It was without a doubt the hottest ticket and the coolest party in town. On Friday evening, tout Berlin was partying at the former Templehof Airport to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Teddy Awards, also known as the "gay Oscars". The Teddys are voted on by specific juries for the best gay-themed films screening in all sections of the Berlinale. The Teddy jury is comprised of queer festival programmers from around the world.

Winning the top award was German director Marco Berger for his coming out/coming of age film AUSENTE, which won the Best Feature Award. In the documentary category, the prize went to THE BALLAD OF GENESIS AND LADY JAYE by Marie Losier, the story of a pansexual couple who undergo  cosmetic surgery to look alike and to live as one.  The Best Short Film was won by veteran American diector Barbara Hammer for two of her short films in the Forum section, GENERATIONS and MAYA DEREN'S SINK.

A Special Jury Prize was announced for French director Celine Sciamma for the Panorama section opener TOMBOY, a delicately told tale of a young girl pretending to be a boy in order to be socially accepted in a new town where her family has moved. Special Teddy Awards were also given to South African drag performer and HIV/AIDS activist Pieter-Dirk Uys and recently deceased New German Cinema director Werner Schroeter, who was feted with a new documentary in the Panorama section on his life and career. For complete coverage of the glamour, visit: www.teddyawards.com

Sandy Mandelberger, Berlin Dailies Editor