Ilker Catak’s political drama Yellow Letters took home the Golden Bear at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday, February 22, 2026, closing a festival marked by political debate and controversy surrounding the war in Gaza. Festival director Tricia Tuttle opened the closing ceremony acknowledging the charged atmosphere, stating, “Many people arrived carrying with them a lot of sorrow and anger, as well as a certain sense of urgency about the world we live in today.” She admitted the Berlinale had been “emotionally charged” following days of controversy and accusations of censorship.
The jury, led by German filmmaker Wim Wenders, ultimately honored a film shot in Germany, with dialogue in Turkish. Scenes intended to depict Ankara and Istanbul were filmed in Berlin, and Hamburg. Yellow Letters centers on a Turkish director and his actress wife who are suddenly barred from working due to their political beliefs. Accepting the award, German producer Ingo Fliess recalled a scene from the film where artists and intellectuals, pushed to their limits, find themselves in conflict.
A Moment of Reconciliation
“It reminded me of the last few days at the Berlinale,” Fliess said. “Filmmakers against other filmmakers, artists against creatives […] We are allies.” He urged focusing attacks on what he called the true enemies: “the autocrats, the right-wing parties, the nihilists of our time.” The festival had faced criticism from some artists who accused it of censoring those “who oppose the ongoing genocide perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.”
Wim Wenders, who had been the target of attacks for saying that cinema should “stay out of politics,” attempted to ease tensions. “The language of cinema is empathetic. The language of social networks is effective,” Wenders observed, praising the activism of those involved. “You are doing courageous and necessary work. But does it have to be a competition?”
Earlier in the ceremony, Syrian-Palestinian filmmaker Abdullah Al-Khatib, who won an award in a parallel section of the festival for his film Chronicles from the Siege, delivered a forceful statement, accusing the German government of being “complicit in the genocide committed in Gaza by Israel.” His remarks were met with both cheers and disapproval, highlighting the tensions that permeated this year’s Berlinale. The Berlinale’s political climate reflects a growing trend of filmmakers using their platforms to address global issues.
“You Are Not Alone”
Turkish director Emin Alper, who received the Grand Jury Prize – the festival’s second-highest honor – for his film Salvation, read a message of solidarity with “the Palestinians in Gaza,” “the people of Iran suffering under tyranny,” and “the Kurds in Rojava.” He also addressed imprisoned Turkish political opponents, including Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, saying, “You are not alone.” His film, inspired by a true story, depicts the descent into violence of a remote Turkish village facing conflict with a neighboring clan.
German actress Sandra Hüller was awarded a Silver Bear for Best Performance for her role in Rose, directed by Markus Schleinzer. In the black-and-white drama, she portrays a woman pretending to be a man in a rural 17th-century German community to escape patriarchal constraints.
Another film garnered significant attention from the jury, receiving two awards. Queen at Sea, by American director Lance Hammer, won the Jury Prize. The film, starring Juliette Binoche, explores the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease on loved ones. Anna Calder-Marshall, 79, who plays a woman living with dementia, and her co-star Tom Courtenay, 88, jointly received a Silver Bear for Best Supporting Role.
