibert has won the Berlin International Film Festival’s top prize for On the Adamant, which examines life in a mental health daycare facility in Paris.

The director was surprised to receive the award, presented by jury president Kristen Stewart on Saturday 25 February in the German capital. On the Adamant was the only documentary in Competition, which featured 19 films from around the world.

Another big story from the festival was the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance being awarded to an eight-year-old, Spain’s Sofia Otero, for her performance in 20,000 Species of Bees. Otero plays a transgender child in the film, set in the Basque Country.

The festival’s Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution went to celebrated French cinematographer Hélène Louvart AFC, honouring her lensing of Disco Boy. Louvart brought debut feature director Giacomo Abbruzzese on stage with her to co-accept the award. Her compatriot Caroline Champetier AFC was awarded the Berlinale Camera.

Christian Petzold’s Afire won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, while João Canijo’s Bad Living was awarded the Silver Bear Jury Prize. Another French director, Philippe Garrel, won the Silver Bear for Best Director for The Plough. Thea Ehre was honoured with the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance in Till the End of the Night, and Angela Schanelec took home the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay for Music.

This year’s international jury, headed by youngest-ever jury president Stewart, also featured Golshifteh Farahani, Valeska Grisebach, Radu Jude, Francine Maisler, Carla Simón and Johnnie To.

MORE BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS

Encounters

Award for Best Film: Here by Bas Devos

Award for Best Director: The Echo by Tatiana Huezo

Special Jury Award: Orlando, My Political Biography by Paul B. Preciado and Samsara by Lois Patiño

Berlinale Shorts

Golden Bear for Best Short Film: Les chenilles by Michelle Keserwany and Noel Keserwany

Silver Bear Jury Prize (Short Film): Dipped in Black by Matthew Thorne and Derik Lynch

Special Mention: It’s a Date by Nadia Parfan

Berlin Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards: Les chenilles by Michelle Keserwany and Noel Keserwany

Generation

Crystal Bear for Best Film: Sweet As by Jub Clerc

Special Mention: Zeevonk by Domien Huyghe

Crystal Bear for Best Short Film: Closing Dynasty by Lloyd Lee Choi

Special Mention: Dede is Dead by Philippe Kastner

The Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for the Best Film: She – Hero by Mira Fornay

Special Mention: Longing for the World by Jenna Hasse

The Special Prize of the Generation Kplus International Jury for the Best Short Film: Waking Up in Silence by Mila Zhluktenko and Daniel Asadi Faezi

Special Mention: Xiaohui and His Cows by Xinying Lao

Crystal Bear for the Best Film (Youth’s Jury Generation 14plus): Adolfo by Sofía Auza

Special Mention: And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine by Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck

Crystal Bear for the Best Short Film: And Me, I’m Dancing Too by Mohammad Valizadegan

Special Mention: From the Corner of My Eyes by Domonkos Erhardt

The Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Film: Hummingbirds by Silvia Del Carmen

Special Mention: Mutt by Vuk Lungulov-Klotz

The Special Prize of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Short Film: Infantaria by Laís Santos Araújo

Special Mention: Incroci by Francesca de Fusco

GWFF Best First Feature Award 2023

GWFF Best First Feature Award 2023: The Klezmer Project by Leandro Koch, Paloma Schachmann

Special Mention: The Bride by Myriam U. Birara

Berlinale Documentary Award 2023

Berlinale Documentary Award 2023: The Echo by Tatiana Huezo

Special Mention: Orlando, My Political Biography by Paul B. Preciado

Berlinale Series Award 2023

Award winner 2023: The Good Mothers by Julian Jarrold, Elisa Amoruso

Special Mention: The Arkitekt by Kerren Lumer-Klabbers

The Honorary Golden Bear

Winner: Steven Spielberg

Berlinale Camera

Winner: Caroline Champetier AFC

For the full list of winners, see here.