The Berlin Film Festival opened on Thursday night with a defiant sense of optimism, as cinema-goers braved a heavy rainstorm to celebrate the start of the 11-day event, per variety.com. While previous editions have been marked by fiery political rhetoric, this year’s opening ceremony shifted the spotlight back to the craft of independent filmmaking.
The evening’s centrepiece was the presentation of the Honorary Golden Bear to Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh. The award was presented by director Sean Baker, who praised Yeoh as a “once-in-a-generation screen presence” capable of redefining the industry.
Accepting the honour, an emotional Yeoh paid tribute to her late father and reflected on her long history with the festival.
“A part of me is still that young girl who simply wanted to make her parents proud,” she told the audience. “If my father could see me here tonight, holding this Golden Bear, I know he would smile.”
In a notable departure from last year’s ceremony, which featured blunt critiques of global conflicts, the 2026 gala remained largely apolitical. While small groups of activists held “Free Iran” signs on the red carpet, the stage presentations focused almost exclusively on artistic resilience.
Wim Wenders, leading this year’s competition jury, defended this neutral stance during a press conference. Wenders argued that The Counterweight should act as the “opposite of politics.”
He emphasised that filmmakers must “do the work of people, not the work of politicians.”
Festival chief Tricia Tuttle, now in her second year, championed the “thriving” state of independent cinema. The festival opened with No Good Men, a romantic comedy from Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat. Set against the 2021 fall of Kabul, it is reportedly the first Afghan film to feature an on-screen kiss.
Though the 2026 lineup features fewer Hollywood blockbusters than previous years, several “buzzy” premieres are expected to draw crowds, including Rosebush Pruning, a family satire starring Elle Fanning and Callum Turner; at the Sea, a drama featuring a “fearless” performance by Amy Adams, and The Moment, the European debut of a new project from pop icon Charli xcx.
The Berlin Film Festival continues until February 22.
