The 75th Berlinale International Film Festival Opened with the film “Das Licht”

The 75th Berlinale International Film Festival opened with the film “Das Licht” (The Light) directed by Tom Tykwer at the Berlinale Palast in Berlin, Germany.

According to the report of Mansour Jahani, an independent and international cinema journalist, on February 13, the start of the 75th Berlin International Film Festiva is celebrated at the Berlinale Palast. Festival Director Tricia Tuttle and Jury President Todd Haynes kicked off the Berlinale with a festive opening. During the Opening Gala, the International Jury was introduced and the Honorary Golden Bear was awarded to Tilda Swinton, with Edward Berger delivering the laudatory speech. The evening was hosted by Désirée Nosbusch.

Honorary Golden Bear for Tilda Swinton

The 75th Berlin International Film Festival awarded Scottish actor Tilda Swinton the Honorary Golden Bear for her lifetime achievement. The award  was presented at the Opening Ceremony at the Berlinale Palast on February 13, 2025.

The Berlin International Film Festival officials said in a statement about the world-renowned actress: Academy Award-winning actor Tilda Swinton has been closely linked with the Berlin International Film Festival for many years, serving as the President of the International Jury in 2009 and starring in 26 films in the festival programme ranging from Caravaggio, which won the Silver Bear at the 1986 Berlinale, The Beach (2000), Derek (2008), Julia (2008), The Garden (1991) and Last and First Men (2020).

Tilda Swinton began her film career in 1985 with Derek Jarman and appeared in all of his films, including The Last of England (1987), War Requiem (1989), Edward II (1991), for which she was named Best Actress at the Venice International Film Festival, and Wittgenstein (1993) before his death. She gained wider international recognition in 1992 with her portrayal of Orlando, based on the novel by Virginia Woolf under the direction of Sally Potter.

The Jury members of the Main Competition

The members of the jury of the Main Competition of this prestigious and first-class world cinema event are: The US-American director, screenwriter and producer Todd Haynes, President of the Jury, Director Nabil Ayouch (Morocco/France), actor Fan Bingbing (China), costume designer Bina Daigeler (Germany), director Rodrigo Moreno (Argentina), film critic and author Amy Nicholson (U.S.) and director, actor and screenwriter Maria Schrader (Germany).

Golden Bear and Silver Bear Awards in the Main Competition

The awards presented by the members of the Main Competition Jury to the winners of the following awards: Golden Bear for Best Film (awarded to the film’s producers), Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, Silver Bear Jury Prize, Silver Bear for Best Director, Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance, Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance, Silver Bear for Best Screenplay and Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution.

Various sections of the 75th Berlinale Film Festival

Presided by Tricia Tuttle, the 75th Berlinale International Film Festival was held, consisting of Competition sections such as Main Competition, Perspectives Competition, Generations Competition, Panorama, Forum, Shorts, Documentary, and the non-competition category including Special Screening, and Classic Cinema Screening.

Photo By: Mansour Jahani

Credit image Mansour Jahani

For more details: https://www.berlinale.de/en/home.html