1st Berlin International Film Festival

Festival poster
Opening film	Rebecca
Location	West Berlin, Germany
Founded	1951
Awards	Golden Bear (Die Vier im Jeep, ...Sans laisser d'adresse, In Beaver Valley, Justice est faite and Cinderella)
Festival date	6–17 June 1951
Website	Website
Berlin International Film Festival chronology
2nd

The 1st annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 6 to 17 June 1951 at the Titiana-Palast cinema.^[1] The opening film was Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca.^[1] At this very first Berlin Festival, the Golden Bear award was introduced, and it was awarded to the best film in each of five categories: drama, comedy, crime or adventure, music film, and documentary. This system disappeared already the following year because FIAPF (Federation Internationale des Associations des Producteurs de Films) stated that the awarding of prizes by an expert jury was reserved for "A-festivals" only. Instead, the next year's festival awards were voted on by the audience.

Jury

The following people from West Germany were announced as being on the jury for the festival:^[2]

• Fritz Podehl, playwright and producer - Jury President
• Johannes Betzel, cinema owner
• Emil Dovifat, professor of political journalism
• Werner Eisbrenner, composer and conductor
• Günther Geisler, journalist and critic
• Walter Karsch, critic and publisher
• Hilde Lucht-Perske, city councilor
• Tatjana Sais, actress
• Paul Heimann, pedagogue and reader
• Johannes Betzel, cinema operator

Films in competition

The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear awards:^[3]

Key

†	Winner of the main award for best film in its section
The opening and closing films are screened during the opening and closing ceremonies respectively.

Awards

The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:^[4]

West German jury

• Golden Bear
  • Die Vier im Jeep by Leopold Lindtberg – Golden Bear for Best Drama
  • ...Sans laisser d'adresse by Jean-Paul Le Chanois – Golden Bear for Best Comedy
  • In Beaver Valley by James Algar – Golden Bear for Best Documentary
  • Justice est faite by André Cayatte – Golden Bear for Best Crime or Adventure Film
  • Cinderella by Wilfred Jackson – Golden Bear for Best Music Film
• Silver Bear
  • Il cammino della speranza – Silver Bear for Best Drama
  • Leva på 'Hoppet' – Silver Bear for Best Comedy
  • The Tales of Hoffmann – Silver Bear for Best Music film
• Bronze Bear
  • The Undefeated – Bronze Bear for Best Documentary
  • The Browning Version – Bronze Bear for Best Drama
  • The Mating Season – Bronze Bear for Best Comedy
  • Destination Moon – Bronze Bear for Best Crime or Adventure Film
• Golden Medal
  • Kleine Nachtgespenster – Golden Medal for Best Culture Films and Documentaries
  • Der Film entdeckte Kunstwerke indianischer Vorzeit – Golden Medal for Best Arts and Science Film
  • The Story of Time – Golden Medal for Best Advertising Film
• Silver Medal
  • Begone Dull Care – Silver Medal for Best Culture Films and Documentaries
  • Goya – Silver Medal for Best Arts and Science Film
  • Het gala-Concert – Silver Medal for Best Advertising Film
• Bronze Medal
  • Der gelbe Dom – Bronze Medal for Best Culture Films and Documentaries
  • Bosch – Bronze Medal for Best Arts and Science Film
  • Blick ins Paradies – Bronze Medal for Best Advertising Film

Audience Vote

• Large Bronze plate – Cinderella
• Small Bronze plate – The Browning Version

Special Prize of the city of West Berlin

• Special prize for an excellent Film Achievement – Il Christo probito
• Special prize for an excellent Film Achievement – God Needs Men
• Certificate of Honour – Dr. Holl