Berlin Film Festival - The Winners of the 56th Edition

The edition that just ended of the Berlin Film Festival seemed, more than ever, focused on politics land moral issues.

The Golden Bear (the most important trophy of the festival) was won by „Grbavica" director's Jasmila Zbanic's first feature length film.

The story about the aftermath of the Yugoslavia war, more precisely the consequences of the mass rape of women during the war taking place in the Sarjevo area.

Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross teamed up for a movie about Muslim prisoners held for no reason in the American prison of Guantanamo.

The real story of the three British Muslims caught up in Afganistan is rather blood-chilling and won them the Silver Bear. His movie is dedicated to them (and they were also present at the film festival).

Jasmila Zbanic declared when asked about the political message of her movie: „War in Bosnia was over some 13 years ago and yet war criminals still live in Europe freely,
they've not been captured for organizing the rape of 20,000 women in Bosnia. This is Europe and no one is interested in capturing them."

British actress Charlotte Rampling, president of the Berlin Jury noticed the general political subjects of the movies and stated that the movies: "reflected the mood of the world today".
Among the winners there were two German actors, Moritz Bleibtreu (for his role in Elementary Particles) and Sandra Hueller (for her role in Requiem).

Iranian director Jafar Panahi's „Offside" movie (the story of a young female Iranian football fan) also received an award and so did „A Soap' Swedish-Danish co-production.