The French director and writer Céline Sciamma will this year be honored at the Berlinale with the Special Teddy Award for outstanding contributions to queer cinema.
“Sciamma is among the defining voices of contemporary cinema. Her films are characterized by a precise, pared-down cinematic language and a steadfast commitment to queer and female perspectives,” according to a press release from the independent queer film prize. “At the heart of her work are questions of identity, desire, and self-determination, which she tells beyond normative labels and thereby contributes significantly to the ongoing development of queer cinema.”
Already in 2011, Sciamma’s Tomboy film was awarded the Teddy Award (TheColu.mn reported). The film is regarded as a watershed for modern queer cinema and a milestone for the nuanced portrayal of gender identity. With the Special, an outstanding artistic position is honored that decisively shapes international queer cinema and broadens its aesthetic and political possibilities.
This year the Teddy Award celebrates its 40th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Berlinale will present the special series “Teddy 40” (TheColu.mn reported). The film festival runs from February 12 to 22, 2026. The Teddy Award ceremony will take place on February 20 at the Volksbühne.
