I decided not to attend the Berlin International Film Festival this year and, by the looks of it, it doesn’t look like it was one for the ages. Regardless, quite a few titles noteworthy titles emerged from the competition and sidebar sections. Many of which were honored this afternoon at the closing night awards ceremony.
The Berlin jury gave Mohammad Rasoulof’s “There Is No Evil” the coveted Golden Bear Award, the top prize at the festival, but also, wouldn’t you know it, Sundance favorite “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” won the Grand Jury Prize (runner-up).
Rasoulof could not attend the festival, he faces a one-year prison sentence and travel ban imposed by Iran’s authoritarian government. They claim that his films were “endangering national security” and promoting “propaganda against the Islamic government.”
Rasoulof released a statement saying “I am sorry that I will not be able to come to Berlin to watch the film alongside the audience,” Rasoulof said. “However, the right to choose between being present or absent at the festival is simply not mine. Imposing such restrictions very clearly exposes the intolerant and despotic nature of the Iranian government.”
“There Is No Evil” is split into four different stories, each one dealing with government executions in Iran.
Eliza Hittman’s abortion drama “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” premiered at Sundance in January and is scheduled to be released by Focus Features on March 13. It’s one of the very best movies of the year.
The complete list of winners:
Golden Bear for Best Film: “There Is No Evil,” Mohammad Rasoulof
Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” Eliza Hittman
Silver Bear for Best Director: Hong Sang Soo, “The Woman Who Ran”
Silver Bear for Best Actress: Paula Beer, “Undine”
Silver Bear for Best Actor: Elio Germano, “Hidden Away”
Silver Bear for Best Screenplay: “Bad Tales,” the D’Innocenzo Brothers
Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, Costume or Set Design: “Dau. Natasha,” Jürgen Jürges
Berlinale Glashütte Original – Documentary Prize: “Irradiated,” Rithy Panh
Best First Feature: “Los conductos,” Camilo Restrepo
I am very curious how Cristian Mungiu’s “Fjord” will be greeted this fall — the Palme d’Or-winning film has turned into a culture-war ticking time bomb among critics, who are more split on it than you might think.