Deborah Young of '' The Hollywood Reporter '' wrote from the Berlinale : Young noted how Farhadi portrayed Iran 's social and religious divisions , and complimented the film 's craft : In a strongly positive review from '' Screen Daily '' , Lee Marshall wrote : Alissa Simon from '' Variety '' called it Farhadi 's strongest work yet and described it : David Thomson for '' The New Republic '' wrote : The film won the Fajr Film Festival 's Crystal Simorghs for Best Director , Best Screenplay , Best Cinematographer and Best Sound Recorder . It also received the Audience Favourite Film award . It won the top award , the Golden Bear for Best Film , at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival . The actress ensemble received the Silver Bear for Best Actress , and the actor ensemble the Silver Bear for Best Actor . In addition it received the Competition Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Berliner Morgenpost Readers ' Prize . Isabella Rossellini , the Jury president of the Berlin International Film Festival , said that the choice of Farhadi 's film for the Golden Bear was " pretty unanimous " . Farhadi commented that he never would have thought he would win the Golden Bear , and that the film 's victory offered " a very good opportunity to think of the people of my country , the country I grew up in , the country where I learned my stories – a great people " . Ahmad Miralaii , the director of Iran 's Farabi Cinematic Foundation , said that " Iranian cinema is proud of the awards " , as he welcomed Farhadi at the airport upon the director 's return from Berlin
61st Berlin International Film Festival
61st Berlin International Film Festival
A Separation