Everything is illuminated during the Berlinale; one could easily call it the “second Christmas of Berlin.”

I planned to write a Berlinale guide for quite a while now. I’ve been living for almost a decade in Berlin, and I’m always looking forward to the Berlinale Film Festival. While some of you already know (and hopefully attend!) the Berlinale, there are definitely people out there who have never heard of it. Prior to my relocation to Berlin, I used to visit the city in order to attend the festival. Nowadays, though, I call myself a local, and I thought of writing a comprehensive Berlinale guide: this post is full of useful info both for first-timers and festival-aficionados (like me). It includes tips on how to get tickets, what every section is all about, spending time on the red carpet, and more.

I will attend of course this year’s Berlinale, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to get live updates and see photos.

Also, don’t forget to check my Berlinale 2019 Diary (*updated daily during the festival!*) and read my Berlinale Interview on the German rbb radio (or listen to it here). I’ve also written about the Berlinale 2020 here.

In some subsections, you will also find an update for the Berlinale 2020. This is obligatory in order to reflect the changes in the festival’s program and structure. As of 2020, Dieter Kosslick is no longer the Director of the Festival: he was replaced by a duo, Carlo Chatrian, and Mariette Rissenbeek. So, let’s get started with the Berlinale guide.

What is the Berlinale?

The International Film Festival of Berlin is one of the major events of the film industry and one of the biggest film festivals in the world. It is also one of the three biggest film festivals in Europe (together with Venice and Cannes). What makes it different, though, is that the Berlinale is more focused on the audience. That said, you can attend almost 90% of the screenings if you have a ticket. Both the Venice film festival and the Cannes are mainly focused on the film industry itself.

The first Berlinale took place in 1951. It was most likely an attempt of the post-war Berlin (and Germany) to create a more pleasant atmosphere for itself. Soon, the Berlinale became one of the top film festivals in Europe. Nowadays, there are more than 300,000 tickets sold per year! It is by far the most audience-oriented film festival in Europe.

The dates of the Berlinale film festival

The Berlinale is held annually and always takes place in February. More precisely, it starts on the second Thursday of the month and lasts for 10 days. As I stated at the beginning of the post, it feels like a second Christmas in Berlin. There are posters everywhere, the city is illuminated and now and then you will see the Bear, Berlinale’s legendary emblem.

The choice of February might seem odd to some. The truth is, though, that February in Berlin is a very dark month. The days are short, and the weather is bad: you should expect a mixture of minus degrees with some snow and cloudy skies (and hopefully no rain!). The Berliners were searching for an excuse to illuminate the city and also to find an escape from the dull weather. Hence, they chose to create a film festival in the midst of winter! I still remember the snowy Berlinale of 2011, and in general, it is not uncommon to have snow during the festival. So, pack warm clothes if you are planning to attend, bitte.

2020 Berlinale Guide Update: The 70th Berlinale will take place from the 20th of February until the 1st of March 2020. As you can see the festival will take place significantly later this year. The reason is that the directors preferred not to have a festival squeezed between the Bafta and the Oscars.

Where does the Berlinale take place?

Nowadays, the Berlinale attracts a massive number of visitors, and it literally seems that the whole city is participating in the event.

The heart of the Berlinale beats around the Potsdamer Platz, the futuristic area of Berlin. Among skyscrapers (if you’ve been to New York, you won’t be impressed by their size though) and avenues, some multiplexes and cinemas present the films. The Potsdamer Platz was once upon a time a no-man’s-land, but nowadays, it is a vibrant part of the city. The Cinemaxx, the Cinestar , the Berlinale Palast, and the Arsenal are all located there. There are more than 25 screens in total in the Potsdamer Platz itself!

Apart from the Potsdamer Platz, there are a bunch of venues around the city, and after the introduction of the Berlinale Goes Kiez section (more on that later), almost every single neighborhood of Berlin has a cinema showing Berlinale movies. Of course, one should mention the most legendary cinema, the Zoo Palast. This was the first venue of the Berlinale in 1951, but after a couple of decades fall into complete decay. Its restoration started at the beginning of the 10’s, and in 2013 it opened its doors again to the audience. This is an architectural gem and one of the most beautiful cinemas you will ever see. Therefore make sure to watch a movie there!

2020 Berlinale Guide Update: On December 31, 2019, the beloved Cinestar at Potsdamer Platz shut its doors forever. Apart from being a multiplex where you could watch movies in Original Version (OV), it was also one of the Berlinale Panorama and Forum venues. It will be definitely challenging to find new venues around the Potsdamer Platz, which is assumed the heart of the International Film Festival of Berlin.

What to expect from the Berlin International Film Festival

Before getting to the info about tickets, sections, etc., there is something that you have to know, especially if you are not an experienced festival-goer. Film festivals always offer a unique opportunity to watch movies from around the world. These are movies that won’t probably find distribution to movie theaters; therefore, you won’t have a chance to see them elsewhere. (Unless of course if they win some prizes, but this is another talk). That said, you should be prepared to watch movies that sometimes won’t satisfy you. A lot of productions are experimental, the movies themselves search for answers to less known topics, and quite often, the equipment used for shooting is far from top end.

The most important aspect of attending a film festival is the feeling of belonging to a crowd that celebrates cinema. If you are expecting to see blockbusters all the time, you will be disappointed. There are a few well-known productions always in the Berlinale, but these are movies that will soon be out in the cinemas anyway. If for vanity reasons, you want to watch a blockbuster world premiere, this is okay; however, there won’t be more than a few of them.

The most important aspect of attending a film festival is the feeling of belonging to a crowd that celebrates cinema. #Berlinale Click to Tweet

Where to stay during the Berlinale

Well, this a tough one. Berlin is full of people during the Berlinale; therefore, you should book well in advance. I wouldn’t recommend staying close to Potsdamer Platz for sure. It’s expensive and crowded during the festival. Try to find a hotel a bit more far away. Berlin has an extensive network of public transport, and you could reach every venue quickly. I would suggest staying in West Berlin: there you are close to the legendary Zoo Palast cinema plus a couple more venues. The Potsdamer Platz is not more than 20 minutes away (bus and metro go directly).

I have stayed just a couple of times in a hotel in Berlin (I’m lucky enough to have a flat), but I can recommend the following:

Hollywood Media Hotel Berlin. Straight at Kudamm, this hotel is a tribute to cinema: each room features a famous actor or actress. It’s in the heart of West Berlin, and there is a metro station 50 meters away (Uhlandstrasse). The Zoo Palast is less than ten minutes on foot.

Art’otel Berlin Kudamm. Just off the Kudamm, this is a stylish hotel. Easy access to the Zoo Palast and several public transport options.

Waldorf Astoria. Prime location, directly at the Zoo Palast. You will probably see some movie stars staying there, too. Let alone the fact that you can see the Red Carpet of Zoo Palast directly. It’s an expensive option, but if you can afford it, it deserves it. The bus to the Potsdamer Platz is 20 meters away -the metro, too.

If you would like to stay around the Potsdamer Platz and be in the very heart of the festival, you have several options too. But don’t expect moderate prices for most of the hotels in the area. Your best option is definitely the Motel One at Potsdamer Platz with its cozy environment and somewhat reasonable prices. If budget is not a problem and you’d love to stay in the same hotel with the stars, then Grand Hyatt is for you. Equally impressive (and expensive) is, of course, the Ritz-Carlton Berlin.

For all other options, click here. Alternatively, use the map below; it’s centered around Potsdamer Platz (in the middle) where the heart of the Berlinale beats. On the very left, you can also see the Zoo, where the legendary Zoo Palast cinema -also a Berlinale venue- is located.





Booking.com





*I don’t recommend any Airbnbs. The reason is that there is a vast gentrification process going on in the city, and the local population is largely affected. I won’t go through this topic here; I just wanted to explain why Airbnb is not presented as an option in this post.

*Tip*

Buy a weekly or even a monthly card for public transport. A single ticket costs currently (2020) 2,90 euros. The weekly card costs 30 euros. The full monthly card costs 80 euros, but there is also the so-called 10-Uhr Karte. This one costs 61 euros, and it allows you to travel between 10 am and 3 am. That said, you can’t use it very early in the morning (before 10 am) or very late at night (after 3 am). This rule applies only to weekdays; during the weekend, you can use it all day long. Hopping from Cinema A to Cinema B will cost you lots of money and remember that you always have to return back to the hotel. Plus, you need to have always cash in hand. You can buy the 10-Uhr Karte from every vending machine in the U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations.

So, if you need 5 tickets per day, this is 14,5 euros, and if you attend all 10 days, this sums up to 145 euros. You save more than 80 euros!

2020 Berlinale Guide Update: The U2 line of the Berlin subway is currently undergoing a refurbishment. Among the stations that are highly affected is the Potsdamer Platz stop. Keep that in mind when you are planning your visit. You should consider exiting one stop earlier or later -or to consider using other transportation means (bus, S-Bahn.)

How to buy Berlinale tickets

This is probably the toughest question to reply to and one that requests lots of patience. I’m going to share with you all the tips that have worked for me during the last ten years.

First of all the prices of the tickets vary. The tickets start at 5 euros for special screenings, and they go all the way up to 16 euros. There is also a section called Culinary cinema, in which you will watch a movie that deals with food and then a famous chef will prepare a meal based on the movie. Quite obviously, this is something for the happy few, and the tickets usually cost more than 90 euros. You should check the prices for each individual screening though and decide.

Now, back to the tickets. You have two options: either to buy them online or to visit one of the locations that sell tickets. Things get a bit complicated here. You can buy tickets only 3 days in advance (i.e., if the movie is on Thursday you can buy tickets not earlier than Monday). There is an exception for the repeated screenings of the Competition section of the Berlinale: you can buy your tickets four days in advance. That said, if the movie has been already presented in the Berlinale and the second screening is (let’s say), on Friday, then you can buy your ticket from Monday on.

Something important: if you are not sure that you can attend a movie, you might consider visiting the cinema where the movie is presented on the day of the screening. Same-day tickets go on sale in the respective cinemas from 10 am in the morning. For bigger productions and blockbusters you won’t probably be able to find tickets by going to the cinema on the same day. The tickets are sold out, and people sell them in the black market (or on eBay) for hundreds of euros. For smaller productions though, you won’t probably have so many problems finding a ticket.

What I personally do? For movies that I’m sure I want to watch, I queue like everybody else. For the ones that I’m not sure or that I want to decide at the last minute, I visit the counters the day of the screening. Usually, I get one.

Tips for buying #Berlinale tickets. Click to Tweet

Buying Berlinale Tickets Online

Online tickets are limited and go on sale every morning also at 10 am sharp. You will need loads of luck and patience if you want to buy a ticket for the Berlinale online. Create an account on the Berlinale website and save all the films you’re willing to watch. Then, log in at 9:45 am at the latest and stand in the virtual queue. From 9:59 am on, I tend to refresh the page all the time. Yup, F5 is your friend here. If you are lucky, at 10:00 am, you will be searching for your screening. Actually, 10:01 might be already too late: as I said, the number of online tickets is limited. I have no idea if the rumors I heard are true or not, but the online tickets for the Berlinale are less than 4%. This is not inside information, and it’s just what I heard.

After reserving your tickets, you will be forwarded to the Eventim website to fill in your credit card details. Keep in mind that your tickets are reserved for 15 minutes. The process is smooth, and you won’t need more than 2 minutes to buy the Berlinale tickets. I usually use the extra time to browse for more tickets, but often, there aren’t that many available. You can check out any number of tickets within these 15 minutes, of course.

Now, if you succeed in buying the ticket(s), you have two options: either to print it at home or to save it as a mobile pass. While printing at home is definitely more convenient, if you are a “fetishist” (like me) and you want to have the original tickets with the golden bear logo, you can also pick up your tickets at the counters * of Potsdamer Arkaden. This is the spot where people queue in order to buy tickets. The Potsdamer Arkaden is a shopping center at Potsdamer Platz and also the place to find Berlinale posters, keychains, cups, and all kinds of Berlinale Merchandise in general.

From 2019 on, there is no processing fee in the online tickets.

*As of February 2019, there are only two options: either print-at-home or mobile ticket. Therefore, you won’t be able to pick up the ticket(s) that you bought online anymore. It’s a pity for sure.

10:01 am is already too late for buying #Berlinale tickets! Click to Tweet

Buying Offline

There are four dedicated spots where you can buy your Berlinale tickets. The tickets go on sale also at 10 am sharp. Get fruits, snacks and some water, the queues can be really long! So, these spots are:

The Potsdamer Platz Arkaden (Alte Potsdamer Straße 7, 10785 Berlin). As you’ve read above, this is the heart of the Berlinale. The shopping center is always packed during the Berlinale, and here you can also queue for tickets. If a big production goes on sale the following morning, you will see people with sleeping bags there, too. You got it right: they will sleep in a deserted shopping center in order to be the first to buy tickets in the morning! There are shelves full of programs and brochures -for free. The Kino International (Karl-Marx-Allee 33, 10178 Berlin). This is a cinema and historical landmark of the former East Berlin. The Haus der Berliner Festspiele (Schaperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin). This is a theater complex in West Berlin and also a Berlinale venue. You can buy your tickets here too but be ready for some long queues. The Audi Berlin Venue (Kurfürstendamm 195, 10707 Berlin). Audi is one of the biggest sponsors of the Berlinale. They have a showroom in the famous Kurfürstendamm avenue where you can buy tickets directly.

*An Extra Tip*

On the first day that the tickets go on sale, you will be able to buy Berlinale tickets for any day for the Friedrichstadtpalast, the Philarmonie, the HAU venue, the Culinary Cinema section and the Berlinale Goes Kiez sections. Apart from that, the last day of the festival (always Sunday) is Kinotag. This means that you can buy tickets in half-price and you buy them from day one.

Also, if there are any tickets left at the Berlinale Palast, their price will be 50% reduced the day of the screening. It’s really unlikely, but one can always hope…

*A Last-minute tip*

This is something new: you can also buy tickets at the Berlin Tourist Info (except the one in the main hall in Tegel). Please keep in mind that there is a 2 euro surcharge per ticket. The Berlin Tourist Info in the Europa-Center opens an extra half an hour earlier, i.e., already at 9:30 a.m., between 04.02 – 14.02. I haven’t bought a ticket from them, but people say that the queue is significantly shorter.

Where to sit

So, you have successfully bought your ticket, and you are about to go to the cinema. Please remember that when you buy a ticket, you are not allocated a seat. That said, you have to be early at the cinema if you want to find a decent seat. How early is early enough? Well, from my experience, half an hour before the screening seems to be fine. The doors usually open 10-15 minutes before the screening, therefore if you are there half an hour earlier is good. You will be among the first in the queue, you will have the chance to select a seat, and you will enjoy the movie.

Arriving at the cinema 5-10 minutes before the screening will be already too late. You will probably have to sit somewhere in the very front. And if you are together with a friend, well, you might have to sit separately.

Late admittance is not allowed. If you arrive after the beginning of the screening, even if you have a ticket, you won’t be able to enter. Fair or unfair, it is what it is…

Subtitles, please?

Yes. Every non-English-speaking Berlinale movie comes with English subtitles. This is an international film festival, after all. The English-speaking productions always have German subtitles.

The Berlinale sections

The Berlinale is a major film festival and, as such, has loads of sections. I will try to write a couple of sentences for each one of them. The reason I’m not writing more is that I don’t want to persuade you: you should check the movies, not the sections, and decide if you are interested or not. There are some common characteristics among the movies in each section, though, and that’s what I plan to cover here.

Competition . This is the most prestigious section of every film festival. Quite obviously, this is the Berlinale section that receives most of the attention. All the big guys will be here: famous actors, world-class directors and…the red carpet. This is the section that has some blockbusters but also international productions that influence cinema. You should expect some crazy fans are adding extra color to the screenings. I usually avoid watching the big productions because a) the movies will be soon in the cinemas anyway, b) the tickets are expensive and c) I find it stressful. But, if you would like to see a movie knowing that a Hollywood star sits behind you, then this section is for you.

. This is the most prestigious section of every film festival. Quite obviously, this is the Berlinale section that receives most of the attention. All the big guys will be here: famous actors, world-class directors and…the red carpet. This is the section that has some blockbusters but also international productions that influence cinema. You should expect some crazy fans are adding extra color to the screenings. I usually avoid watching the big productions because a) the movies will be soon in the cinemas anyway, b) the tickets are expensive and c) I find it stressful. But, if you would like to see a movie knowing that a Hollywood star sits behind you, then this section is for you. Berlinale Shorts . Once upon a time, the Berlinale Shorts was my favorite section of the festival. But not anymore. As the years went by, the selection was becoming worse and worse. Even the Award Winning short films were average. Obviously, this is a Berlinale section dedicated to short movies -anything from 1 minute up to 30 minutes goes. Check the schedule and pick up a screening. I hope that you will enjoy it.

. Once upon a time, the Berlinale Shorts was my favorite section of the festival. But not anymore. As the years went by, the selection was becoming worse and worse. Even the Award Winning short films were average. Obviously, this is a Berlinale section dedicated to short movies -anything from 1 minute up to 30 minutes goes. Check the schedule and pick up a screening. I hope that you will enjoy it. Panorama . My all-time favorite section of the Berlinale! I try to watch almost every movie in this section. The Berlinale Panorama is a section where established (but not super well-known) directors present their films. The stories are always interesting and inspiring, the cinematography is brilliant and the theaters full. If you can see only one movie in the Berlinale, pick one from the Panorama.

. My all-time favorite section of the Berlinale! I try to watch almost every movie in this section. The Berlinale Panorama is a section where established (but not super well-known) directors present their films. The stories are always interesting and inspiring, the cinematography is brilliant and the theaters full. If you can see only one movie in the Berlinale, pick one from the Panorama. Forum . This is the art-house section of the Festival. It usually attracts an audience that enjoys watching experimental stuff or movies that deal with more artistic aesthetics. The movies are traditionally slower here, and they offer quite often room for reflection upon the medium of film. If you are a die-hard cinema fan, then you should watch a Forum movie. If you, however, prefer bigger productions and action, you will most likely fall asleep.

. This is the art-house section of the Festival. It usually attracts an audience that enjoys watching experimental stuff or movies that deal with more artistic aesthetics. The movies are traditionally slower here, and they offer quite often room for reflection upon the medium of film. If you are a die-hard cinema fan, then you should watch a Forum movie. If you, however, prefer bigger productions and action, you will most likely fall asleep. Generation . The Berlinale Generation section is dedicated to younger audiences, but don’t let this fact fool you. Adults can watch these movies as well: the movies here deal with a wide spectrum of problems. Teenagers, kids, and young adults are on the focus. I have watched some brilliant movies here, too, dealing with violence, growing up, etc.

. The Berlinale Generation section is dedicated to younger audiences, but don’t let this fact fool you. Adults can watch these movies as well: the movies here deal with a wide spectrum of problems. Teenagers, kids, and young adults are on the focus. I have watched some brilliant movies here, too, dealing with violence, growing up, etc. Perspective Deutsches Kino . Well, this is a German Film Festival, therefore, a section about German cinema could not be missing. German cinema is flourishing again, and I have seen plenty of great movies here. While the topics tend to be more local, most of the movies are really good. This section attracts lots of attention from the Berliners, and the movies are always sold out. Buy tickets in advance.

. Well, this is a German Film Festival, therefore, a section about German cinema could not be missing. German cinema is flourishing again, and I have seen plenty of great movies here. While the topics tend to be more local, most of the movies are really good. This section attracts lots of attention from the Berliners, and the movies are always sold out. Buy tickets in advance. Berlinale Special . This is a section that hosts both old and new movies. The thing here is to raise debates about topics or to present old masterpieces. Here you can watch cornerstone films of the past that influenced the cinema as a medium. I have discovered several old movies in the Berlinale Special section. The selection is small but totally deserves watching an old movie in a cinema.

. This is a section that hosts both old and new movies. The thing here is to raise debates about topics or to present old masterpieces. Here you can watch cornerstone films of the past that influenced the cinema as a medium. I have discovered several old movies in the Berlinale Special section. The selection is small but totally deserves watching an old movie in a cinema. Retrospective . Quite obviously, this is a section dealing with the oeuvre of older filmmakers. During the Retrospective, you can watch lots of movies of an old master and re-appreciate his/her films. I like to call this section as Cinema-School because I had the chance to see movies that I haven’t even heard before.

. Quite obviously, this is a section dealing with the oeuvre of older filmmakers. During the Retrospective, you can watch lots of movies of an old master and re-appreciate his/her films. I like to call this section as Cinema-School because I had the chance to see movies that I haven’t even heard before. NATIVe . The NATIVe section deals with the cinematic storytelling of indigenous peoples from around the world. The section is not popular at all, but this doesn’t say anything about its quality. The movies are incredibly touching, and in my own opinion, this is lately the most political section of the Berlinale. Don’t let the low attendance fool you and watch a movie. You won’t regret it. As I said, at film festivals, we celebrate cinema, and this section serves perfectly that purpose.

. The NATIVe section deals with the cinematic storytelling of indigenous peoples from around the world. The section is not popular at all, but this doesn’t say anything about its quality. The movies are incredibly touching, and in my own opinion, this is lately the most political section of the Berlinale. Don’t let the low attendance fool you and watch a movie. You won’t regret it. As I said, at film festivals, we celebrate cinema, and this section serves perfectly that purpose. Culinary Cinema . The section about food. After some screenings, top chefs prepare a meal for the guests. Of course, this comes at a high price. I have watched one or two movies about food in the Berlinale, but I never attended a screening that had dinner afterward.

. The section about food. After some screenings, top chefs prepare a meal for the guests. Of course, this comes at a high price. I have watched one or two movies about food in the Berlinale, but I never attended a screening that had dinner afterward. Berlinale Goes Kiez. This is not exactly a section (at least for me) but a tribute to the art house cinemas of Berlin. Every year, a bunch of small cinemas presents Berlinale movies for a few days. Apart from celebrating cinema, this gives also a boost to the cinemas themselves. The Kiez feeling, i.e., the neighborhood feel, is a vital element of German society. The local audience comes together, and it’s always pleasant to watch a movie in the small theaters. There, you will have a warm atmosphere and loads of locals. Attend a screening if you can and support the smaller cinemas.

2020 Berlinale Guide Update: The sections that have a strikethrough are no longer available at the festival. Therefore, the Culinary Cinema and the NATIVe will not be part of the Berlinale 2020. The new directors of the Berlinale, Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek, decided to remove these sections. On the other hand, in 2020 we will see the first edition of the brand new Berlinale Encounters. Since this is a new section, I can’t tell you much about it. According to the official Berlinale website though, the Berlinale Encounters “is a platform aiming to foster aesthetically and structurally daring works from independent, innovative filmmakers.”

Every #Berlinale section explained. Click to Tweet

The Red Carpet of the Berlinale

The Red Carpet attracts loads of visitors, of course. After the terror attack in the Christmas Market, the measures are a bit tighter. The prime Red Carpet location is, of course, outside of the most prestigious venue, the Berlinale Palast. There you will see screaming and crying fans asking for an autograph. The stars always take a short walk, so have a pen and paper with you. For the biggest productions, people start gathering several hours before the session. There is a dedicated spot for the pro-photographers (you need accreditation), too. You should be there definitely an hour before. Otherwise, you might see some tiny figure on the carpet and try to guess who he/she is.

Sometimes I also go to the Red Carpet Berlinale sessions. Through the years I’ve seen from real close a bunch of actors and actresses. The list is long: George Clooney, Scarlet Johansson, Bill Murray, John Cusack, Jennifer Connelly, Kristin Scott Thomas, Tilda Swinton, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, to name but a few. The list is really long. The schedule is announced a day or two before the session, so make sure to check it out.

Apart from the Berlinale Palast, two more cinemas host Red Carpet sessions: the Zoo Palast and the Friedrichstadtpalast.

When is the program published?

The Berlinale program is published late in January, just a couple of days before the Berlinale opening. If you create an account at the official website, you will be able to browse through movies and add them to your Berlinale calendar. I can only recommend creating an account; it helped me so much over the years.

Are there any Berlinale apps?

Well, 2019 was actually the last year that the official Berlinale apps for Android and iPhone were available. It’s really a pity.

As of 2020, there will be no more Berlinale apps. This is unfortunate because the Berlinale calendar was a great tool for moviegoers. On the official Twitter account of the Berlinale, the festival confirmed that the apps won’t be further supported. They wrote:

The translation of the statement is that “for the 70th Berlinale there will be no apps. The Festival’s website will be renewed and optimized for all devices.”

The Berlinale Awards

The International Jury is selected every year by the Festival Director and presents the following awards:

Golden Bear for Best Film

Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize

Special: Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives .*

The Silver Bear for Best Director

Silver Bear for Best Actress

Silver Bear for Best Actor

The Silver Bear for Best Screenplay

Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution in the categories camera, editing, music score, costume or set design.

*The Alfred Bauer prize will no longer be awarded, after accusations that Bauer used to have close ties with the Nazis.

Q&As after the Berlinale screenings

Most of the premieres have a Q&A afterward. Stay and listen to what the directors and actors have to say about the film. Their insights are fascinating. Remember: this is a film festival, and the movies you watch might not be presented elsewhere. This is a unique opportunity to learn about other people and other places. Raise your hand and ask a question: remember that the Berlinale audience loves to talk about movies.

Any Berlinale parties?

The big sponsors of the Berlinale always organize parties and events. While I’m not a big fan of these events, I have attended two-three of them through the years. There is a lot of glamour and some prominent guests, mainly from Germany. The mayor of Berlin, some ministers, and less often some actors. If you have the chance, attend one.

Apart from that, since February in Berlin is all about the Berlinale, there are several other parties, too. Magazines, fans, and local communities organize parties all the time. Check the local news and find one. You will have the chance to blend in with the locals and talk about movies all night long.

My personal Berlinale experience

It might sound like a total exaggeration, but one of the reasons I chose Berlin as a home was cinema. There are so many cinemas and so many festivals that one can go every single evening to watch a movie. The Berlinale, of course, is one of a kind.

Every year, I see approx. 20 movies in the Berlinale. My personal record is 34 movies in ten days, but I think I won’t break it any time soon. As I mentioned a couple of times in this post, a film festival is always an opportunity to celebrate cinema. I have seen mindblowing movies, but I have seen bad ones, too. Every movie that I saw, though, good or bad, left a trace on me. I remember a couple of times I exited the cinema swearing; yes, this can also happen at a film festival. But controversy should be welcome when it comes to art.

To be honest, I can’t imagine myself being February in Berlin and not attending the Berlinale. Sure, it becomes more and more expensive every year. There are times that I’m broke, but I still try to cut down expenses from food, drinks, everything, in order to attend the festival. Writing this long Berlinale guide is also proof of how fond I am of this film festival. I never got an accreditation, and I never got paid from the Berlinale. I always pay for my tickets and all things Berlinale. After spending a fortune on Berlinale tickets, I’m still here, and I’m still attending. It’s my way to celebrate my love for cinema.

If you happen to be some February in Berlin, make sure to attend a screening or more. Or, even better, plan a journey for the Berlinale. Even if you don’t see any good movies, attending the Berlinale is one of the unique things to do in Berlin.

*The photos that you see here are taken between 2012 and 2019 with different cameras. Hence, the differences in quality, light, and colors. I have used the Fujifilm X30, the Sony a68, and, of course, the Ricoh GR ii.

Bonus: The ultimate travel guide to Berlin: tips & itineraries

Other guides: Emil Nolde exhibition, Greek Islands on A Budget & How to start a travel blog

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Last Updated on September 12, 2020 by George Pavlopoulos