The Iranian film "My Favorite Cake" by the director duo Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, whose passport was confiscated by the Tehran authorities and they were therefore unable to go to Berlin, received the prize from one of the "independent juries" of the Berlinale, the "ecumenical" one of the German Protestant and Catholic Churches.
The announcement was made in Berlin at an awards ceremony which, in the case of "Keyke mahboobe man" (original title of the film), was accepted by two actors.
Teddy Award to Peaches, a 'queer genius'
A documentary about Canadian electroclash and punk singer Merrill Nisker, aka "Peaches", was awarded a "Teddy Award" at the Berlinale last night.
This was announced on the website of the award which has been awarded at the Berlin Film Festival for 38 years and is considered the oldest cinematographic recognition for films and people "that communicate themes of social diversity and contribute to greater tolerance, acceptance, solidarity and equality in society", as recalled by the Dpa agency.
The film "Teaches of Peaches" by Judy Landkammer and Philipp Fussenegger uses private archive material and footage from "The Teaches of Peaches Anniversary Tour" to show the now 57-year-old's transformation into an internationally renowned artist.
According to the jury, it is time for contemporary culture to "recognize a queer genius" (non-sexually labelable).
The jury awarded "All Shall Be Well" by a Hong Kong director, Ray Yeung, as best film.
The production depicts family conflicts and growing problems of acceptance following the death of an elderly lesbian couple's partner.
The Teddy for best short film instead went to "Grandmamauntsistercat" by Zuza Banasinska, a Polish director who tells the story of a matriarchal family.
The jury's Teddy was awarded to the ensemble of the film "Crossing" by Swedish director Levan Akin.
“Each character in this ensemble, be it main or secondary, is treated with incredible depth, without pandering to preconceived ideas and cinematic stereotypes,” declared the jury.
A special Teddy prize was also awarded to the Berlin director Lothar Lambert who, since the 1970s, has been "closer to people who do not fit into any social mold".
Three awards from independent juries for 'Sex'
The Norwegian film with a homosexual theme "Sex" by Dag Johan Haugerud, presented in the "Panorama" section of the Berlinale, received three prizes from the "Independent Juries" of the 74th Berlin film festival: the "ecumenical" one from the Evangelical and Catholic Churches ;
the "Cicae", of arthouse cinemas;
and the "Label Europa Cinemas" recognition.
This is what emerges from a press release from the Berlinale which integrates announcements made in a ceremony held in the German capital.
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