The awards for the Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus sections of this year’s Berlinale (12-22 February) have been unveiled, spotlighting youth-centred films tackling identity, friendship and belonging across continents.

In the Generation Kplus strand, the children’s jury awarded the Crystal Bear for Best Film to Allan Deberton’s Brazilian drama Gugu’s World, a coming-of-age tale about a boy raised by his grandmother; their fragile bond is tested as he struggles to remain true to himself.

A Special Mention went to Rima Das’s Not a Hero (India/Singapore), about a city boy sent to the countryside, who learns about friendship and self-discovery.

In the Kplus short-film competition, Daniel Neiden’s animated short Whale 52 – Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale (USA) won the Crystal Bear; it tells the story of two lonely souls connecting across distance and silence. Luo Jian’s Under the Wave off Little Dragon (UK) received a Special Mention for its imaginative storytelling about a girl exploring metaphors and fairy-tale truths.

Meanwhile, the Generation 14plus youth jury awarded the Crystal Bear for Best Film to Fernanda Tovar’s Sad Girlz [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Carlo d’Ursi
interview : Fernanda Tovar
fiche film] (Mexico/Spain/France), which follows two teenage friends confronting trauma and solidarity in a poetic coming-of-age narrative. Mees Peijnenburg’s A Family [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] (Netherlands/Belgium), about siblings coping with their parents’ divorce from dual perspectives, received a Special Mention.

In the 14plus short-film section, Memories of a Window (USA/Iran) by Mehraneh Salimian and Amin Pakparvar, a documentary essay reflecting on political resistance and personal loss, snagged the Crystal Bear. Moreover, Roddy Dextre’s Nobody Knows the World (Peru) picked up a Special Mention for its lyrical portrait of violence and forgiveness.

The Generation international jury – made up of Khozy Rizal, Lena Urzendowsky and Kim Yutani – also handed out its prizes. The Grand Prix for Best Film in Generation Kplus again went to Gugu’s World, praised for its vibrant storytelling and memorable performances. Paul Negoescu’s Atlas of the Universe [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] (Romania/Bulgaria), about a young wanderer forming unexpected bonds on a cross-country journey, received a Special Mention.

The Special Prize for Best Short Film in Generation Kplus went to White (Kurdistan Region of Iraq), centred on a village coming together to preserve cinema for its children.

In Generation 14plus, the international jury awarded its Grand Prix for Best Film to Sad Girlz, citing its sensitive exploration of friendship in the aftermath of sexual violence. Diego “Mapache” Fuentes’ animated punk satire Matapanki (Chile) received a Special Mention. Finally, the Special Prize for Best Short Film went to Fenn O’Meally’s The Thread (UK), portraying four family members grappling with identity and connection, whilst Memories of a Window also received a Special Mention.

Here is the full list of this year’s award winners:

Generation Kplus

Feature films

Crystal Bear for Best Film
Gugu’s World – Allan Deberton (Brazil)
Special Mention
Not a Hero – Rima Das (India/Singapore)

Grand Prix of the International Jury for Best Film
Gugu’s World – Allan Deberton
Special Mention
Atlas of the Universe [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] – Paul Negoescu (Romania/Bulgaria)

Short films

Crystal Bear for Best Short Film
Whale 52 – Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale – Daniel Neiden (USA)
Special Mention
Under the Wave off Little Dragon – Luo Jian (UK)

Special Prize of the International Jury for Best Short Film
White – Navroz Shaban (Kurdistan Region of Iraq)
Special Mention
Under the Wave off Little Dragon – Luo Jian

Generation 14plus

Feature films

Crystal Bear for Best Film
Sad Girlz [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Carlo d’Ursi
interview : Fernanda Tovar
fiche film] – Fernanda Tovar (Mexico/Spain/France)
Special Mention
A Family [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] – Mees Peijnenburg (Netherlands/Belgium)

Grand Prix of the International Jury for Best Film
Sad Girlz – Fernanda Tovar
Special Mention
Matapanki – Diego “Mapache” Fuentes (Chile)

Short films

Crystal Bear for Best Short Film
Memories of a Window – Mehraneh Salimian, Amin Pakparvar (USA/Iran)
Special Mention
Nobody Knows the World – Roddy Dextre (Peru)

Special Prize of the International Jury for Best Short Film
The Thread – Fenn O’Meally (UK)
Special Mention
Memories of a Window - Mehraneh Salimian, Amin Pakparvar