Berlin filmfest picks gender neutrality policy

The Berlin International Film Festival (aka Berlinale) has set to adopt a new gender neutral policy treating contestants.

The next year’s edition of the German fest, which is set to hold physically in the city of Berlin, despite the coronavirus pandemic, will not have separate awards for Best Actor and Best Actress. Instead, the event will recognize a winner to take home the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance and one for Best Supporting Performance.

The organizer of the fest stated that their decision regarding the awards is to raise gender- sensitive awareness in the realm of filmmaking.

Besides, the fest has dismissed the Alfred Bauer Prize, since its 2020 edition, due to the new facts come to light about Alfred Bauer’s connection to the Nazis. New findings suggest that he was a high-ranking Nazi.

Founded in 1951, the Berlin International Film Festival is one of the world’s leading film events which is annually held in Germany in February.

AA/FM