From a small celebration at a bookstore in West Germany in 1987 to today’s huge celebration at the Volksbühne Theatre on Berlin’s Rosa Luxemburg Square: the Teddy Awards are where cinema, politics and joy meet. How did it transform from a low-key event into a prominent date in the cinematic calendar? Berlinale blogger Ahmed Shawky takes us on a journey to discover the full story behind this year’s celebration.
I’ve always said that the days at Berlinale are all alike, but the nights are completely different. During the day, most attendees are either at press screenings, watching films, or in the halls of the European Film Market holding meetings. Yet each night has its own flavour, and each group of festivalgoers chooses its evening destination from the many activities and parties to which they are invited, according to their specialisation, years of experience and network of acquaintances.Over the past few years, my choice has always been to leave the last Friday evening of the festival (February 21st this year) free of any commitments, so I can attend the Teddy Awards, the annual ceremony for films addressing queer issues, sexual freedom and gender identity. The Teddy Awards are an event with a unique character, and being there has become an annual tradition for many friends, even if they are not specifically engaged in queer issues in their field of work.
The unique character of the Teddy Awards stems from both the past and the present. This year saw the 39th edition of the awards, which were first held at a small bookstore in West Germany, in 1987. While organizing a special award for “queer” films raises few eyebrows today—at least in the West—it was not as easy or intuitive four decades ago. At that time, most countries had laws against alternative sexual orientations. The AIDS pandemic was at its peak, with all the social stigma this carried for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Teddy Awards appeared at a historic moment, just months before the fall of the Berlin Wall. They continued and developed to become an established tradition of the Berlinale. Despite being organized in total independence of the festival’s management, the Awards’ association with the festival gives them tangible and growing cultural value as a free platform, unrestrained by political restrictions, and released from the balances that normally restrain organisers of cultural activities.
A Rebellion against Norms and Politics
Queer culture is often associated with liberation and challenging the status quo. This took on an explosive quality last year, when the jury issued a forthright statement supporting the people of Gaza and calling for the liberation of the Palestinian territories.
This year’s edition of the Teddy Awards was more disciplined, perhaps due to a precautionary decision taken to reduce the number of jury members from five to three.
The highlight of the Teddy Awards this year was the speech of American director Todd Haynes, the winner of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” and the Head of the Jury at the international competition. He spoke about his involvement in the movement to defend gay rights and the right of AIDS patients to medical treatment. He recalled his feeling of taking part in changing the world, and stressed the need to regain that sense in order to stand up to the Trump administration’s radical actions on gender issues.
Joy is a Key Component
Cinema, queer issues, and politics are three perennial aspects of the Teddy Award, but they are complemented by a fourth side: joy. The event’s unique flavour comes from the sudden transition from the serious discussions at the awards ceremony to the raucous after-party in the Volksbühne (People’s Theatre) on Rosa Luxemburg Square, which has become the award’s permanent annual location.
The evening continues into the morning, with singing, dancing, and musical performances in the various halls of the venerable old building which, for one night a year, experiences a celebration that is totally different from its usual programme. It is a celebration that brings together everything that is beautiful and interesting in the world of contemporary cinema.
February 2025