1st Berlin International Film Festival

The 1st annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 6 to 17 June 1951 at the Titiana-Palast cinema.[1] The opening film was Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca.[1] At this very first Berlin Festival, the Golden Bear award was introduced, and it was awarded to the best film in each of five categories: drama, comedy, crime or adventure, music film, and documentary. This system disappeared already the following year because FIAPF (Federation Internationale des Associations des Producteurs de Films) stated that the awarding of prizes by an expert jury was reserved for "A-festivals" only. Instead, the next year's festival awards were voted on by the audience.

1st Berlin International Film Festival
Festival poster
Opening filmRebecca
LocationWest Berlin, Germany
Founded1951
AwardsGolden Bear (Die Vier im Jeep, ...Sans laisser d'adresse, In Beaver Valley, Justice est faite and Cinderella)
Festival date6–17 June 1951
WebsiteWebsite

Jury

The following people from West Germany were announced as being on the jury for the festival:[2]

  • Fritz Podehl, playwright and producer - Jury President
  • Johannes Betzel, cinema owner
  • Emil Dovifat, professor of political journalism
  • Werner Eisbrenner, composer and conductor
  • Günther Geisler, journalist and critic
  • Walter Karsch, critic and publisher
  • Hilde Lucht-Perske, city councilor
  • Tatjana Sais, actress
  • Paul Heimann, pedagogue and reader
  • Johannes Betzel, cinema operator

Films in competition

The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear awards:[3]

English title Original title Director(s) Country
Drama
The Browning Version Anthony Asquith United Kingdom
Path of Hope Il cammino della speranza Pietro Germi Italy
The Forbidden Christ Il Cristo proibito Curzio Malaparte Italy
God Needs Man Dieu a besoin des hommes Jean Delannoy France
Das gestohlene Jahr Wilfried Fraß Austria, West Germany
Dr. Holl Rolf Hansen West Germany
Girls in Uniform Muchachas de uniforme Alfredo B. Crevenna Mexico
Miss Julie Fröken Julie Alf Sjöberg Sweden
Four in a Jeep Die Vier im Jeep Leopold Lindtberg Switzerland
Das seltsame Leben des Herrn Bruggs Erich Engel West Germany
Comedies
Without Leaving an Address ...Sans laisser d'adresse Jean-Paul Le Chanois France
Geheimnis einer Ehe Helmut Weiss West Germany
Leaps and Bounds Leva på 'Hoppet' Göran Gentele Sweden
The Mating Season Mitchell Leisen USA
Documentaries
The Undefeated Paul Dickson USA
In Beaver Valley James Algar USA
Thrillers and adventures
Justice Is Done Justice est faite André Cayatte France
Destination Moon Irving Pichel USA
Music film
Cinderella Wilfred Jackson USA
The Tales of Hoffmann Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger United Kingdom
Culture Films and Documentaries
Begone Dull Care Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart Canada
Der gelbe Dom Eugen Schuhmacher West Germany
Kleine Nachtgespenster Eugen Schuhmacher West Germany
Art and Science Films
Der Film entdeckte Kunstwerke indianischer Vorzeit Hans Cürlis West Germany
Goya Luciano Emmer Italy
Il paradiso perduto Luciano Emmer and Enrico Gras Italy
Advertising Film
Blick ins Paradies Hans Fischerkoesen West Germany
Het gala-Concert Netherlands
The Story of Time Michael Stainer-Hutchins United Kingdom

Key
† Winner of the main award for best film in its section
The opening and closing films are screened during the opening and closing ceremonies respectively.

Awards

The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:[4]

West German jury

Audience Vote

Special Prize of the city of West Berlin

References
  1. "1st Berlin International Film Festival". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  2. "JURIES 1951". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  3. "PROGRAMME 1951". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  4. "PRIZES & HONOURS 1951". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
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