6th Berlin International Film Festival

The 6th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 22 June to 3 July 1956.[1] The FIAPF granted the festival the "A status" during this year,[1] which was previously only reserved for Cannes and Venice.[2] The awards for the first time, were given by an international jury.[1][3]

6th Berlin International Film Festival
Festival poster
LocationWest Berlin, Germany
Founded1951
AwardsGolden Bear:
Invitation to the Dance
Festival date22 June–3 July 1956
WebsiteWebsite
Berlin International Film Festival chronology

The Golden Bear was awarded to Invitation to the Dance directed by Gene Kelly.[4] 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 The Unknown Soldier by Edvin Laine, which was an anti-war film without any illusions based on a novel by Väinö Linna.[1][3]

Juries

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The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:[5]

Main Competition

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  • Marcel Carné, French filmmaker - Jury President
  • Bill Luckwell, British producer
  • Giuseppe Vittorio Sampieri, Italian director and producer
  • Kashiko Kawakita, Japanese special effects director
  • Leo J. Horster, American entrepreneur
  • Ilse Urbach, West-German author
  • Ludwig Berger, West-German filmmaker

Documentary and Short Film Competitions

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  • Otto Sonnenfeld, Israeli producer - Jury President
  • D. Gualberto Fernández, Uruguayan
  • Sarukkai Gopalan, Indian
  • Jan Hulsker, Dutch art historian
  • Fritz Kempe, West-German photographer

Official Sections

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Main Competition

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The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear awards:[6]

English title Original title Director(s) Production Country
Autumn Leaves Robert Aldrich United States
Before Sundown Vor Sonnenuntergang Gottfried Reinhardt West Germany
Donatella Mario Monicelli Italy
Invitation to the Dance Gene Kelly United States
Kispus Erik Balling Denmark
The Legend of the White Serpent 白夫人の妖恋 Shirō Toyoda Japan
The Long Arm Charles Frend United Kingdom
Richard III Laurence Olivier
The Road of Life El camino de la vida Alfonso Corona Blake Mexico
Scandal in Sorrento Pane, amore e... Dino Risi Italy
The Sorceress La Sorcière André Michel France, Sweden
Trapeze Carol Reed United States
Uncle Hyacynth Mi tío Jacinto Ladislao Vajda Spain, Italy
The Unknown Soldier Tuntematon sotilas Edvin Laine Finland

Documentary and Short Film Competitions

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English title Original title Director(s) Production Country
The African Lion James Algar United States
Bambuti Kein Platz für wilde Tiere Bernhard Grzimek and Michael Grzimek West Germany
...erwachsen sein dagegen sehr Wolf Hart West Germany
Ernst Reuter Wolfgang Kiepenheuer West Germany
Hitit güneşi Sabahattin Eyüboğlu Turkey
The Long Journey Geoffrey Collings United States
Men Against the Arctic Winston Hibler United States
Paris la nuit Jacques Baratier and Jean Valère France
Rythmetic Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart Canada
Le Sabotier du Val de Loire Jacques Demy France
Spring Comes to Kashmir Ravi Prakash India
Les Très riches heures de l'Afrique romaine Jean Lehérissey France
Zauber der Natur Richard Mostler West Germany

Official Awards

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Gene Kelly, winner of the Golden Bear at the event.

The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:[4]

Main Competition

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Documentary and Short Film Competitions

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Independent Awards

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OCIC Award

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Audience Vote

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "6th Berlin International Film Festival". berlinale.de. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  2. ^ "2nd Berlin International Film Festival". berlinale.de. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Berlinale beginnings". 8 February 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b "PRIZES & HONOURS 1956". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "JURIES 1956". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  6. ^ "PROGRAMME 1956". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
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