Awards
The Berlin & Beyond Film Festival and its enthusiastic audiences have honored filmmakers and films with distinguished awards, ranging from lifetime achievement honors to awards celebrating groundbreaking, first feature works, and awards chosen through audience voting. Below is the official listing of awards presented through the years.
28TH EDITION – APRIL 18-25, 2024
Film Maker Award (formerly Career Achievement Award)
Markus Goller
Audience Award – Best Feature Film
Ingeborg Bachmann – Journey into the Desert (Ingeborg Bachmann – Reise in die Wüste)
Dir. Margarethe von Trotta (Switzerland/Germany/Luxembourg/Austria/Jordan/Italy, 2023)
Audience Award – Best Short Film
Istina (Truth)
Dir. Tamara Denić (Germany/Serbia, 2023)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
Weekend Rebels
Dir. Marc Rothemund (Germany, 2023)
27TH EDITION – MARCH 23-28, 2023
Audience Award – Best Feature Film
Golden Years (Die goldenen Jahre)
Dir. Barbara Kulcsar (Switzerland, 2022)
Audience Award – Best Short Film
Rooms (Eigenheim)
Dir. Welf Reinhart (Germany, 2021)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
The Ordinaries
Dir. Sophie Linnenbaum (Germany, 2022)
26TH EDITION – MARCH 11-16, 2022
Audience Award Feature
Next Door (Nebenan)
Dir. Daniel Brühl (Germany, 2021)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
Mission Ulja Funk
Dir. Barbara Kronenberg (Germany, 2021)
Youth 4 German Cinema Runner-up
Wet Dog (Ein nasser Hund)
Dir. Damir Lukacevic (Germany, 2021)
25TH EDITION – MAY 25-JUNE 6, 2021
Career Achievement Award
Caroline Link
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature
My Wonderful Wanda (Wanda, mein Wunder)
Dir. Bettina Oberli (Switzerland, 2020)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature
Born in Evin
Dir. Maryam Zaree (Germany, Austria, 2019)
Audience Award – Best Short
Interstate 8
Dir. Anne Thieme (Germany, USA, 2019)
24TH EDITION – FEB. 7-13, 2020
Spotlight Award in Acting
Christiane Paul
In the photograph above: Christiane Paul receiving the award from Berlin & Beyond President Noémie Njangiru.
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Premiere
All About Me (Der Junge muss an die frische Luft)
Dir. Caroline Link (Germany, 2018)
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Gala
The Collini Case (Der Fall Collini)
Dir. Marco Kreuzpaintner (Germany, 2019)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature
#Female Pleasure
Dir. Barbara Miller (Switzerland, Germany, 2019)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
Too Far Away (Zu weit weg)
Dir. Sarah Winkenstette (Germany, 2019)
Youth 4 German Cinema Runner-up
All About Me (Der Junge muss an die frische Luft)
Dir. Caroline Link (Germany, 2018)
24TH SEASON – 2019-2020
Career Achievement Award
Andreas Dresen
23RD EDITION – MARCH 8-14, 2019
Spotlight Award in Acting
Bjarne Mädel
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Premiere
Cloud Whispers (Wer hat eigentlich die Liebe erfunden?)
Dir. Kerstin Polte (Germany, Switzerland 2018)
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Gala
25 km/h
Dir. Markus Goller (Germany, 2018)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature
Chris the Swiss
Dir. Anja Kofmel (Switzerland, Croatia, Germany, Finland, 2018)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
Mountain Miracle – An Unexpected Friendship (Amelie rennt)
Dir. Tobias Wiemann (Germany, Italy, 2017)
Youth 4 German Cinema Runner-up
A Jar Full of Life (Vielmachglas)
Dir. Florian Ross (Germany, 2018)
22ND EDITION – FEB. 9-15, 2018
Spotlight Award in Acting
Lars Eidinger
Spotlight Award in Acting
Frederick Lau
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Premiere
The Final Journey (Leanders letzte Reise)
Dir. Nick Baker-Monteys (Germany, 2017)
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Gala
Welcome to Germany (Willkommen bei den Hartmanns)
Dir. Simon Verhoeven (Germany, 2016)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature
Code of Survival
Dir. Bertram Verhaag (Germany, 2017)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
My Brother Simple (Simpel)
Dir. Markus Goller (Germany, 2017)
Youth 4 German Cinema Runner-up
Rock My Heart
Dir. Hanno Olderdissen (Germany, 2017)
21ST EDITION – FEB. 3-8, 2017
Career Achievement Award
Maria Schrader
Spotlight Award in Acting
Julia Jentsch
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Premiere
Center of My World (Die Mitte der Welt)
Dir. Jakob M. Erwa
(Germany, 2016)
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Gala
Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe (Vor der Morgenröte)
Dir. Maria Schrader
(Germany, Austria, France, 2016)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature
Silicon Valley Revolution
Dir. Jan Tenhaven
(Germany, 2017)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
At Eye Level (Auf Augenhöhe)
Dirs. Evi Goldbrunner and Joachim Dollhopf (Germany, 2016)
Youth 4 German Cinema Runner-up
Hanna’s Sleeping Dogs (Hannas schlafende Hunde)
Dir. Andreas Gruber (Germany, Austria, 2016)
20TH EDITION – JAN. 14-20, 2016
Spotlight Award in Acting
Tom Schilling
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Premiere
Family Party (Familienfest)
Dir. Lars Kraume
(Germany, 2015)
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Gala
We Are Young. We Are Strong. (Wir sind jung. Wir sind stark.)
Dir. Burhan Qurbani
(Germany, 2014)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature
Above and Below
Dir. Nicolas Steiner
(Switzerland, Germany, U.S.A., 2015)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
Head Full of Honey (Honig im Kopf)
Dir. Til Schweiger (Germany, 2014)
Youth 4 German Cinema Runner-up
The Spiderwebhouse (Im Spinnwebhaus)
Dir. Mara Eibl-Eibeseldt (Germany, 2015)
19TH EDITION – JAN. 29-FEB. 3, 2015
Lifetime Achievement Award in Acting
Hannelore Elsner
Spotlight Award in Acting
Ronald Zehrfeld
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Premiere
Best Chance (Beste Chance)
Dir. Marcus H. Rosenmüller
(Germany, 2014)
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Gala
Exit Marrakech
Dir. Caroline Link
(Germany, 2013)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature
This Lovely Shitty Life
(Dieses schöne Scheißleben/Que Caramba es la Vida)
Dir. Doris Dörrie
(Germany, Mexico, 2014)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
Run Boy Run (Lauf Junge lauf)
Dir. Pepe Danquart (Germany, France, 2013)
Youth 4 German Cinema Runner-up
Macondo
Dir. Sudabeh Mortezai (Austria, 2014)
18TH EDITION – JAN. 15-21, 2014
Lifetime Achievement Award in Directing
Peter Sehr (posthumous)
Accepted on behalf by wife and creative partner, Marie Noëlle
Audience Award – Best Dramatic Feature Premiere
West (Westen)
Dir. Christian Schwochow
(Germany, 2013)
Audience Award – Best Dramatic Feature Gala
Two Lives (Zwei Leben)
Dir. Georg Maas
(Germany, Norway, 2012)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature
Miles & War
Dir. Anne Thoma
(Switzerland, Germany, 2012)
Audience Award – Best Short Film
A Good Story (Eine gute Geschichte)
Dir. Martin Christopher Bode
(Germany, 2013)
Youth 4 German Cinema Award
Windstorm (Ostwind)
Dir. Katja von Garnier
(Germany, 2013)
Youth 4 German Cinema Runner-up
Your Beauty is Worth Nothing (Deine Schönheit ist nichts wert)
Dir. Hüseyin Tabak
(Austria, Turkey, 2012)
17TH EDITION – SEP. 27-OCT. 4, 2012
Lifetime Achievement Award in Acting
Mario Adorf
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Film
Combat Girls (Die Kriegerin)
Dir. David Wnendt
(Germany, 2011)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Film
The Substance: Albert Hofmann’s LSD
Dir. Martin Witz
(Switzerland, Germany, 2011)
16TH EDITION – OCT. 20-26, 2011
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Film
Remembrance (Die verlorene Zeit)
Dir. Anna Justice
(Germany, 2011)
Audience Award – Best Documentary Film
Joschka & Mr. Fischer (Joschka und Herr Fischer)
Dir. Pepe Danquart
(Germany & Switzerland, 2011)
Audience Award – Best Short Film
Raju
Dir. Max Zähle
(German & India, 2011)
15TH EDITION – OCT. 22-28, 2010
Audience Award – Best Dramatic Feature
Run if You Can (Renn, wenn Du kannst)
Dir. Dietrich Brüggemann
(Germany, 2010)
Audience Award – Best Documentary
Autumn Gold (Herbstgold)
Dir. Jan Tenhaven
(Germany & Austria, 2010)
Audience Award – Best Short
Edgar
Dir. Fabian Busch
(Germany, 2009)
14TH EDITION – JAN. 15-21, 2009
Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing
Wim Wenders
MK Award – Best First Feature (Sponsored by Maurice Kanbar)
The Friend (Der Freund)
Dir. Micha Lewinsky
(Switzerland, 2008)
13TH EDITION – JAN. 10-16, 2008
Award for Lifetime Achievement in Acting
Ulrich Mühe (posthumous)
Accepted on behalf by daughter, actress Anna Maria Mühe
MK Award – Best First Feature (Sponsored by Maurice Kanbar)
$5,000 USD cash prize
Fashion Victims (Reine Geschmacksache)
Dir. Ingo Rasper
(Germany, 2006)
12TH EDITION – JAN. 11-17, 2007
MK Award – Best First Feature (Sponsored by Maurice Kanbar)
$5,000 USD cash prize
Valerie
Dir. Birgit Möller
(Germany, 2006)
Audience Award
Four Minutes (Vier Minuten)
Dir. Chris Kraus
(Germany, 2006)
11TH EDITION – JAN. 12-18, 2006
Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing
Michael Verhoeven
MK Award – Best First Feature
$5,000 USD cash prize – sponsored by Maurice Kanbar
Netto
Dir. Robert Thalheim
(Germany, 2004)
10TH EDITION – JAN. 6-13, 2005
Award for Lifetime Achievement in Acting
Bruno Ganz
Best First Feature Award
$5,000 USD cash prize
En Route (Unterwegs)
Dir. Jan Krüger
(Germany, 2004)
9TH EDITION – JAN. 8-14, 2004
Best First Feature Award
$5,000 USD cash prize
When the Right One Comes Along (Wenn der Richtige kommt)
Dirs. Oliver Paulus and Stefan Hillebrand
(Switzerland, Germany, 2003)
8TH EDITION – JAN. 9-15, 2003
Best First Feature Award (Sponsored by German American Chamber of Commerce)
$5,000 USD cash prize
Bungalow
Dir. Ulrich Köhler
(Germany, 2002)
7TH EDITION – JAN. 10-16, 2002
Best First Feature Award (Sponsored by IXOS)
$5,000 USD cash prize
The Middle of Nowhere (Endstation Tanke)
Dir. Nathalie Steinbart
(Germany, 2001)
4TH EDITION – JAN. 15-21, 1999
Audience Award (first time)
$5,000 USD cash prize, sponsored by the AirTouch Communications Foundation
Trains ‘n’ Roses (Zugvögel)
Dir. Peter Lichtefeld
(Germany, Finland, 1998)
