1 - Aims
In the heart of Germany’s capital city Berlin, the Berlin International Film Festival – also known as the ‘Berlinale’ – serves as a showcase for film art and the film industry. Its aim is to promote better co-operation and understanding between cultures by presenting films that are innovative and of high quality.
2 - Eligibility
Eligible are feature films of at least 70 minutes running time which
- are intended for theatrical release.
- are available on 35 mm or 70 mm filmprint. D-Cinema screenings are possible upon arrangement.
(The Competition does not screen video-formats)
- have been completed within the 12 months prior to the beginning of the festival.
- have not participated at any international film festival.
- have not been released commercially other than in their country of origin.
- have neither been presented in television nor in the internet.
- German films must not have been screened publicly before the festival.
The Festival Director has the right to settle any cases not covered by the regulations.
World premieres are given priority.
3 - Selection process and programming
The Festival Director invites films to participate in the international Competition. The Director is advised by German and international professionals. Any film submitted for the Competition may be considered for the Panorama unless specifically instructed otherwise by the applicant.
The duly completed entry form together with the screening material for selection must reach Berlin by the deadline. We recommend providing film prints of all productions submitted. Video formats may be submitted in exceptional circumstances. Screenings of work prints or double-head projections can be arranged. Films should be submitted for selection in their original language with English subtitles.
4 - Languages and Subtitles
All films invited to participate in the festival are screened in their original language with subtitles. The festival must be provided with both a German-subtitled and an English-subtitled version of every film as a minimum requirement. Films in German must be subtitled in English. The film’s producer is responsible for meeting the cost of subtitling.
The version released in the country of origin is regarded as the original version. In the case of films in several languages, the language of the subtitled print screened at the festival may only deviate from this directive with the festival’s approval.
5 - The International Jury
Members of an international jury and its president are appointed by the festival director to award the Golden Bear and Silver Bears. The international jury comprises at least seven German and foreign personalities. No person who has participated in the production or commercial exploitation of a film in Competition may serve on the Jury.
The festival director (or an authorised representative of the director) attends the jury’s deliberations but does not participate in voting. The jury’s decisions are based on an outright majority, or, failing that, by a relative majority reached in a third ballot. Jury members are sworn to secrecy. Jury deliberations and ballots are strictly confidential even after the festival has ended.
6 - Awards for feature-length films in the International Competition
The jury is obliged to award the following prizes to films participating in the Competition
- the Golden Bear for the Best Film (awarded to the film’s producer)
- the Jury Grand Prix (Silver Bear)
- the Award for Best Director (Silver Bear)
- the Award for Best Actress (Silver Bear)
- the Award for Best Actor (Silver Bear)
- the Award for Best Screenplay (Silver Bear)
- the Award for an Outstanding Artistic Achievement in the categories camera, editing, music score, costumes or set design (Silver Bear)
- The Alfred Bauer Prize – in memory of the festival founder – for a feature film that broadens the horizons of the art of filmmaking
Only one Bear may be awarded ex aequo. The jury may not award more than one prize to the same film, except in the case of the acting awards.
The festival expects the prize-winners to attend the awards ceremony in person. Each film selected receives a Certificate of Participation.
For any further questions the General Regulations of the Berlin International Film Festival apply.
Deadline for the receipt of entry forms and films
October 30, 2009
Download the Competition Regulations Form 2010, PDF (52 KB)
