1st Berlin International Film Festival
Introduction The '''1st''' annual '''Berlin International Film Festival''' was held from 6 to 17 June 1951 at the Titiana-Palast cinema. The opening film was Alfred Hitchcock's ''Rebecca''.At this very first Berlin Festival, the Golden Bear award was introduced, and it was awarded to the best film in each of five categories: drama, comedy, crime or adventure, music film, and documentary. This system disappeared already the following year because FIAPF (Federation Internationale des Associations des Producteurs de Films) stated that the awarding of prizes by an expert jury was reserved for "A-festivals" only. Instead, the next year's festival awards were voted on by the audience.
Jury The following people from West Germany were announced as being on the jury for the festival:* Fritz Podehl, playwright and producer - Jury President* Johannes Betzel, cinema owner* Emil Dovifat, professor of political journalism* Werner Eisbrenner, composer and conductor* Günther Geisler, journalist and critic* Walter Karsch, critic and publisher* Hilde Lucht-Perske, city councilor* Tatjana Sais, actress* Paul Heimann, pedagogue and reader* Johannes Betzel, cinema operator
Main Competition The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear awards: English title Original title Director(s) Production Country Drama ''The Browning Version''Anthony AsquithUnited Kingdom''Das gestohlene Jahr''Wilfried FraßAustria, West Germany''Dr. Holl''Rolf HansenWest Germany''The Forbidden Christ''''Il Cristo proibito'' Curzio MalaparteItaly''Girls in Uniform''''Muchachas de uniforme''Alfredo B. CrevennaMexico''God Needs Men''''Dieu a besoin des hommes''Jean DelannoyFrance''Path of Hope''''Il cammino della speranza''Pietro GermiItaly''Miss Julie''''Fröken Julie''Alf SjöbergSweden'''''Four in a Jeep''''''''''Die Vier im Jeep''''''''Leopold Lindtberg''''''Switzerland'''''''Erich EngelWest Germany Comedy'''''Without Leaving an Address''''''''''...Sans laisser d'adresse''''''''Jean-Paul Le Chanois''''''France'''''Geheimnis einer Ehe''Helmut WeissWest Germany''Living on 'Hope'''''Leva på 'Hoppet'''Göran GenteleSweden''The Mating Season'' Mitchell LeisenUnited States Documentaries''The Undefeated''Paul Dickson United States '''''In Beaver Valley''''''''James Algar''''''United States'''  Thrillers and adventures'''''Justice Is Done''''''''''Justice est faite''' '''''André Cayatte''''''France'''''Destination Moon'' Irving PichelUnited States Music film'''''Cinderella''''''''Wilfred Jackson''''''United States'''''The Tales of Hoffmann'' Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger United Kingdom Culture Films and Documentaries ''Begone Dull Care''Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart Canada ''Der gelbe Dom''Eugen Schuhmacher West Germany''Kleine Nachtgespenster''Eugen Schuhmacher  Art and Science Films''Der Film entdeckte Kunstwerke indianischer Vorzeit''Hans Cürlis West Germany''Goya''Luciano Emmer Italy''Il paradiso perduto''Luciano Emmer and Enrico Gras  Advertising Film''Blick ins Paradies''Hans Fischerkoesen West Germany''Het gala-Concert''?Netherlands''The Story of Time''Michael Stainer-Hutchins United Kingdom
Official Awards === Main Competition ===* Golden Bear:** '''Best Drama Film''': ''Four in a Jeep'' by Leopold Lindtberg** '''Best Comedy Film''': ''Without Leaving an Address'' by Jean-Paul Le Chanois** '''Best Documentary''': ''In Beaver Valley'' by James Algar** '''Best Crime or Adventure Film''': ''Justice Is Done'' by André Cayatte** '''Best Music Film''': ''Cinderella'' by Wilfred Jackson*Silver Bear:** '''Best Drama Film''': ''Path of Hope'' by Pietro Germi** '''Best Comedy Film''': ''Living on 'Hope''' by Göran Gentele** '''Best Music Film''': ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger*'''Bronze Bear''':** '''Best Drama Film''': ''The Browning Version'' by Anthony Asquith** '''Best Comedy Film''': ''The Mating Season'' by Mitchell Leisen** '''Best Documentary''': ''The Undefeated'' by Paul Dickson** '''Best Crime or Adventure Film''': ''Destination Moon'' by Irving Pichel*'''Golden Medal''':** '''Best Culture Films and Documentaries''': ''Kleine Nachtgespenster'' by Eugen Schuhmacher** '''Best Arts and Science Film''': ''Der Film entdeckte Kunstwerke indianischer Vorzeit'' by Hans Cürlis** '''Best Advertising Film''': ''The Story of Time'' by Michael Stainer-Hutchins*'''Silver Medal''':** '''Best Culture Films and Documentaries''': ''Begone Dull Care'' by Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart** '''Best Arts and Science Film''': ''Goya'' by Luciano Emmer** '''Best Advertising Film''': ''Het gala-Concert''*'''Bronze Medal''':**'''Best Culture Films and Documentaries''': ''Der gelbe Dom'' by Eugen Schuhmacher**'''Best Arts and Science Film''': ''Bosch''**'''Best Advertising Film''': ''Blick ins Paradies'' by Hans Fischerkoesen=== Audience Vote ===*'''Large Bronze plate''': ''Cinderella'' by Wilfred Jackson *'''Small Bronze plate''': ''The Browning Version'' by Anthony Asquith=== Special Prize of the city of  West Berlin ===*'''Special Prize for an Excellent Film Achievement''':**''The Forbidden Christ'' by Curzio Malaparte **''God Needs Men'' by Jean Delannoy *'''Certificate of Honour''': ''Dr. Holl'' by Rolf Hansen
References
External links *  Berlin International Film Festival 1951: Inaugural Ceremony* 1951 Berlin International Film Festival* Berlin International Film Festival:1951  at Internet Movie Database