İlker Çatak's Yellow Letters Wins the Golden Bear At Berlinale 2026
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
The 2026 Berlin International Film Festival closed with a winners list that leaned strongly toward politically engaged storytelling and performance-driven cinema.
The Golden Bear for Best Film went to Yellow Letters from İlker Çatak, a tense drama about two theatre artists navigating growing authoritarian pressure. The film emerged as one of the competition’s most discussed titles in Berlin and now looks set for a strong international arthouse run.
The Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Salvation, directed by Emin Alper, whose reputation for psychologically charged work continues to grow on the festival circuit. Meanwhile, the Jury Prize went to Queen at Sea from American filmmaker Lance Hammer, a more intimate character piece that stood out amid the heavier political entries.
On the performance side, Sandra Hüller picked up the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for her role in Rose, further cementing her status as one of Europe’s most formidable screen actors. The Best Director award went to Grant Gee for Everybody Digs Bill Evans, recognized for its confident formal approach and musical focus.
See the complete list of winners here.
Comments