27/05/2021 - BERLINALE 2021: The feature by Ukraine’s Kateryna Gornostai was victorious in Generation 14plus, while the film by Canada’s Tracey Deer came out on top in Generation Kplus

As part of the Berlinale Summer Special, which will run from 9-20 June (see the news), the awards for the Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus sections of the 71^st Berlin Film Festival have just been unveiled. During the Summer Special, the public will also have the opportunity to catch the premieres of the winning films.

Starting with Generation 14plus, the youth jury, comprising Rosalie Isabella Louisa Borkowski, Laura Grohmann and Milan Wahjudi, awarded the Crystal Bear for Best Film to Stop-Zemlia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kateryna Gornostai
film profile], helmed by Ukrainian director Kateryna Gornostai. According to the jury, “The film convincingly covers a variety of important topics which appeal to us as young people. Platonic love, queerness, solidarity and psychological stress reinforce the effect of the film as an authentic coming-of-age story.” Also, the Norwegian flick Ninjababy [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kristine Kujath Thorp
interview: Yngvild Sve Flikke
film profile] by Yngvild Sve Flikke received a Special Mention in the section.

As for the prizes of the international jury, which includes Jella Haase, Mees Peijnenburg and Melanie Waelde, they were decided during the Berlinale Industry Event in March, but have not yet been handed out (see the news). The Grand Prix for the Best Film in Generation 14plus went to Swiss director Fred Baillif for The Fam [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fred Baillif
film profile], while the Special Mention was given to Cryptozoo by Dash Shaw.

Moving onto the Generation Kplus section, the children’s jury, consisting of Aaron Julius Marx, Jarik Konstantin Richter and Nola Strunk, picked Beans by Tracey Deer as the winner of the Crystal Bear for Best Film. In their statement, the jury members underline: “We were incredibly moved by the story that unfolded. The excellent actors turned the scenes into touching moments. A film that depicts the racism and colonialism which unfortunately still exist in the world, and compels you to reflect upon it all.” Furthermore, A School in Cerro Hueso by Argentinian director Betania Cappato was picked as the recipient of the Special Mention in the Generation Kplus competition and also received the Special Mention of the Generation Kplus International Jury.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Generation 14plus

Crystal Bear
Stop-Zemlia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kateryna Gornostai
film profile] - Kateryna Gornostai (Ukraine)
Special Mention
Ninjababy [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kristine Kujath Thorp
interview: Yngvild Sve Flikke
film profile] - Yngvild Sve Flikke (Norway)

Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury
The Fam [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fred Baillif
film profile] - Fred Baillif (Switzerland)
Special Mention
Cryptozoo - Dash Shaw (USA)

Generation Kplus

Crystal Bear
Beans - Tracey Deer (Canada)
Special Mention
A School in Cerro Hueso - Betania Cappato (Argentina)

Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury
Summer Blur - Han Shuai (China)
Special Mention
A School in Cerro Hueso - Betania Cappato