Best First Feature Award – funded by GWFF
Festival photos from previous editions
Ernesto Martínez Bucio
For the first time the prize was awarded in the new section Perspectives.
El Diablo Fuma (y guarda las cabezas de los cerillos quemados en la misma caja) | The Devil Smokes (And Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box) · Perspectives · GWFF Best First Feature Award · Feb 22, 2025
Phạm Ngọc Lân
The director is happily accepting the award.
Cu Li Không Bao Giờ Khóc | Cu Li Never Cries · Panorama · GWFF Best First Feature Award · Feb 24, 2024
Leandro Koch, Paloma Schachmann
The directing duo with their trophy, a viewfinder.
Adentro mío estoy bailando | The Klezmer Project · Encounters · GWFF Best First Feature Award · Feb 25, 2023
Kurdwin Ayub
The winner of the GWFF Best First Feature Award with the trophy around her neck. The winners of the award for the best first film are presented with a high-quality viewfinder.
Sonne · Encounters · GWFF Best First Feature Award · Feb 16, 2022
Mark Rapaport, Adam Mitchell, Carmen Gray, Azu Nwagbogu, Dasha Nekrasova, Wieland Speck, Katty Salié
The winner of the GWFF Best First Feature Award with the viewfinder.
The Scary of Sixty-First · Encounters · GWFF Best First Feature Award · Freiluftkino Museumsinsel · Jun 13, 2021
Camilo Restrepo
The director of the winning film of the GWFF Best First Feature Award.
Los conductos · Encounters · GWFF Best First Feature Award · Feb 29, 2020
Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay, Claus Reichel, Bastian Klügel
Overwhelmed.
Oray · Perspektive Deutsches Kino · Closing Gala · GWFF Best First Feature Award · Feb 16, 2019
Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, Mohamed Ben Attia
The producer and the director of the film.
Inhebbek Hedi | Hedi · Competition · Best First Feature Award · Feb 20, 2016
Babak Najafi
Babak Najafi won the First Feature Award.
Sebbe · Generation · Best First Feature Award · Feb 20, 2010
Rajnesh Domalpalli, Mamatha Bhukya
The Best First Feature Award, awarded for the second time this year, was given to a film from the Generation section: Vanaja. Director Rajnesh Domalpalli and his young main cast Mamatha Bhukya are full of joy. The award is endowed with 50,000 euros and donated by the GWFF.
Vanaja · Generation · Youth jury · Best First Feature Award · Feb 17, 2007
The Berlinale has been even more committed to supporting the next generation of film makers since 2006, when it introduced the Best First Feature Award in partnership with GWFF (Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und Fernsehrechten, a society dedicated to safeguarding film and television rights). A three-member jury presents the award, endowed with 50,000 euros and funded by GWFF, to a film premiering in the section Perspectives. The prize money is to be split between the director and the producer of the winning film. Additionally, the director is awarded with a high-quality viewfinder as both a useful instrument and memorable trophy that should accompany them on their future road to success.
Award winners from earlier festival years are available in the archive.