Variety

by Guy Lodge

February 21, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The Berlin Film Festival concluded with a strong focus on politically charged films and impassioned speeches, as Ilker Çatak’s "Yellow Letters" claimed the Golden Bear for Best Film. This Turkish-German production, a protest drama, stood out among the winners, which included Emin Alper’s "Salvation," Grant Gee’s "Everybody Digs Bill Evans," and Sandra Hüller’s standout performance in "Rose." The ceremony also saw Lance Hammer’s "Queen at Sea" taking home two awards: the Jury Prize and Best Supporting Performance for Anna Calder-Marshall and Tom Courtenay. These victories highlight a festival that celebrated both bold storytelling and nuanced performances. In the main competition, "Yellow Letters" dominated with its powerful message, while other films like "Salvation" and "Queen at Sea" showcased diverse narratives and technical excellence. The festival also honored documentaries and shorts, with "If Pigeons Turned to Gold" winning Best Documentary and Marie-Rose Osta’s "Someday a Child" taking the Golden Bear for Best Short Film. Additionally, the Generation Kplus and 14plus categories recognized emerging talent, including "Gugu’s World" and "Sad Girlz," which received top prizes. This reflects the festival’s commitment to fostering new voices in cinema. The Berlinale also saw multiple prizewinners from independent juried awards, such as Faraz Sharia’s courtroom drama "Prosecution" and Fernando Eimbcke’s family study "Flies." In the Documentary category, "Traces" claimed the Audience Award, while films like "Forest High" received Special Mentions. The Teddy Awards celebrated LGBTQ+ themes, with "Ivan & Hadoum" winning Best Feature Film and "Taxi Moto" taking the

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Originally published on Variety on 2/21/2026