The 6th annual

Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

was held from 22 June to 3 July 1956. The

FIAPF The FIAPF (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films; en, International Federation of Film Producers Associations), created in 1933, is an organization composed with 36 member associations from 30 of the leading audio ...

granted the festival the "A status" during this year, which was previously only reserved for Cannes and Venice. The awards for the first time, were given by an international jury. The

Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The winn ...

was awarded to '' Invitation to the Dance'' directed by

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, singer, filmmaker, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

. However, this decision by the jury was widely criticized as the fil was considered "too shallow" for a Golden Bear. The favourite among many critics was the Finnish entry '' Tuntematon sotilas'' by

Edvin Laine Edvin Laine (13 July 1905 – 18 November 1989) was a Finnish film director. Laine was born Bovellán. Laine directed a comedy '' Aaltoska orkaniseeraa'' and family film ''Sleeping Beauty'', both in 1949. '' The Unknown Soldier'', a film La ...

, which was an anti-war film without any illusions based on a novel by

Väinö Linna Väinö Linna (; 20 December 1920 – 21 April 1992) was a Finnish author. He gained literary fame with his third novel, ''Tuntematon sotilas'' ( ''The Unknown Soldier'', published in 1954), and consolidated his position with the trilogy ''Tää ...

Jury

The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival: International feature film jury *

Marcel Carné Marcel Albert Carné (; 18 August 1906 – 31 October 1996) was a French film director. A key figure in the poetic realism movement, Carné's best known films include '' Port of Shadows'' (1938), ''Le Jour Se Lève'' (1939), '' The Devil's Envoys ...

, director and screenwriter (France) - Jury President *

Bill Luckwell Bill Luckwell (1913–1967) was a British film producer and screenwriter. He founded Bill Luckwell Productions to make supporting features.Chibnall & McFarlane p.130 Selected filmography Producer *''Miss Tulip Stays the Night'' (1955) *'' See H ...

, producer (United Kingdom) * Giuseppe Vittorio Sampieri, director and producer (Italy) *

Kashiko Kawakita was a Japanese film producer and film curator, and the wife of Nagamasa Kawakita. As vice president of Tōwa Trading, together with her husband and daughter Kazuko Kawakita she was influential in the development of the post-war Japanese film i ...

, special effects director (Japan) * Leo J. Horster, entrepreneur (United States) * Ilse Urbach, authoress (West Germany) *

Ludwig Berger Ludwig Berger may refer to: * Ludwig Berger (composer) (1777–1839), German composer * Ludwig Berger (director) Ludwig Berger (born Ludwig Bamberger; 6 January 1892 – 18 May 1969) was a German-Jewish film director, screenwriter and theat ...

, director and screenwriter (West Germany) International documentary and short jury * Otto Sonnenfeld, producer (Israel) - Jury President * D. Gualberto Fernández, (Uruguay) * Sarukkai Gopalan, (India) *

Jan Hulsker Jan Hulsker (2 October 1907, The Hague – 9 November 2002, Vancouver) was a Dutch art historian especially noted for his work on Vincent van Gogh. He studied Dutch literature in Leiden and was promoted with a thesis on the author Aart van der Le ...

, art historian (Netherlands) *

Fritz Kempe Fritz originated as a German nickname for Friedrich, or Frederick (''Der Alte Fritz'', and ''Stary Fryc'' were common nicknames for King Frederick II of Prussia and Frederick III, German Emperor) as well as for similar names including Fridolin ...

, photographer (West Germany)

Films in competition

The following films were in competition for the

awards:

Key

Awards

The following prizes were awarded by the Jury: International jury awards *

: '' Invitation to the Dance'' by

Silver Bear for Best Director The Silver Bear for Best Director (german: Silberner Bär/Bester Regie) is an award presented annually at the Berlin International Film Festival since 1956. It is given for the best achievement in directing and is chosen by the International Jury ...

Robert Aldrich Robert Burgess Aldrich (August 9, 1918 – December 5, 1983) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. His notable credits include '' Vera Cruz'' (1954), ''Kiss Me Deadly'' (1955), ''The Big Knife'' (1955), '' Autumn L ...

for '' Autumn Leaves'' *

Silver Bear for Best Actress The Silver Bear for Best Actress (german: Silberner Bär/Beste Darstellerin) was an award presented at the Berlin International Film Festival from 1956 to 2020. It was given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance and was chos ...

Elsa Martinelli Elsa Martinelli (born Elisa Tia; 30 January 1935 – 8 July 2017) was an Italian actress and fashion model. Life and career Born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, she moved to Rome with her family. In 1953, she was discovered by Roberto Capuc ...

for '' Donatella'' *

Silver Bear for Best Actor The Silver Bear for Best Actor (german: Silberner Bär/Bester Darsteller) was an award presented at the Berlin International Film Festival from 1956 to 2020. It was given to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance and was chosen by ...

Burt Lancaster Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-yea ...

for ''

Trapeze A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or flying, an ...

'' * Silver Bear for an Outstanding Artistic Contribution: André Michel for '' La Sorcière'' * Silver Bear for an Outstanding Single Achievement:

Charles Frend Charles Herbert Frend (21 November 1909, Pulborough, Sussex – 8 January 1977, London) was an English film director and editor, best known for his films produced at Ealing Studios. He began directing in the early 1940s and is known for such ...

for '' The Long Arm'' *

Silver Bear The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

: ''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Battl ...

'' by

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

* Honourable Mention (Director): '' El camino de la vida'' by

Alfonso Corona Blake Alfonso Corona Blake (2 January 1919 – 21 January 1999) was a Mexican film director and screenwriter. He directed 27 films between 1956 and 1971. His film ''The Road of Life'' won the Honourable Mention (Director) award at the 6th Berlin In ...

* Honourable Mention (Colour): '' Byaku fujin no yoren'' by

Shirō Toyoda was a Japanese film director and screenwriter who directed over 60 films during his career spanning 50 years. Career Born in Kyoto, Toyoda moved to Tokyo after finishing high school and studied scriptwriting under the pioneering film director ...

* Honourable Mention (Best Humorous Film): '' Pane, amore e...'' by

Dino Risi Dino Risi (23 December 1916 – 7 June 2008) was an Italian film director. With Mario Monicelli, Luigi Comencini, Nanni Loy and Ettore Scola, he was one of the masters of ''commedia all'italiana''. Biography Risi was born in Milan. He had an ol ...

Documentaries and short films jury awards *

(Documentaries): '' No Place for Wild Animals'' by

Bernhard Grzimek Bernhard Klemens Maria Grzimek (; 24 April 1909 – 13 March 1987) was a German zoo director, zoologist, book author, editor, and animal conservationist in postwar West Germany. Biography Early years and education Grzimek was born in Neisse (N ...

and

Michael Grzimek Michael Grzimek (12 April 1934 – 10 January 1959) was a West German zoologist, conservationist and filmmaker. Life Michael Grzimek was the second son of Bernhard Grzimek and Hildegard Prüfer. Already as a child, he assisted his father in ...

(Documentaries): ''

The African Lion ''The African Lion'' is a 1955 American documentary film directed by James Algar. It was released by Walt Disney Productions as part of its ''True-Life Adventures'' series. The film, which was shot over a 30-month period in Kenya, Tanganyika and U ...

'' by

James Algar James Algar (June 11, 1912 – February 26, 1998) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He worked at Walt Disney Productions for 43 years and received the Disney Legends award in 1998. He was born in Modesto, California ...

Short Film Golden Bear The Short Film Golden Bear () is the most important award in the short film competition of the Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale ...

: ''

Paris la nuit ''Paris by Night'' (French: ''Paris la nuit'') is a 1930 French comedy film directed by Henri Diamant-Berger and starring Marguerite Moreno, Armand Bernard and Suzet Maïs.Andrew p.158 Synopsis Rita, a young countess, wants to visit the lowest d ...

'' by

Jacques Baratier Jacques Baratier (8 March 1918 – 27 November 2009) was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed 21 films. His film ''Goha'' won the Jury Prize at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival. His 1962 film ''La poupée (film), La poupée'' wa ...

and

Jean Valère Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * J ...

Silver Bear for Best Short Film The Silver Bear for Best Short Film is the second place in the short film competition at the Berlin International Film Festival. Awards External links Berlinale website
{{Berlin International Film Festival Berlin International Film Festival ...

: ''ex aequo''
'' Hitit güneşi'' by

Sabahattin Eyüboğlu Sabahattin Eyüboğlu (1908 – January 13, 1973) was a Turkish people, Turkish writer, essayist, translator and film producer. Biography Sabahatttin Eyüboğlu was born in 1908 on the Black Sea coast town of Akçaabat near Trabzon. His fat ...

'' Spring Comes to Kashmir'' by

Ravi Prakash Ravi Prakash is an Indian actor who primarily appears in Telugu and Tamil films. Career Ravi was born in Vijayawada and grew up in Visakhapatnam, India. After completing his secondary education, he chose to pursue a career in medicine and stu ...

'' Rythmetic'' by

Norman McLaren William Norman McLaren, LL. D. (11 April 1914 – 27 January 1987) was a Scottish Canadian animator, director and producer known for his work for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).Rosenthal, Alan. ''The new documentary in action: a caseb ...

and

Evelyn Lambart Evelyn Lambart (23 July 1914 – 3 April 1999) was a Canadian animator and technical director with the National Film Board of Canada, known for her early collaborations with Norman McLaren as well as her later films, as sole director. In 19 ...

* Honorable mention (Short Documentary or Cultural Film):
'' ...erwachsen sein dagegen sehr'' by Wolf Hart
'' Le Sabotier du Val de Loire'' by

Jacques Demy Jacques Demy (; 5 June 1931 – 27 October 1990) was a French director, lyricist, and screenwriter. He appeared at the height of the French New Wave alongside contemporaries like Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. Demy's films are celebrat ...

The Long Journey ''The Long Journey'' ( da, Den Lange Rejse) is a series of six novels by Danish author and poet Johannes V. Jensen, appearing between 1908 and 1922. The books deal with the author's theories on evolution, backdropped against a description of huma ...

'' by

Geoffrey Collings Arthur Geoffrey Collings (6 June 1913 – 1996)''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916–2007'' was a British people, British trade unionist and political activist. Collings was educated at the Stationers' Company's School and Bir ...

Independent jury awards * OCIC Award: '' Tuntematon sotilas'' by

* OCIC Award, special mention: '' El camino de la vida'' by

Audience vote *

: ''

Vor Sonnenuntergang ''Before Sundown'' (german: Vor Sonnenuntergang) is a 1956 West German drama film directed by Gottfried Reinhardt and starring Hans Albers, Annemarie Düringer and Martin Held. At the 6th Berlin International Film Festival it won the Golden Bea ...

'' by

Gottfried Reinhardt Gottfried Reinhardt (20 March 1913 – 19 July 1994) was an Austrian-born American film director and producer. Biography Reinhardt was born in Berlin, the son of the Austrian theater director Max Reinhardt (until 1904: Max Goldmann), manag ...

: '' Mi tío Jacinto'' by

Ladislao Vajda Ladislao Vajda (born Weisz László; 18 August 1906, Budapest – 25 March 1965, Barcelona) was a Hungarian-Spanish film director who made films in Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy and West Germany. Biography He was born in Budapest, ...

* Bronze Bear: ''

'' by

Carol Reed Sir Carol Reed (30 December 1906 – 25 April 1976) was an English film director and producer, best known for ''Odd Man Out'' (1947), '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948), ''The Third Man'' (1949), and '' Oliver!'' (1968), for which he was awarded the ...

References

External links

6th Berlin International Film Festival 1956Berlin International Film Festival:1956
at

Internet Movie Database IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

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