One of the "A" festivals in Europe. The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the "Berlinale" is held annually in February and started 1951 after an initiative of the American, who occupied part of the city after World War II. The jury always placed special emphasis on representing films from all over the world, from the former Eastern Bloc Countries as well as from Western countries. The award are called Golden and Silver Bears (as the Bear is the symbol of Berlin).
