The 75th Berlin Film Festival has just wrapped. One of our favorite moments? Timothée Chalamet—nominated for Best Actor for his role as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown—attending alongside Kylie Jenner in a head-to-toe baby pink Chrome Hearts look accessorized with Cartier. On Valentine’s Day.
In honor of the 2025 festival, we’ve rounded up the biggest award highlights from this year.
Dreams by Dag Johan Haugerud
Dreams took home the Golden Bear for Best Film, making history as the first Norwegian film to win the award. The coming-of-age drama follows 17-year-old Johanne, who falls for her female teacher and pours her feelings for her into her writing. When her mother and grandmother stumble upon these writings, their initial shock turns to admiration of their literary merit, and prompt the two to reflect on their own past loves.
The Blue Trail by Gabriel Mascaro
The Blue Trail was awarded the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize. The Berlinale synopsis reads, “Tereza, 77, has lived her whole life in a small industrialised town in the Amazon, until one day she receives an official government order to relocate to a senior housing colony. The colony is an isolated area where the elderly are brought to “enjoy” their final years, freeing the younger generation to focus fully on productivity and growth. Tereza refuses to accept this imposed fate. Instead, she embarks on a transformative journey through the rivers and tributaries of the Amazon to fulfill one last wish before her freedom is taken away—a decision that will change her destiny forever.”
The Message by Ivan Fund
The Message by Iván Fund won the Silver Bear Jury Prize and follows a young girl with the rare ability to communicate with animals, whom others exploit as a pet medium for profit.
Huo Meng for Living the Land
Huo Meng took home the Silver Bear for Best Director for his feature Living the Land, a Chinese drama. Originally a law student, Meng later pursued a master’s in cinema. His previous film, Crossing the Border – Zhaoguan, won multiple international awards and screened at the Berlin Film Festival in 2020.
Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You
Rose Byrne won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You. Berlinale describes the film as a darkly comic drama about Linda, a working mother on the verge. When her ceiling literally caves in, she juggles yet another crisis—staying at a motel with her sick daughter while handling everything else going wrong in her life.
Andrew Scott for Blue Moon
Richard Linklater’s latest film, Blue Moon, stars Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley, with Andrew Scott earning the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance. The film delves into the struggles of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart, battling alcoholism and mental health issues as he tries to hold it together during the opening of Oklahoma!.
