“We believe that not separating the awards in the acting field according to gender comprises a signal for a more gender-sensitive awareness in the film industry,” said Berlinale directors Rissenbeek and Chatrian in a statement.

Berlinale’s announcement makes it the first major international film festival to switch up how it awards its acting prizes based on gender. Cannes still has its Best Actor and Best Actress prizes as of now, as does the Venice Film Festival with the Volpi Cup for Actor and Actress. Berlinale acting winners in the past include Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling for “45 Years,” Benicio del Toro for “Traffic,” Paulina García for “Gloria,” Charlize Theron for “Monster,” and more. Related Berlin Film Festival 2022 Awards: ‘Alcarràs’ Wins Golden Bear, Claire Denis, Hong Sang-soo Take Top Prizes Jean-Luc Godard Wants Wild Boars to See His Films at Berlinale Related The Best True Crime Streaming Now, from ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ to ‘McMillions’ to ‘The Staircase’ Oscars 2023: Can Anyone Top ‘Maverick’ in Best Sound?
In addition to the gender neutral acting categories, the Berlinale directors have also confirmed the 2021 Berlin Film Festival will take place as a physical edition and not a virtual one. A hybrid physical-virtual plan is being drafted for the European Film Market (EFM). “Festivals and markets are places of encounter and communication,” Rissenbeek and Chatrian said. “This applies to the public as well as to the industry. We see an important and unique feature of festivals in their lively relationship with the audience. In times of the corona pandemic, it has become even clearer that we still require analogue experience spaces in the cultural realm. We are pleased that festivals with physically present audiences are slowly taking place again around the world, and we wish our colleagues much success.” The International Jury of the Competition will award the following eight prizes in 2021: Golden Bear for Best Film (awarded to the film’s producers) Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize Silver Bear for Best Director Silver Bear Jury Prize Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance Silver Bear for Best Screenplay Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution The 71st Berlin Film Festival will take place February 11-21, 2021. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.