With aesthetical and philosophical consistency, the filmmaker succeeds in making a connection between the journey to discover meaning in personal existence and in history, and the spiritual upheaval within contemporary society and the challenge represented by the turn of the century.
42nd International Film Festival Berlin
Since 1992, an Ecumenical Jury appointed by INTERFILM and SIGNIS awards prizes at the Berlinale, initially for films of the International Competition and the International Forum for Young Cinema, since 1997 also for Panorama films.
The first Catholic jury at the Berlinale was established in 1954, even earlier than the international festival jury. A Protestant INTERFILM Jury exists since 1963.
The Prize of the Ecumenical Jury in the International Competition went to "Infinitas" by Marlen Chuziev, which also received the Alfred Bauer Prize. The jury also awarded Commendations to the competition films "Conte d'Hiver" by Eric Rohmer, which also won the Prize of the Fipresci Jury , and "Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe" by István Szabó, which was also honoured with the Special Prize of the International Festival Jury. In the Forum, the Ecumenical Jury awarded its prize to "L'annonce faite à Marie" by Alain Cuny and a Special Mention to "Trys dienos" (Three Days) by Šarunas Bartas, which also received an Honourable Mention from the Fipresci Jury.
The Golden Bear went to "Grand Canyon" by Lawrence Kasdan and a Silver Bear for Best Director to Jan Troell for "Il capitano". Director Hal Roach, the festival's guest of honour at the age of 100, was awarded the Berlinale Camera. The festival's retrospective was dedicated to Studio Babelsberg ("Babelsberg - A Film Studio 1912-1992").
Awards
The jury awards its Forum Prize to The Annunciation of Mary for the uncompromising aestheticism in the composition of the image which issues easy consumption; the film instead employs poetic images to address profound dimensions within nature and human existence.