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Die Vaterlosen (2011) More at IMDbPro »

5 items from 2011

25 February 2011 2:23 AM, PST | MUBI | See recent MUBI news »

Updated through 2/25.

As with the first quick roundup, the idea here is to point to critical takes on films that I've not caught at the Berlinale but which I'm interested in hearing about (again, for whatever reason), and I'm guessing you might be as well. With just two days left for the festival, this entry will carry on being the catch-all collection for the unseen for days, possibly even weeks, to come.

"As a rule, critics have learned from bitter experience not to expect revelations from Berlin, especially not from the flaccid and usually middle-brow competition selection," writes Jonathan Romney in a dispatch to Sight & Sound. "Surprises, if they come, will be from left field — and the one film I saw this year that can genuinely be called a UFO is a Russian science-fiction extravaganza, shown in the Panorama section. Target (Mishen) — 'The Target' would be a better translation, to »

20 February 2011 1:51 PM, PST | MUBI | See recent MUBI news »

What a night for Asghar Farhadi's Nader and Simin, a Separation. Not only has the International Jury of this year's Berlinale, presided over by Isabella Rossellini, awarded the film the Golden Bear, but, in a most unusual move, the jury's also decided to give the Silver Bear for Best Actor and Silver Bear for Best Actress to the male and femaie ensembles, respectively. Actress Sarina Farhadi (above) thanked all those in Iran who've stood in line for hours for tickets to see the film — which, we might as well go ahead and mention, has also picked up the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury for best film in the Competition.

Béla Tarr's The Turin Horse has won the Jury Grand Prix (Silver Bear). Tarr was on hand to accept the award, but decided to say nothing once he'd gotten up on stage. The Turin Horse is Fipresci's choice for best film in Competition. »

19 February 2011 4:11 PM, PST | Filmofilia | See recent Filmofilia news »

Nader and Simin, a Separation

The competition at the 61st Berlin Film Festival just came to an end so it’s right time to announce some winners!

For the first time in the history of the Berlinale, The Golden Bear went to Iran! Asghar Farhadi‘s drama Nader and Simin, a Separation (a look at contemporary Iranian society) took the top three awards including the Golden Bear for best pic and ensemble male and female casts for actor and actress Silver Bears.

Now, that’s what we call a warm reception!

On receiving his Golden Bear, Farhadi said that he had never thought that he would win and then took a moment to think of his country and his imprisoned colleague Jafar Panahi who had been prevented from coming to Berlin to serve on the International Jury.

Nader and Simin, a Separation follows the title’s couple when the husband, »

- Fiona

19 February 2011 1:36 PM, PST | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

We haven't mentioned the Berlinale at all in the heat of Oscar week. So let's do that, shall we? Better late than never. The festival closes tomorrow but the awards were handed out over the past two days.

"Nader and Simin: A Separation" Golden Bear

Asghar Fahradi, who got a lot of Oscar buzz a couple years back (though no nomination) for About Elly, won this year's Golden Bear for Nader & Simin: A Separation (2011). The Hollywood Reporter explains the film like so.

Farhadi's drama traces the breakup of a Iranian family set against the political tensions in Tehran. While not overtly political, Nader and Simin is starkly critical of conditions in Iran, notably the country's huge class divide. It was widely tipped to win Berlin's top prize, not least because of the current upheaval in the Middle East.

Fahradi dedicated his prize to jailed filmmaker Jafar Panihi who was also »

- NATHANIEL R

19 February 2011 11:56 AM, PST | DearCinema.com | See recent DearCinema.com news »

Nader And Simin, A Separation by Asghar Farhadi won the Golden Bear for the Best Film at the 61st Berlinale. The Silver Bear went to The Turin Horse by Béla Tarr. Ulrich Köhler won the Silver Bear for Best Director for Schlafkrankheit (Sleeping Sickness).

The festival concluded on Saturday evening. Indian actor-producer Aamir Khan served on the main Jury of the festival. Patang (The Kite) by Prashant Bhargava was screened in the 41st Berlinale Forum. Vishal Bhardwaj’s 7 Khoon Maaf, Kaushik Mukherjee’s Gandu and Phil Cox’s The Bengali Detective were presented in the Panorama section.

List of Main Awards at Berlinale:

Golden Bear For The Best Film

Jodaeiye Nader az Simin

Nader And Simin, A Separation

by Asghar Farhadi

Jury Grand Prix-silver Bear                       

A torinói ló

The Turin Horse

by Béla Tarr

Silver Bear For Best Director

Ulrich Köhler for

Schlafkrankheit (Sleeping Sickness)

Silver Bear For Best Actress »

- NewsDesk

5 items from 2011