Drama "Yellow Letters" Wins Golden Bear at 76th Berlin Festival

The main prize at the seventy-sixth edition of the prestigious festival in Berlin was won by the gripping political drama "Yellow Letters". The film, directed by İlker Çatak, is a moving portrait of a mature marriage—a theater actress and a university lecturer—whose peaceful and stable life is abruptly interrupted by the growing oppression of the state apparatus. Drawing on personal and political experiences concerning contemporary Turkey, the creator shows the destructive impact of censorship and mass surveillance on freedom of speech and art. For security reasons, the creators decided not to shoot in authentic Turkish locations. Instead, the production was entirely filmed in Germany, including on the streets of Berlin and Hamburg, which in the camera lens excellently imitated Middle Eastern metropolises. In accepting the Golden Bear, the Turkish-German director dedicated the distinction to victims of political persecution worldwide. 22 lata — have passed since the previous triumph of a German production It is worth noting that Çatak's success is of enormous importance for the European and local film industry. Prior to this creator's victory in 2026, the last director representing German cinema to win the main statuette of the Berlin event was the renowned filmmaker Fatih Akin. Specifically, in 2004, his shocking, rebellious drama "Head-On" (Gegen die Wand) captivated international audiences and critics. As reported during the official gala, this year's jury discussions were extremely extensive, lengthy, and initially not unanimous, perfectly reflecting the high level of this year's competition. However, the official publication of shortlists for the final contenders was abandoned, with only the announcement of the ultimate winners. Beyond the main laureate, the jury also clearly appreciated other outstanding artists. The important Jury Prize was awarded to Yusuke Iwasaki, the Japanese author of the film titled "AnyMart," which was enthusiastically received by a diverse audience. Since its founding in 1951 in a divided city, the Berlinale has consistently been viewed as the most politically engaged festival among the so-called big three, which also include France's Cannes and Italy's Venice. Its program regularly serves as a proven platform for creators reckoning with dark chapters of history or standing up for fundamental human rights. Main Laureates of the 76th Berlinale Edition: 1. Yellow Letters (Golden Bear - Best Film); 2. AnyMart (Jury Prize) Definitely, besides the new releases themselves, this year's edition was heavily dominated by heated off-screen events. According to correspondents' reports, from the very start, the ceremonial premieres were accompanied by a tense atmosphere dictated by the ongoing military actions in the Gaza Strip and the polarization of international observers' opinions. Incidents recorded in the corridors highlighted political rifts. A situation that occurred during one of the official substantive sessions resonated widely, when during an emotional and sharp speech by filmmaker Abdallah Alkhatib, a German minister present in the room demonstratively stood up and left the audience. Indirectly addressing the existing divisions in the world, the jury president powerfully appealed for strengthened intercultural solidarity during the closing ceremony. „We need filmmakers, journalists, and activists to unite in a world that is out of control.” — Wim Wenders Although the red carpets glittering with the flash of cameras effectively attracted prominent personalities of cinema, such as the star of "Anatomy of a Fall" Sandra Hüller or well-known American actors Channing Tatum and Pamela Anderson, the 76th Berlin festival will ultimately be remembered as a decisive event, firmly grounded in geopolitics, where social anxieties were applauded and the measurable civic courage of creators was appreciated.

Perspektywy mediów: The triumph of a film openly criticizing dictatorships and the mass protests of festival artists supporting the Palestinian cause is proof of the rightful revival of politically combative and engaged European cinema. Media unfavorable to the organizers clearly lament the widespread politicization of the festival, where ideological political manifestations have evidently overshadowed the craft and real artistic values of the presented audience works.