The Berlinale 50th edition came to a close, marked by the attendance of numerous stars: Milla Jovovich and Bono, George Clooney and Ice Cube, Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow…but it was Leonardo DiCaprio who raised the most stir with press and fans fighting for a pic or an autograph. And there was Denzel Washington who took Best Actor for his role in The Hurricane and expressed his emotion over the standing ovation the film received after its screening. Not forgetting Jeanne Moreau, who mingled with Chancelor Shroeder, the young shooting stars, and received a Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement.
Potsdamer Platz, a newly constructed Metroplis, was the site of the Berlinale Palast where the 21 films in competition were screened. Although many veteran directors were present, from Milos Forman who won Best Director for Man on the Moon to Volker Schlondorff whose Legends of Rita won the Blue Angel Best European Film, the movies on the hole were placed in the present day focusing on traditional themes: the family, parent-child relationships, couples.
Headed by Moritz de Hadeln for the past 21 years, the 12-day event was not marked by any extreme reactions one way or another - excepting the predictable Leomania. The Golden Bear went to Magnolia by the young director Paul Thomas Anderson, who flew back into to town to receive the much-appreciated honor. Despite getting up there in age, De Hadeln refuted all rumors about his retirement and announced that he would be in Berlin for next year's event, scheduled for 7 - 18 February 2001.

	Streaming video Closing night ceremony -		Streaming video The jury announced the winners to the press, Claude Miller received the FIPRESCI Prize for La Chambre de Magiciennes
	Streaming video Arrival for the closing night -		Photo gallery wrapping-up this 50th edition

Wim Wenders' The Million Dollar Hotel opened the 50th Berlin Festival, which took place from 9 - 20 February 2000 in its new location in the heart of the new capital at Potsdamer Platz.

The Berlinale competition selection was comprised of 21 feature films reflecting today's world production in America, Europe and South East Asia. A strong presence of German films could be noted with works by Volker Schlöndorff, Rudolf Thome and Wim Wenders, as well as three short films. Eleven short films made it into the short film competition.

Chinese actress Gong Li presided the jury of this 50th edition, which bestowed the Golden and Silver Bears to the winners amongst the 21 films in competition on Sunday 20 February.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, the festival saluted the career of Robert De Niro with a 12-film retrospective, while Jeanne Moreau received the Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement with a homage screening of Mademoiselle.

With a total of 39 features, 13 documentaries and 22 short films, the Panorama section offered a close look at films which may hit movie screens next season. Major film producing countries such as Germany, France, Spain and the USA were strongly represented.

Kinderfilmfest presented 12 feature and 11 short films and opened on 10 February with Ella Lemhagen's Tsatsiki, Morsan och Polisen at the Zoo-Palast.

Artificial Beings, Manic Machines and Controlled Bodies was the theme of the historical retrospective conceived and conducted by the Deutsche Kinemathek (German Cinematheque) to celebrate Berlinale 2000. "From the Golem to the Terminator, from Machine-Maria to Alraune, from Homunculus to R2D2, the films traverse media worlds and offer close encounters of the third kind, Brave New World, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and politics."

European diversity wass the focus of the 30th International Forum of Young Cinema, a sideline feature during the Berlinale.

The European Film Market welcomed producers, distributors, exhibitors, exporters and importers of films as well as professionals active in the areas of video and television sales and acquisitions. Without being exclusive, the European Film Market is particularly interested in the exchange of productions of European origin or destination. It gives priority to films intended for theatrical distribution.