While director Hong Sang-soo's 'Inside the Water' had a tough time at the Berlin International Film Festival, the documentary 'SUR L'ADAMANT' won the Golden Bear Award for Best Film.
The competition section screening committee of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival held the awards ceremony at the Berlinale Palast in Berlin, Germany on the 25th (local time).
Director Hong Sang-soo's 29th feature film 'In the Water', which was nominated in the Encounters category, failed to win the award. Encounters, newly established in 2020, is a section that introduces works with a new cinematic vision, similar to the Cannes International Film Festival's Un Certain Regard.
'Inside the Water' stars Shin Seok-ho, Ha Seong-guk, and Kim Seung-yoon, and director Hong's lover Kim Min-hee serves as the production manager. 'In the Water', which aired in Jeju last April, tells the story of a man who dreamed of becoming an actor and takes on the challenge of directing a movie to test his creativity. The story is about a man who heads to Jeju Island with two people, meets a woman who is picking up trash on the beach, and creates a story through that meeting.
Director Hong has a deep connection with the Berlin International Film Festival, having entered the competition section six times since ‘Day and Night’ (2008). Among them, four films, including ‘On the Beach at Night Alone’ (Silver Bear Award for Best Actress), ‘The Woman Who Ran’ (Silver Bear Award for Best Director), ‘Introduction’ (Silver Bear Award for Best Screenplay), and ‘Novelist’s Film’ (Silver Bear Award for Jury Award) won trophies. I also held him in my arms. This was his 5th attempt at winning the trophy, but he failed.
Meanwhile, the French documentary 'SUR L'ADAMANT' (directed by Nicolas Philbert) enjoyed the honor of the Golden Bear Award, the best film award. In his acceptance speech, director Philbert said, “I tried to change the discriminatory and stigmatizing image we have of crazy people,” and added, “Even if we don’t get along well with them, at least we can overcome differences and recognize them as people who live in the same world on a humanitarian level.” “I wanted to make it possible,” he said, leaving an impression.
The Best Actress Award (Silver Bear Award) attracted attention as it was won by 8-year-old child actress Sofia Otero. Otero set a record as the youngest winner in the history of the Berlin International Film Festival. The Best Supporting Actress (Silver Bear) award went to Thea Erre for her role as Leni in ‘Bis ans Ende der Nacht’ directed by German Christian Hochheuzler.
The Grand Jury Prize (Silver Bear) went to ‘Red Sky (Roter Himmel)’ by German director Christian Petzold. The Best Director (Silver Bear) award went to French director Philippe Garel's 'Le Grand Chariot'.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr