BERLIN: Dreams, a tender coming-of-age drama about a young woman’s first crush on a teacher and the art of writing by Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud, won the Golden Bear top prize at the 75th Berlin Film Festival on Saturday evening.

The film, starring Ella Overbye, is the last in a three-part series by Haugerud exploring emotional and physical intimacy.

Jury president and US director Todd Haynes praised the film’s flawless performances and clear-sighted observations about desire, and how it portrayed the act of writing.

“This film cuts you to the quick with its keen intelligence and its sudden, astonishing moments of revelation,” he said.

Haugerud, who is also a novelist, said winning the prize was beyond his wildest dreams and encouraged the audience to write and read more.

A total of 19 films were in competition this year.

The grand jury Silver Bear prize was awarded to Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Mascaro’s film The Blue Trail, a dystopian story set in the Amazon about an elderly woman who chooses to reject living the rest of her life in a senior housing colony.

Chinese director Huo Meng won best director for Living the Land, his feature about four generations of farmers, while the jury prize was given to The Message by Argentina’s Ivan Fund.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2025