Berlinale's Golden Bear Embraces Nadav Lapid and his Synonymes

While someone is still looking for the round-up of the last year and past recognition, the others have already commenced honoring a fresh start. Yes, we are talking about the 69th Berlin Film Festival, which has set a mark for upcoming cinematographic events of 2019. Last weekend the winners of Berlinale in a number of categories were announced and golden and silver bears awarded to the best in the International Competition.

This year the members of the international Jury headed by the famous actress Juliette Binoche gave the Golden Bear for Best Film to Synonymes (Synonyms) by Israeli director Nadav Lapid. The film tells a story of a young Israeli who fights for his own identity in Paris. He hopes to become a true Parisian and find a peace of mind, however, his plans are to shatter due to terrorist attacks by Arabs against Jews in Paris.

Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize went to Grâce à Dieu (By the Grace of God) by François Ozon. It is a shocking drama based on testimonies of Catholic Church sexual abuse victims.

One of the most prestigious awards - Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize - was awarded to a German female director Nora Fingscheidt for her film Systemsprenger (System Crasher), which depicts a nine-year-old girl falling through the cracks of German childcare system. Meanwhile another German female director Angela Schanelec received a Silver Bear for Best Director for her film Ich war zuhause, aber (I Was at Home, But). It is a drama about a grieving widow and her rebellious teenage son.

Silver Bears for Best Actor and Actress went to the colleagues of the same film. Wang Jingchun and Yong Mei starred in Di jiu tian chang (So Long, My Son) by Chinese director Wang XiaoshuaiSilver. The film shows the long-term effect of one-child policy in China.

Silver Bear for Best Screenplay went to the trio of screenwriters of La paranza dei bambini (Piranhas) by Claudio Giovannesi. Based on the novel by Roberto Saviano, it tells about teenagers' attempts to take over drug trafficking in Naples.

Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution was awarded to Rasmus Videbæk for the cinematography in Ut og stjæle hester (Out Stealing Horses) by Hans Petter Moland.

Highlighted films will definitely get the attention from larger audiences and continue their journey through many other film festivals yet to come. Let's follow their progress.