The 28th 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 February to 5 March 1978. Director Wolf Donner successfully managed to shift the festival's date from June to February, a change which has remained ever since. This was the first year the festival was held in February. The festival opened with '' Opening Night'' by

John Cassavetes John Nicholas Cassavetes ( ; December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. First known as a television and film actor, Cassavetes also helped pioneer American independent cinema, writing and direc ...

and closed with

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spi ...

's out of competition film ''

Close Encounters of the Third Kind ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' is a 1977 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, and François Truffaut. It tells the story ...

''. The jury awarded 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 win ...

to Spain for its contribution to the festival. The three Spanish films which were screened at the festival and won it were short film ''

Ascensor ''Ascensor'' is a 1978 short Spanish film directed by Tomás Muñoz. It was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the ...

'' directed by Tomás Muñoz and feature films '' La palabras de Max'' by

Emilio Martínez Lázaro Emilio may refer to: * Emilio Navaira, a Mexican-American singer often called "Emilio" * Emilio Piazza Memorial School, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State * Emilio (given name) * ''Emilio'' (film), a 2008 film by Kim Jorgensen See also * Emílio ...

and ''

Las truchas ''Trout'' ( es, Las truchas, links=no) is a 1978 Spanish film directed by José Luis García Sánchez. The film was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Bear. Plot A satirization of middle class so ...

'' by

José Luis García Sánchez José Luis García Sánchez (born 22 September 1941) is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer. He has directed 30 films since 1968. He wrote for the 1973 film '' Habla, mudita'', which was entered into the 23rd Berlin International ...

. A new section for children was introduced at the festival. The ''Part 2'' of the retrospective dedicated to West German actress

Marlene Dietrich Marie Magdalene "Marlene" DietrichBorn as Maria Magdalena, not Marie Magdalene, according to Dietrich's biography by her daughter, Maria Riva ; however Dietrich's biography by Charlotte Chandler cites "Marie Magdalene" as her birth name . (, ; ...

was shown at the festival as well as the retrospective called "Censorship – Banned German Films 1933-1945".

Jury

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

Patricia Highsmith Patricia Highsmith (January 19, 1921 – February 4, 1995) was an American novelist and short story writer widely known for her psychological thrillers, including her series of five novels featuring the character Tom Ripley. She wrote 22 nov ...

, writer (United States) - Jury President *

Sergio Leone Sergio Leone (; 3 January 1929 – 30 April 1989) was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter credited as the pioneer of the Spaghetti Western genre and widely regarded as one of the most influential directors in the history of cine ...

, director, screenwriter and producer (Italy) *

Theodoros Angelopoulos Theodoros "Theo" Angelopoulos (; ; 27 April 1935 – 24 January 2012) was a Greek filmmaker, screenwriter and film producer. He dominated the Greek art film industry from 1975 on, and Angelopoulos was one of the most influential and widely re ...

, director, screenwriter and producer (Greece) * Jacques Rozier, director and screenwriter (France) *

Konrad Wolf Konrad Wolf (20 October 1925 – 7 March 1982) was an East German film director. He was the son of writer, doctor and diplomat Friedrich Wolf, and the younger brother of Stasi spymaster Markus Wolf. "Koni" was his nickname. Biography Becau ...

, director and screenwriter (East Germany) * Frieda Grafe, essayist and film critic (West Germany) *

Antonio Eceiza Antonio Eceiza (14 September 1935 – 15 November 2011) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He directed eleven films between 1960 and 1995. He is notable for promoting the growth of Basque cinema. His 1977 film ''Mina, Wind of Free ...

, director and screenwriter (Spain) * Ana Carolina Teixeira Soares, director and screenwriter (Brazil) *

Larisa Shepitko Larisa Yefimovna Shepitko (, uk, Лариса Юхимівна Шепітько, translit=Larysa Yukhymivna Shepitko; 6 January 1938 – 2 July 1979) was a Soviet film director, screenwriter and actress. She is considered one of the best fe ...

, director and screenwriter (Soviet Union)

Films in competition

The following films were in competition for the

award:

Out of competition

* ''

'', directed by

(USA) * ''

Il prefetto di ferro ''Il prefetto di ferro'' (internationally released as ''I Am the Law'' and ''The Iron Prefect'') is a 1977 Italian drama film directed by Pasquale Squitieri. The film tells the story of Cesare Mori, an Italian prefect that before and during the ...

'', directed by

Pasquale Squitieri Pasquale Squitieri (27 November 1938 – 18 February 2017) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Naples, Squitieri graduated in law, then was briefly involved in stage, as author ("''La battaglia''") and even a ...

(Italy) * ''

Sextette ''Sextette'' is a 1978 American musical comedy film directed by Ken Hughes and released by Crown International Pictures. It stars Mae West, alongside an ensemble cast including Timothy Dalton, Dom DeLuise, Tony Curtis, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, Ge ...

'', directed by

Ken Hughes Ken or KEN may refer to: Entertainment * ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer. * ''Ken'' (film), 1964 Japanese film. * ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine. * Ken Masters, a main character in ...

(USA) * ''

The Last Wave ''The Last Wave'' (also released, in the US, as ''Black Rain'') is a 1977 Australian mystery drama film directed by Peter Weir.''Variety'' film review; 16 November 1977, p. 21. It is about a white solicitor in Sydney whose seemingly normal life ...

'', directed by

Peter Weir Peter Lindsay Weir ( ; born August 21, 1944) is a retired Australian film director. He's known for directing films crossing various genres over forty years with films such as '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), '' Gallipoli'' (1981), ''Witnes ...

(Australia)

Key

Retrospective

The following films were shown in the retrospective dedicated to

(Part 2):

Awards

The following prizes were awarded by the Jury: *

: ** ''

What Max Said ''What Max Said'' ( es, Las palabras de Max) is a 1978 Spanish film directed by Emilio Martínez Lázaro. It tells the story of a man who feels disconnected from people around him. It was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival wh ...

'' by

** ''

'' by

** ''

'' by Tomás Muñoz (short film) * Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize: ''

A Queda ''A Queda'' is a 1976 Brazilian drama film directed by Ruy Guerra and Nelson Xavier. It was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize. Cast * Nelson Xavier * Hugo Carvana * Cos ...

'' by

Ruy Guerra Ruy Alexandre Guerra Coelho Pereira (born August 22, 1931) is a Portuguese-Brazilian film director and screenwriter. Guerra was born a Portugal, Portuguese citizen in Lourenço Marques (today Maputo) in Mozambique, when it was still a Portuguese ...

Nelson Xavier Nelson Agostini Xavier (30 August 1941 – 10 May 2017) was a Brazilian actor. He appeared in more than 95 films and television shows between 1959 and 2017. He starred in the 1964 film '' Os Fuzis'', which won the Silver Bear Extraordinary ...

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 ...

Georgi Djulgerov Georgi Djulgerov ( bg, Георги Дюлгеров) is a Bulgarian film director, screenwriter, producer and professor at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts. Career Djulgerov was born in Burgas, Bulgaria, on 30 September 1943. Aft ...

for '' Avantazh'' *

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 cho ...

Gena Rowlands Virginia Cathryn "Gena" Rowlands (born June 19, 1930) is an American retired actress, whose career in film, stage, and television has spanned seven decades. A four-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe winner, she is known for her collaborations ...

for '' Opening Night'' *

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 b ...

: Craig Russell for ''

Outrageous! ''Outrageous!'' is a 1977 Canadian comedy drama film written and directed by Richard Benner. The film stars Craig Russell as female impersonator Robin Turner, and Hollis McLaren as Turner's schizophrenic roommate Liza Conners. The plot begins ...

'' * Silver Bear for an outstanding artistic contribution: ** '' Śmierć prezydenta'' by

Jerzy Kawalerowicz Jerzy Franciszek Kawalerowicz (19 January 1922 – 27 December 2007) was a Polish film director and politician, having been a member of Polish United Workers' Party from 1954 until its dissolution in 1990 and a deputy in Polish parliament since ...

** ''

El brigadista ''The Teacher'' ( es, El brigadista) is a 1977 Cuban drama film directed by Octavio Cortázar. The film, set in the early years of the Cuban Revolution, tells the story of a young urban teacher going to poor, rural areas to teach peasants how t ...

'' by

Octavio Cortázar Octavio Cortázar Jiménez (19 January 1935 – 27 February 2008) was a Cuban film director and screenwriter. He directed twelve films between 1961 and 2005. His 1977 film '' The Teacher'' was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film ...

* Special Recognition: ''

Deutschland im Herbst ''Germany in Autumn'' (german: Deutschland im Herbst) is a 1978 West German anthology film about the period of 1977 known as the German Autumn, which was dominated by incidents of terrorism. The film is composed of contributions from different fi ...

'' *

FIPRESCI Award The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for Fédération Internationale de la PRESse CInématographique) is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world fo ...

**''

My Father's Happy Years ''My Father's Happy Years'' ( hu, Apám néhány boldog éve) is a 1977 Hungarian drama film directed by Sándor Simó. It was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival. Cast * Eszter Szakács - Anya, Törökné * Loránd Lohin ...

'' by

Sándor Simó Sándor Simó (7 August 1934 – 4 September 2001) was a Hungarian film producer, director and screenwriter. He produced 25 films and directed a further seven. His 1969 film ''Those Who Wear Glasses'' won the Golden Leopard at the Locarn ...

References

External links

28th Berlin International Film Festival 1978

Berlin International Film Festival:1978
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, ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berlin International Film Festival, 28th 28 1978 film festivals 1978 in West Germany 1970s in West Berlin