The Berlinale handed out Golden and Silver Bears to eight films out of the 18 entries. The highest award went to the Hungarian production, "On Body and Soul".
Upon receiving the Golden Bear, the Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi voiced her thanks: "We wanted the film to be as simple as a glass of water. Only generous hearts can connect with this story." On Body and Soul tells the story of two people who discover their emotions and desires. Maria and Endre, who are both very shy and reserved, work in a Budapest slaughterhouse. They gradually become closer and realise that they share a great connection – they even have the same dreams at night.
The Grand Jury Prize went to Félicité by French director Alain Gomis, who has roots in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. The film takes place in the Democratic Republic of Congo and tells the story of the singer Félicité, who is trying to raise funds for the operation of her son following an accident. The Best Director Silver Bear award went to the Finnish Aki Kaurismäki for The Other Side of Hope, one of the competition's favourites. The film unfolds from the meeting between a restaurant owner and a Syrian refugee. Una Mujer Fantástica (A Fantastic Woman), presents the story of a transgender protagonist in this Chilean, Spanish, German and North American co-production, which scooped the Best Screenplay Silver Bear award, as well as the Teddy Award, dedicated to LGBT productions.
Pendular
| © Eduardo Amayo
Brazilian Productions
Pendular, directed by Julia Murat, collected the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award for the best in the Panorama section. The film follows the rise and fall of the romance between a dancer and a sculptor who share a workshop in a shed in an abandoned factory where they work and live over a period of four years.
2017 has brought images of a diverse Brazil to our screens. Out of the 12 productions presented, it was surprising that just two were shot in the Rio/São Paulo axis. The rest show other Brazilian landscapes. Six of these films were directed by women and the selection shows a balanced mixture of films from both debutant and well-established directors. Some of the films are already scheduled for release in Brazil in the first half of the year.
Awards
- Golden Bear for Best Film: Testről és lélekről (On Body and Soul) by Ildikó Enyedi
- Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize: Félicité by Alain Gomis
- Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives: Pokot (Spoor) by Agnieszka Holland
- Silver Bear for Best Director: Aki Kaurismäki forToivon tuolla puolen (The Other Side of Hope)
- Silver Bear for Best Actress: Kim Minhee in Bamui haebyun-eoseo honja (On the Beach at Night Alone) by Hong Sangsoo
- Silver Bear for Best Actor: Georg Friedrich in Helle Nächte (Bright Nights) by Thomas Arslan
- Silver Bear for Best Screenplay: Sebastián Lelio and Gonzalo Maza forUna mujer fantástica (A Fantastic Woman) by Sebastián Lelio
- Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution: Dana Bunescu for the editing in Ana, mon amour by Călin Peter Netzer
- Golden Bear for Best Short Film:Cidade Pequena (Small Town)
- Silver Bear Jury Prize (Short Film): Ensueño en la Pradera (Reverie in the Meadow)
