Yellow Letters Clinches Berlinale Golden Bear as Political Storm Looms

At the 76th Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale), İlker Çatak’s Yellow Letters won the Golden Bear, with Silver Bears awarded across categories to Salvation (Grand Jury Prize), Queen at Sea (Jury Prize), and other honors for directing, acting and screenplay (Best Director: Everybody Digs Bill Evans; Best Lead: Rose; Best Supporting: Queen at Sea; Best Screenplay: Nina Roza; Best Short: Someday, a Child). The awards come amid ongoing political controversy over Palestine/Gaza, prompting open letters from filmmakers and celebrities about free speech. Critics highlighted a strong lineup with titles like Rose, Dao, My Wife Cries, and We Are All Strangers, even as the festival faced broader debate and a sparse U.S. studio presence.