6th Berlin International Film Festival
Introduction The '''6th''' annual '''Berlin International Film Festival''' was held from 22 June to 3 July 1956.The FIAPF granted the festival the "A status" during this year, which was previously only reserved for Cannes and Venice. The awards for the first time, were given by an international jury.The Golden Bear was awarded to ''Invitation to the Dance'' directed by Gene Kelly. However, this decision by the jury was widely criticized as the film was considered "too shallow" for a Golden Bear. The favourite among many critics was the Finnish entry ''Tuntematon sotilas'' by Edvin Laine, which was an anti-war film without any illusions based on a novel by Väinö Linna.
Jury The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:'''International feature film jury'''* Marcel Carné, director and screenwriter (France) - Jury President* Bill Luckwell, producer (United Kingdom)* Giuseppe Vittorio Sampieri, director and producer (Italy)* Kashiko Kawakita, special effects director (Japan)* Leo J. Horster, entrepreneur (United States)* Ilse Urbach, author (West Germany)* Ludwig Berger, director and screenwriter (West Germany)'''International documentary and short jury'''* Otto Sonnenfeld, producer (Israel) - Jury President* D. Gualberto Fernández, (Uruguay)* Sarukkai Gopalan, (India)* Jan Hulsker, art historian (Netherlands)* Fritz Kempe, photographer (West Germany)
Films in competition The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear awards: Feature film English title Original title Director(s) Country''Autumn Leaves'' Robert AldrichUSA''The Legend of the White Serpent''''白夫人の妖恋 Byaku fujin no yoren''Shirō ToyodaJapan''Donatella'' Mario MonicelliItaly''The Road of Life''''El camino de la vida''Alfonso Corona BlakeMexico''Kispus''Erik BallingDenmark''Invitation to the Dance'' Gene KellyUSA''The Sorceress''''La Sorcière'' André MichelFrance, Sweden''Uncle Hyacynth''''Mi tío Jacinto''Ladislao VajdaSpain, Italy''Scandal in Sorrento''''Pane, amore e...'' Dino RisiItaly''Richard III''Laurence OlivierUnited Kingdom''The Unknown Soldier''''Tuntematon sotilas''Edvin LaineFinland''The Long Arm'' Charles FrendUnited Kingdom ''Trapeze''Carol ReedUSA''Before Sundown''''Vor Sonnenuntergang''Gottfried ReinhardtWest Germany  Documentary and short film English title Original title Director(s) Country''...erwachsen sein dagegen sehr''Wolf HartWest Germany ''Ernst Reuter''Wolfgang KiepenheuerWest Germany''Hitit güneşi''Sabahattin EyüboğluTurkey''The Long Journey''Geoffrey CollingsUSA''No Place for Wild Animals''''Kein Platz für wilde Tiere''Bernhard Grzimek and Michael GrzimekWest Germany ''The African Lion''James AlgarUSA''Paris la nuit'' Jacques Baratier and Jean ValèreFrance''Rythmetic'' Norman McLaren and Evelyn LambartCanada''Le Sabotier du Val de Loire'' Jacques DemyFrance''Spring Comes to Kashmir'' Ravi PrakashIndia''Les Très riches heures de l'Afrique romaine'' Jean LehérisseyFrance''Men Against the Arctic''Winston HiblerUSA''Zauber der Natur'' Richard MostlerWest Germany
Key Gene Kelly, winner of the Golden Bear at the event. : †Winner of the main award for best film in its section
Awards The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:'''International jury awards'''* Golden Bear: ''Invitation to the Dance'' by Gene Kelly* Silver Bear for Best Director: Robert Aldrich for ''Autumn Leaves''* Silver Bear for Best Actress: Elsa Martinelli for ''Donatella''* Silver Bear for Best Actor: Burt Lancaster for ''Trapeze''* Silver Bear for an Outstanding Artistic Contribution: André Michel for ''La Sorcière''* Silver Bear for an Outstanding Single Achievement: Charles Frend for ''The Long Arm''* Silver Bear: ''Richard III'' by Laurence Olivier* Honourable Mention (Director): ''El camino de la vida'' by Alfonso Corona Blake* Honourable Mention (Colour): ''Byaku fujin no yoren'' by Shirō Toyoda* Honourable Mention (Best Humorous Film): ''Pane, amore e...'' by Dino Risi'''Documentaries and short films jury awards'''* Golden Bear (Documentaries): ''No Place for Wild Animals'' by Bernhard Grzimek and Michael Grzimek* Silver Bear (Documentaries): ''The African Lion'' by James Algar* Short Film Golden Bear: ''Paris la nuit'' by Jacques Baratier and Jean Valère* Silver Bear for Best Short Film: ''ex aequo''''Hitit güneşi'' by Sabahattin Eyüboğlu''Spring Comes to Kashmir'' by Ravi Prakash''Rythmetic'' by Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart* Honorable mention (Short Documentary or Cultural Film):''...erwachsen sein dagegen sehr'' by Wolf Hart''Le Sabotier du Val de Loire'' by Jacques Demy''The Long Journey'' by Geoffrey Collings'''Independent jury awards'''* OCIC Award: ''Tuntematon sotilas'' by Edvin Laine* OCIC Award, special mention: ''El camino de la vida'' by Alfonso Corona Blake'''Audience vote'''* Golden Bear: ''Vor Sonnenuntergang'' by Gottfried Reinhardt* Silver Bear: ''Mi tío Jacinto'' by Ladislao Vajda* Bronze Bear: ''Trapeze'' by Carol Reed
References
External links *  6th Berlin International Film Festival 1956* 1956 Berlin International Film Festival* Berlin International Film Festival:1956  at Internet Movie Database