Berlin

The seven members of the international jury view films of queer interest within the framework of all sections of the Berlinale. Three films are nominated for each of the categories: best feature film, best documentary/essay film and the best short film. The jury presents furthermore its Special Jury Award, the Special TEDDY AWARD and the Harvey-Männer LeserInnen Award.

Members of the Jury: 

The TEDDY for the Best Short Film goes to: 

Sponsored by TEDDY Foundation

Min Homosyster (My Gay Sister)

Lia Hietala

Jury Statement: „Min Homosyster” (My Gay Sister) by director Lia Hietala is a sweet story of a young girl who is starting to learn about love with the help of her big sister and her sister’s girlfriend. The film makes visible the complex emotions even us adults sometimes have while navigating our relationships and crushes. In the role of the little sister Cleo, Juliette Safavi is exceptionally natural and a delight to watch.

The TEDDY fort the Best Documentary Film goes to: 

Sponsored by Transition Queer Minorities Film Festival

Ri Chang Dui Hua (Small Talk)

Hui-chen Huang

Jury Statement: „Small Talk“ is the director’s courageous portrayal of her family story, which gives the audience an inside look at a culture we might not be familiar with. This powerful documentary manages to be of universal significance and extremely intimate at the same time.

THE TEDDY gives the Special Jury Award to

Karera ga Honki de Amu Toki Wa (Close-Knit)

Naoko Ogigami

Jury Statement: The jury gives the special award to the film „Close-Knit“, a film which gives audiences a look into Japanese culture and the love of rainbow families through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl. Both the performances of the adults and the child actress are convincing and enjoyable. Filmmaker Naoko Ogigami’s natural dialogues and her sense of humor make for a very special movie experience. Ogigami puts emphasis on unique details such as the knitted objects, beautiful cinematography and the universal appeal of an uplifting, yet realistic story.

The TEDDY for the best FEATURE FILM goes to: 

Sponsored by 22D Music Group

Una Mujer Fantástica (A Fantastic Woman)

Sebastián Lelio

Jury Statement: „A Fantastic Woman“ is a perfectly crafted film with a magnificent cinematic approach that tells an intimate yet under-represented narrative. This film offers a very authentic universe firmly grounded by the mesmerizing and natural performance of Daniela Vega as Marina. Sebastián Lelio has infused the story with understanding and compassion illuminating the ongoing discrimination and marginalization of transgender people around the world.

The Harvey - Männer LeserInnen Award gos to:

God’s Own Country 

Francis Lee

The Special TEDDY AWARD goes to: Monika Treut director, producer and writer

Monika Treut has been engaging with not only the feminist and lesbian cinema since the 1980s, but also with the german-speaking independent film scene and as a pioneer has introduced the New Queer Cinema to the US American Indie film. Her courageousness and critical approach of the topics and aesthetics are closely related to the liberating energy of the Mao-Spontex movement in the 1970s. Her documentary Gendernauts won the TEDDY-Award in 1999 as Best Documentary/Essay Film and several other audience awards all over the world. Since her feature debut with Efi Mikesch, Verführung: Die grausame Frau, more than 12 of her movies have been screened at the Berlinale. On the occasion of her Special TEDDY AWARD, Berlinale Panorama screens her second feature film, the classic die Jungfrauenmaschine from 1989.