OREANDA-NEWS. From 2021, the Berlin International Film Festival will change the format of the awards presentation and make the prizes gender neutral.

This was announced in a message published on the official website of the Berlinale on August 24. “The Berlinale has reorganised the prizes awarded by the International Jury in the Competition. For the first time, the performance awards will be defined in a gender-neutral way. Instead of the awards for the Best Actor and the Best Actress, a “Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance” and a “Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance” shall each be awarded on a gender-neutral basis,” the statement reads.

Berlinale directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian explained the decision as a signal for a “more gender-sensitive awareness in the film industry.”

In addition, the organizers of the festival informed that in 2021 it will be held in a traditional offline format.