At the Berlin International Film Festival, director Mati Diop’s documentary Dahomey, exploring the controversy surrounding Europe’s return of looted antiquities to Africa, took home the top prize, the Golden Bear. Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o announced the panel’s choice at the gala ceremony in Berlin, where Diop expressed gratitude for the honor and recognition of the community represented in the film.
Focusing on the Benin bronzes and the restitution of cultural artifacts, Diop’s film was praised for addressing significant issues such as the struggle for repatriation. Other winners at the festival included South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo, French director Bruno Dumont, Dominican filmmaker Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, and actor Sebastian Stan. The event also highlighted important social issues, with Emily Watson dedicating her award to the victims of the Magdalene laundries scandal in Ireland, and Palestinian-Israeli activists advocating for peace through their documentary, No Other Land.
The Berlinale Documentary Award was given to the Palestinian-Israeli collective for their film, shedding light on the plight of Palestinians in the West Bank. Among other winners were Vietnamese filmmaker Pham Ngoc Lan for Best First Feature, and Argentine director Francisco Lezama for Best Short Film. The festival continues to be a prominent platform for celebrating excellence in cinema, with a focus on diverse narratives and compelling storytelling.