Retrospective, Berlinale Classics & Homage
Retrospective and Homage posters
The 2017 Retrospective poster: future imperfect
Retrospective
Retrospective 2022: No Angels
Retrospective 2020: King Vidor
Mar 12, 2020
Homage 2020: Dame Helen Mirren
Mar 12, 2020
Homage 2019: Charlotte Rampling
Homage
Poster of the Retrospective 2019: Self-determined. Perspectives of Women Filmmakers
Retrospective
Homage 2016: Michael Ballhaus
Homage
Poster of the Retrospective 2009: 70 mm - Bigger than Life
© Pentagram
Retrospective
© Pentagram
Poster of the Retrospective 2008: Luis Buñuel
© Pentagram
Retrospective
© Pentagram
Poster of the Retrospective 2004: New Hollywood 1967-1976. Trouble in Wonderland
© Volker Noth
Retrospective
© Volker Noth
Homage 2000: Robert De Niro
Retrospective
Poster of the Retrospective 2000: Artificial People
Berlinale Series
© Volker Noth
Homage 1994: Sophia Loren
Retrospective
Poster of the Retrospective 1991: Cold War
1991
© Volker Noth
Homage 1991: Jane Russell und Robert Mitchum
Homage
Homage 1998: Catherine Deneuve
Homage
Poster of the Retrospective 1988: Colour. The History of Colour Film
© Volker Noth
Retrospective
© Volker Noth
Poster of the Retrospective 1985: Special Effects
© Volker Noth
Retrospective
© Volker Noth
Homage 1982: James Stewart
Homage
Profile Retrospective, Berlinale Classics & Homage
The Retrospective is the Berlinale’s film history programme. In Berlinale Classics, digitally restored film classics and rediscoveries celebrate their premieres. The Homage and the Honorary Golden Bear pay tribute to a great film personality for their lifetime’s achievement.
Curated by the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen (German Cinematheque – Museum for Film and Television), the Retrospective brings works from international film history back to the big screen. Selected on the basis of thorough research, the film programme captivates with cinematographic rediscoveries, high-quality film prints and digital screening formats. The Retrospective topics are devoted to central periods of film history, aspects of film aesthetics and film technology as well as individual genres.
Bruno Ganz in Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire) by Wim Wenders
By encountering works from film history, audiences experience the ongoing transformation of cinematic storytelling and aesthetics. Prominent representatives of today’s filmmaking community, restorers and curators present the films and give information on their film-historical backgrounds. Each annual programme is accompanied by a comprehensive publication which explores the subject in more depth, illuminates it from different angles and places it in a film-historical context.
The Retrospective has been complemented since 2013 by the Berlinale Classics presentations. In view of the increasing number of high-quality restorations and reconstructions offered by the new possibilities of digital processing, Berlinale Classics provides a forum for premieres in this area. New restorations of film classics and rediscoveries are screened in brilliant picture and sound quality. The films are usually introduced by a high-profile festival guest or the restorers.
Since 1977, the Homage has honoured outstanding personalities from the international film scene, screening their most important works in a series of films. The presentation of the Honorary Golden Bear for a lifetime’s achievement at a gala screening in the presence of the honoured guest is one of the highlights of the Berlinale. The Berlin International Film Festival and the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen prepare the Homage together.
Rainer Rother is head of Retrospective, Berlinale Classics & Homage.
Festival impressions
Carlo Chatrian, Bono, Steven Spielberg, Mariëtte Rissenbeek
The Artistic Director, the laudator, the laureate and the Executive Director on stage at the Berlinale Palast.
The Fabelmans · Homage · Honorary Golden Bear · Feb 21, 2023
Euzhan Palcy
The director at the Generation screening of the 1983 film at Zoo Palast.
Rue Cases-Nègres · Retrospective · Feb 23, 2023
Carla Simón
The jury member in conversation at the presentation of her personal coming-of-age favourite.
El espíritu de la colmena · Retrospective · Feb 24, 2023
Live Music
The world premiere of the digitally restored version with new music by Martin Grütter, played by the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Raphael Haeger.
Brüder · Berlinale Classics · Feb 13, 2022
Pary El-Qalqili, Annika Haupts
The moderator and the section's programme coordinator.
Berlinale Goes Kiez · Retrospective · Feb 12, 2022
Carlo Chatrian, Mariette Rissenbeek, Isabelle Huppert
The management duo with the winner of the Honorary Golden Bear, who joins them digitally from Paris.
À propos de Joan · Homage · Berlinale Special · Feb 15, 2022
Premiere in the Friedrichstadt-Palast.
Das Wachsfigurenkabinett · Berlinale Classics · Feb 21, 2020
Charlotte Rampling, Connie Betz
The actress and the section's programme coordinator.
Charlotte Rampling – The Look · Homage · Feb 13, 2019
Retrospective 2019 Bandits
The actors Katja Riemann, Jasmin Tabatabai, director Katja von Garnier, actors Nicolette Krebitz, Jutta Hoffmann and Andrea Sawatzki with Rainer Rother at the Zoo Palast
Retrospective 2019
Group photo with directors, Rainer Rother and team
Retrospective
In the cinema hall
Premiere of the restored version of the film at Kino International.
Night of the Living Dead · Berlinale Classics · Feb 10, 2017
Michael Ballhaus, Rainer Rother
The Homage of the 66th Berlinale is dedicated to the German cinematographer.
Homage · Feb 12, 2016
Since its foundation in 1951, the Berlinale has been the only A-festival in the world to screen a comprehensive filmhistorical retrospective. In 1977, this special commitment to the heritage of international film led to a partnership with the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen which, since then, has been responsible for shaping the content and has curated and organised the Retrospective and Homage in close cooperation with the festival. Directors previously honoured in the Retrospective include Fritz Lang, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, Luis Buñuel, Ernst Lubitsch and Ingmar Bergman. Other topics have been periods significant to film history such as Weimar Cinema and New Hollywood, as well as innovations which played a decisive role in the aesthetic and technical development of cinema (Aesthetics of Shadow, Glorious Technicolor).
Since 2013, the Retrospective has been expanded by Berlinale Classics. In view of the increasing number of high-quality restorations and reconstructions offered by the new possibilities of digital processing, this section provides a forum for premieres of restored film classics and rediscoveries screened in brilliant picture and sound quality.
The presentation of the Honorary Golden Bear for a lifetime’s achievement in filmmaking is accompanied in the Homage by a film series screening the award-winner’s most important works. Between 1977 and 2008, the Honorary Bear went to directing greats such as Hal Roach, Fred Zinneman, Arthur Penn and Francesco Rosi and to acting stars like James Stewart, Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, Catherine Deneuve and Jeanne Moreau. Since 2009, other film disciplines have also come into the spotlight with presentations to the French film composer Maurice Jarre (2009), cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (2016) and costume designer Milena Canonero (2017).
The Retrospective has been managed by the Deutsche Kinemathek since 1977 that has organised the following Retrospectives:
- Young at Heart – Coming of Age at the Movies (2023)
- No Angels – Mae West, Rosalind Russell & Carole Lombard (2022)
- King Vidor (2020)
- Self-determined. Perspectives of women filmmakers (2019)
- Weimar Cinema Revisited (2018)
- Future Imperfect. Science · Fiction · Film (2017)
- Germany 1966 – Redefining Cinema (2016)
- Glorious Technicolor. From George Eastman House and Beyond (2015)
- Aesthetics of Shadow. Lighting Styles 1915–1950 (2014)
- The Weimar Touch. The International Influence of Weimar Cinema after 1933 (2013)
- The Red Dream Factory. Mezhrabpom-Film and Prometheus 1921–1936 (2012)
- Ingmar Bergman. Film as life and life as film (2011)
- PLAY IT AGAIN…! 60 Years Berlinale (2010)
- 70 mm - Bigger than Life (2009)
- Luis Buñuel (2008)
- City Girls. Images of Women in Silent Film (2007)
- Dream Girls. Film Stars in the 1950s (2006)
- Production Design + Film. Locations, Settings, Spaces (2005)
- New Hollywood 1967-1976. Trouble in Wonderland (2004)
- F. W. Murnau (2003)
- European 60’s (2002)
- Fritz Lang (2001)
- Artificial People (2000)
- Otto Preminger (1999)
- Siodmak Bros. Berlin – London – Paris – Hollywood (1998)
- G. W. Pabst (1997)
- William Wyler (1996)
- Happy Birthday, Cinema! (1995)
- Buster Keaton 100
- Slapstick & Co.
- Erich von Stroheim (1994)
- CinemaScope (1993)
- Babelsberg. A film studio (1992)
- Cold War (1991)
- The Year 1945 (1990)
- 40 Years Berlinale
- Europe 1939 (1989)
- Erich Pommer
- Colour. The History of Colour Film (1988)
- Rouben Mamoulian (1987)
- Henny Porten (1986)
- Special Effects (1985)
- Ernst Lubitsch 1914-1933 (1984)
- Exile. Six Actors from Germany (1983)
- Insurrection of Emotions: Curtis Bernhardt (1982)
- East German Children’s Films
- The Producer: The Films of Michael Balcon (1981)
- Billy Wilder (1980)
- 3D Films
- Rudolph Valentino (1979)
- We Danced Around the World. Revue Films
- Marlene Dietrich, Part 2 (1978)
- Censorship – Banned German Films 1933-1945
- Marlene Dietrich, Part 1 (1977)
- Love, Death and Technology. Cinema of the Fantastical 1933-1945
- Eleanor Powell (1976)
Conrad Veidt, Part 2
Great German Films 1929-1932
German Short Films of the 1930s, Part 2 - Greta Garbo (1975)
Conrad Veidt, Part 1
German Short Films of the 1930s, Part 1 - Lilian Harvey (1974)
Jacques Feyder
Norman McLaren - Wilhelm / William Dieterle (1973)
American Musicals
Animations by Dave Fleischer - Douglas Fairbanks (1972)
Ludwig Berger
American Animations 1940-1955 - Busby Berkeley (1971)
Eddie Cantor - Winners of the “Golden Bears” and other Berlinale films (1970)
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire - Abel Gance (1969)
Musicals 1929-1950
Oskar Fischinger - Ernst Lubitsch, Part 2 (1968)
W. C. Fields - Ernst Lubitsch, Part 1 (1967)
Harry Langdon - Cinema Novo (1966)
Max Ophüls
Mack Sennett - Masterpieces of German Film 1895-1932 (1965)
- Louis Lumière (1964)
Pola Negri
Paul Leni - Elisabeth Bergner (1963)
E. A. Dupont
Karl Grune
Yasujiro Ozu - Asta Nielsen (1962)
G. W. Pabst
Ingmar Bergman - Richard Oswald (1961)
Billy Wilder
Akira Kurosawa - 10 Years Golden Berlin Bear (1960)
Musicals from 1930-1945
Musicals from 1930-1945 (Experimental film special programme) - International Masterpieces from the Early Years of Talkies (1959)
- Masterpieces of International Film from 1915 to 1945 (1958)
- German Artists in Foreign Film (1957)
- The Humour of Nations (1956)
- 60 Years Film (1955)
- Showcase of Famous Films (1954)
- Silent Movies (1951-1953)
- Steven Spielberg (2023)
- Isabelle Huppert (2022)
- Dame Helen Mirren (2020)
- Charlotte Rampling (2019)
- Willem Dafoe (2018)
- Milena Canonero (2017)
- Michael Ballhaus (2016)
- Wim Wenders (2015)
- Ken Loach (2014)
- Claude Lanzmann (2013)
- Meryl Streep (2012)
- Armin Mueller-Stahl (2011)
- Hanna Schygulla / Wolfgang Kohlhaase (2010)
- Maurice Jarre (2009)
- Francesco Rosi (2008)
- Arthur Penn (2007)
- Anouk Aimée (2003)
- Claudia Cardinale (2002)
- Kirk Douglas (2001)
- Jeanne Moreau / Robert De Niro (2000)
- Shirley MacLaine (1999)
- Catherine Deneuve (1998)
- Kim Novak (1997)
- Jack Lemmon / Elia Kazan (1996)
- Alain Delon (1995)
- Sophia Loren (1994)
- Gregory Peck (1993)
- Hal Roach (1992)
- Jane Russell / Robert Mitchum (1991)
- Renaud-Barrault au cinéma (1987)
- Fred Zinnemann (1986)
- Melina Mercouri / Jules Dassin (1984)
- James Stewart (1982)
- Peter Pewas (1981)
- Wilfried Basse (1977)