Berlinale 2023 Crystal Bears and Prizes at Generation 14plus

Adolfo – Szemen sarka – Man khod, man ham miraghsam – And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine – Hummingbirds – Mutt – Infantaria – IncorciCrystal Bears

The members of the Youth’s Jury Generation 14plus – Leia Haarhuis, Leo Hanstein, Anna Lena Hiemer, Anouk Segebart, Jonas Volkers – have awarded the following prizes:

Crystal Bear for the Best Film: Adolfo
by Sofía Auza, USA / Mexico

Bus stop exterior night.
Detail shot of a packet of cigarettes. The bus has already left, but we are still taken on a trip.
Through an unexpected, yet intense encounter between strangers and their witty humor, we accompany two fundamentally different people through an enchanting night full of colors, thoughts and poetic-philosophical dialogues. The film won us over thanks to its attention to detail, with which it draws inspiring characters who try to come to terms with their past and at the same time look towards the future.
Just one night instead of a thousand - and maybe the cigarettes are enough in the end?

Special Mention: And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine
by Axel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck, Sweden / Denmark

This film has set itself apart with its unique style and humorous as well as creative storytelling of a technology you are all familiar with. It illuminates not only the development of the medium, but also the advantages and disadvantages it brings. We particularly liked the use of colourful excerpts from a wide variety of sources which, when put together, still form a unit.

Crystal Bear for the Best Short Film: Man khod, man ham miraghsam (And Me, I'm Dancing Too)
by Mohammad Valizadegan, Iran / Germany / Czechia

Woman: A person who identifies as female.
Life: The period of time between birth and death. The experience of being alive.
Freedom: The absence of coercion and restrictions. The ability to express yourself as you wish.
Dance: A ritual, a custom, a profession, a sport, a form of therapy, a social interaction or simply an expression of feelings. Dancing is liberation.
The film not only moved and touched us, but it also made us thoughtful and, above all, combative, through the authentic presentation of topics which are unfortunately still as relevant today as they were years ago.

Special Mention: Szemem sarka (From the Corner of My Eyes)
by Domonkos Erhardt, Hungary

Do you remember this one moment in your life? Perhaps it was particularly magical, maybe it was rather intense... A film reminded us of such moments and, from the very start, whisked us away on a journey behind the reflection of reality. We find the harmonious style to be inspiring and thought-provoking. In the end, the attention to detail and the touching encounter convinced us. A glimpse into a possible dream world from the corner of your eye.

Awards of the Generation 14plus International Jury, sponsored by the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education)

The members of the Generation 14plus International Jury – Kateryna Gornostai, Fion Mutert, Juanita Onzaga – have awarded the following prizes:

The Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Film, endowed with 7,500 euros
Hummingbirds
by Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Estefanía “Beba” Contreras, USA

For a touching and subtle glimpse into the intimate moments of memorable characters that grow within their friendship.
Their self-determination and playfulness, as both protagonists and authors, is inspiring.
Their actions, jokes, songs, laughs, and bodies are political and necessary as a way of resistance.

Special Mention: Mutt
by Vuk Lungulov-Klotz, USA

For a film with complex, ambivalent characters and relationships in the story of a single day, where the past comes back into the protagonist’s life. With brilliant acting and surprising storytelling.

The Special Prize of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Short Film, endowed with 2,500 euros:
Infantaria (Infantry)
by Laís Santos Araújo, Brazil

For an atmospheric tale, that builds a unique cinematic world where womanhood takes a complex shape within each of the characters.
A film full of layers, whose paint-like frames, bright colours, and intriguing world evoke the importance of support between women.

Special Mention: Incroci
by Francesca de Fusco, USA / Italy

For a warm and personal coming of age about a feeling that is hard to define. Like a photograph, it captures a moment in the protagonist’s life, which made us feel and remember what curiosity and connection mean at a young age.