Top 8 Movies From the 2024 Berlin Film Festival

The 74th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival took place from February 15 to 25, 2024, with a diverse and exciting lineup of films from around the world. The festival was also marked by the presence of some of the most acclaimed filmmakers and stars, such as Lupita Nyong’o, Martin Scorsese, Cillian Murphy, and Emily Blunt. Among the hundreds of films that screened at the festival, here are eight of the most acclaimed and awarded ones that you should not miss.

1. Dahomey

“Dahomey” won the prestigious Golden Bear! It is a documentary that follows the repatriation of 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey, which were looted by France during the colonial era. The film explores the complex and controversial issues of cultural heritage, identity, and restitution, as well as the personal stories of the people involved in the process.

2. A Traveller’s Needs

The Silver Bear for Best Director went to Hong Sangsoo for the enigmatic and alluring film, “A Traveller’s Needs”. This movie stars Isabelle Huppert as a French woman who travels to Korea for a film festival and encounters a series of mysterious and intriguing situations. The film is a typical Hongian blend of humour, romance, and existentialism, with his signature long takes and zooms.

3. Suspended Time

The Silver Bear for Best Screenplay was awarded to Olivier Assayas for this ambitious and complex film, which spans three decades and three continents, following the lives of a group of friends who are involved in a radical political movement in the 1980s. The film features a stellar cast, including Juliette Binoche, Edgar Ramirez, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Penelope Cruz.

4. The Empire

The Silver Bear for Best Cinematography went to Sayombhu Mukdeeprom for this mesmerising and meditative film, which marks the first English-language feature of Thai master Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The film stars Tilda Swinton as a woman who travels to Colombia to seek a mysterious herb that can heal her chronic insomnia. The film is a poetic and sensory exploration of nature, memory, and dreams.

5. From Hilde With Love

The Silver Bear for Best Actress went to Liv Lisa Fries for her compelling performance in this biopic about Hilde Coppi, a German resistance fighter who was executed by the Nazis in 1943. The film depicts her courageous and tragic story, as well as her passionate love affair with her husband Hans, who was also a communist activist. The film is a powerful and moving tribute to a forgotten heroine.

6. Cuckoo

The Silver Bear for Best Actor went to Hunter Schafer for her impressive debut in this entertainingly deranged horror film, which is set in the Bavarian Alps. Schafer plays a young American woman who is hired as a nanny for a wealthy family, but soon discovers that the house is haunted by a sinister presence. The film is a stylish and suspenseful homage to the genre classics, with a twist.

7. Reinas

The Audience Award for Best Film in the Panorama section went to this charming and touching comedy-drama, which is set in Lima, Peru, in 1992. The film follows the adventures of three sisters and their mother, who decide to move to the beach after their father’s death. The film is a celebration of female solidarity, resilience, and joy, amid political and social turmoil.

8. Between The Temples

The Audience Award for Best Film in the Forum section went to this witty and warm-hearted film, which stars Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane as a cantor and his former music teacher, who reconnect after decades of estrangement. The film is a delightful and insightful exploration of faith, friendship, and family, with a lot of humour and heart.

These are just some of the highlights of the 2024 Berlin Film Festival, which showcased the diversity and vitality of cinema in the post-pandemic era. If you are a film lover, you should check out these!