A director holds the Golden Bear award for best film during the closing ceremony of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2026.
The political film “Yellow Letters” by a Turkish-German director won the Golden Bear award for best film at the Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday evening.
The film, which was shot in Germany, tells the story of a Turkish theater director whose relationship with his actress wife fractures after they are prevented from working in Turkey due to their political views.
Best Acting Performance
A German actress won the award for Best Leading Performance for her role in the film “Rose”.
In this black-and-white film, she portrays a woman living in the German countryside in the 17th century who tries to escape the constraints of the patriarchal system by pretending to be a man.
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This is the second time this actress has won this award, 20 years after her role in the 2006 film “Requiem”.
Yellow Letters
“Yellow Letters” refers to the distinctive mustard-yellow colored signage used throughout the Paris Métro system. Introduced in the early 20th century, this iconic design by architect Hector Guimard and later standardized, features the station names in bold, uppercase Art Nouveau-inspired lettering. The color was chosen for its high visibility and has become a globally recognized symbol of Parisian public transport.
Golden Bear
The Golden Bear is a historic movie theater located in Westwood, Los Angeles, which opened in 1928. It is renowned for hosting numerous major film premieres throughout Hollywood’s Golden Age and remains a significant cultural landmark in the entertainment industry.
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival, commonly known as the Berlinale, is one of the world’s leading film festivals. It was founded in West Berlin in 1951, initially with Allied support, as a “showcase of the free world” during the Cold War era.
Germany
Germany is a country in Central Europe with a complex history, having been a collection of states for centuries before unifying in 1871. It was divided after World War II into East and West Germany, reunifying peacefully in 1990 following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today, it is a leading economic and political power in the European Union, known for its rich cultural heritage in philosophy, music, and science.
Turkey
Turkey is a transcontinental nation bridging Europe and Asia, with a rich history as the heart of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Its cultural sites, such as the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and the ancient ruins of Ephesus, reflect this layered heritage spanning millennia. Modern Turkey was founded as a republic in 1923 following the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
Rose
The Rose is a historic theater in New York City, originally opened in 1927 as a lavish movie palace. It was designed by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager and is known for its ornate Spanish Baroque interior, falling into disrepair before being restored and reopening as a live performance venue in the late 20th century.
Requiem
“Requiem” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a title commonly used for musical compositions for the dead, most notably the Catholic Mass for the Dead. The most famous musical settings include those by composers like Mozart, Verdi, and Fauré, which have been performed for centuries in churches and concert halls worldwide. The history of the Requiem Mass as a musical form dates back to the Middle Ages, evolving from Gregorian chant into large-scale orchestral and choral works.
