The most important awards at the Berlinale are the Golden Bear and the Silver Bears. They are presented by the International Jury to films in the Competition and belong to the most renowned awards in the international film industry.
The International Jury is selected every year by the Festival Director and presents the following awards:
- Golden Bear for Best Film (awarded to the film’s producer)
- Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize
- Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives
- Silver Bear for Best Director
- Silver Bear for Best Actress
- Silver Bear for Best Actor
- Silver Bear for Best Script
- Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution in the categories camera, editing, music score, costume or set design
In recent years, Festival Director Dieter Kosslick has invited internationally recognised personalities from the world of film such as James Schamus, Christoph Waltz, Wong Kar Wai, Mike Leigh, Isabella Rossellini, Werner Herzog, Tilda Swinton, Darren Aronofsky and Meryl Streep to head the seven-member jury. Jury members include directors, actors, and producers, but also writers and artists. One of the festive highpoints of every Berlinale is the presentation of the Bears on the penultimate day of the festival.