What started as an audacious experiment in 1951 has become an international event and a celebration of art, culture and the unifying magic of film. Read the story of Berlinale.

1951: The First Berlinale and the Dawn of Cinematic Renewal

The Berlinale, or the Berlin International Film Festival, may now be known for its cinematic glamour and world premieres, but its story begins in a city struggling with division and devastation.
After the World War era, in the summer of 1951, the first Berlinale was launched with a vision: to unite people through the power of cinema and remindign the world that Berlin was still a cultural icon.
How Did Berlinale Begin?
Imagining Berlin in the early 1950s might be far from what we have in mind nowadays: a city scarred by war, divided into sectors controlled by Allied powers, and searching for ways to rebuild its spirit. In those days, Oscar Martay, a U.S. film officer proposed for a film festival in the city. A festival that could turn Berlin into a cultural stage again and bring stories from around the world and people who could meet, connect, and spark dialogue.
Soon Martay’s vision came to life. From June 6 to June 17, 1951, the Titania-Palast in Berlin’s Steglitz district hosted the inaugural Berlinale. The venue, which was a relic of pre-war cinema, welcomed filmmakers and audiences from 18 countries.
The festival’s first edition was competitive, with a German jury to select the winners. The first Golden Bear awards were also given to several categories and an audience award. The debut lineup also featured international movies like Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon and Vittorio De Sica’s Miracle in Milan.




Berlinale’s Evolution Over the Decades
The Berlinale’s journey from a cultural initiative to a world-class festival also reflects Berlin’s own evolution. In the Cold War era, the festival became a symbol of West Berlin’s openness to new ideals. By 1956, following the festival’s official accreditation by the FIAPF (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films), it introduced an international jury, which made its credibility and prestige more than before.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, was an important and transformative moment for the Berlinale, just as it was for the country and many other events. The 1990 Berlinale was the first to be held across both East and West Berlin after the fall of the Wall, though Germany had not yet been officially reunified. The festival featured a retrospective program titled The Year 1945, dedicated to films produced in that important year. The event also showcased contemporary films that addressed themes of division, freedom, and reconciliation and indeed reflected the spirit of change.
In the years following reunification, the Berlinale played an important role as a meeting point for East and West. Filmmakers from Eastern Europe, who had previously been underrepresented, found a place and platform to share their stories. The festival’s Panorama and Forum sections also became especially important in highlighting diverse voices and celebrated different perspectives and narratives.
Moreover, Berlinale’s physical and symbolic presence in Berlin, a city now fully embracing its identity as a cultural capital, helped its status. The construction of the Berlinale Palast at Potsdamer Platz in 2000 further cemented its centrality.
Innovation and reinvention have defined Berlinale’s history. From introducing the Forum section in 1971, which spotlighted experimental and politically provocative films, to becoming a platform for underrepresented voices, the festival has continually challenged norms and championed bold ideas and diverse storytelling approaches.
What started as an audacious experiment in 1951 has become an international event and a celebration of art, culture and the unifying magic of film.
See IMAGO Archive pictures from the first Berlinale in 1951 here and more in the following year here.




