The Golden Bear for best film at the 2026 Berlinale was awarded to “Yellow Letters” by German director Ilker Catak, the story of a Turkish director and his actress wife who are suddenly banned from working because of their political opinions. German actress Sandra Hüller won the Silver Bear for her role in the drama “Rose”.
Published on: 02/21/2026 - 8:32 p.m. Modified on: 02/22/2026 - 10:45 a.m.
A political film against state censorship. German director Ilker Catak won the Golden Bear at the 2026 Berlinale for his film "Yellow Letters", which tells the fate of a Turkish director and his actress wife who are suddenly banned from working because of their political opinions.
Shot in Germany, the film won the ultimate award at the end of a ceremony marked, like the festival, by the conflict in the Middle East and the political role of cinema.
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The atmosphere became tense when Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah Al-Khatib, winner of best first film with "Chronicles from the Siege", accused the German government of being "complicit in the genocide committed in Gaza by Israel".
To shouts of “Free Palestine,” a spectator responded “Free Palestine from Hamas.”
Winner of the Silver Bear-Grand Jury Prize, which rewards the second best film, with "Salvation", Turkish director Emin Alper discussed three major conflicts in the Middle East, as well as the political situation in his country.
"The Palestinians in Gaza, who live and die in the worst conditions, you are not alone. The people of Iran, who suffer under tyranny, you are not alone. And the Kurds in Rojava [Kurdish autonomous zone of Syria, Editor's note], who have been fighting for their rights for almost a century, you are not alone. And finally, my people, you are not alone," he declared on stage.
He notably paid tribute to the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, imprisoned for almost a year and who risks life in prison.
Sandra Hüller, Silver Bear for the second time
The Silver Bear for best performance at the Berlinale, both men and women, was awarded to German Sandra Hüller for her role in "Rose", a black and white drama by Austrian director Markus Schleinzer.
She plays a woman in 17th century rural Germany trying to escape the constraints of patriarchy by passing herself off as a man. This is the second time that Sandra Hüller has won this award, 20 years after her role in “Requiem” (2006).
The film "Queen at Sea" by American Lance Hammer leaves with two awards, that of the Silver Bear-Jury Prize (equivalent to 3rd place), and best supporting roles for the duo formed by Anna Calder-Marshall and Tom Courtenay.
The festival experienced a tormented edition after the answer to a question from jury president Wim Wenders during the opening.
“We must stay out of politics,” he said, when asked about Germany's support for Israel despite its actions in the Gaza Strip.
With AFP
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