The 29th Berlin International Film Festival was held from 20 February – 3 March 1979. The Golden Bear was awarded to David directed by Peter Lilienthal.
The retrospective was dedicated to Italian actor Rudolph Valentino and to another one titled "We Danced Around the World. Revue Films".
Controversy Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter selection for the main competition was surrounded by controversy, as it was accused of racism, and several countries decided to withdraw their films from the festival in protest. Juries The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:
Main Competition Jörn Donner, Finnish filmmaker - Jury President Julie Christie, British actress Romain Gary, French writer and screenwriter Ingrid Caven, German actress and singer Georg Alexander, German actor Liliana Cavani, Italian director and screenwriter Paul Bartel, American actor, director and screenwriter Pál Gábor, Hungarian director and screenwriter (Hungary) Věra Chytilová, Czech director and screenwriter
Official Sections
Main Competition The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear award: English Title Original Title Director(s) Production CountryThe AdolescentL'AdolescenteJeanne MoreauFranceAlbert – warum? West GermanyAlexandria... Why?إسكندرية ليهYoussef ChahineEgyptDavidPeter LilienthalWest GermanyThe Deer HunterMichael CiminoUnited StatesErnestoSalvatore SamperiItalyThe First PolkaDie erste PolkaKlaus EmmerichWest GermanyHardcorePaul SchraderUnited StatesHeart of the ForestEl corazón del bosqueManuel Gutiérrez AragónSpainKassbach – Ein PorträtPeter PatzakAustriaKejsarenJösta HagelbäckSwedenLove on the RunL'amour en fuiteFrançois TruffautFranceThe Marriage of Maria BraunDie Ehe der Maria BraunRainer Werner FassbinderWest GermanyMeetings with Remarkable MenPeter BrookUnited KingdomMessidorAlain TannerSwitzerlandMovie MovieStanley DonenUnited StatesNosferatu the VampyreNosferatu: Phantom der NachtWerner HerzogWest GermanyOrigins of a MealGenèse d'un repasLuc MoulletFranceParashuramপরশুরাম Mrinal SenIndiaPhantom and West GermanyThe Stud FarmA ménesgazdaAndrás KovácsHungaryUbuGeoff DunbarUnited KingdomWinterbornVinterbørnAstrid Henning-JensenDenmark Out of Competition Het verloren paradijs, directed by Harry Kümel (Belgium)
Retrospective The following films were shown in the retrospective dedicated to Rudolph Valentino: English title Original title Director(s) Production CountryAll NightPaul PowellUnited StatesBlood and SandFred NibloEyes of YouthAlbert ParkerMonsieur BeaucaireSidney OlcottMoran of the Lady LettyGeorge MelfordThe Conquering PowerRex IngramThe EagleClarence BrownThe Four Horsemen of the ApocalypseRex IngramThe SheikGeorge MelfordThe Son of the SheikGeorge FitzmauriceThe Wonderful ChanceGeorge Archainbaud
Official Awards
The following prizes were awarded by the Jury: Golden Bear: David by Peter Lilienthal Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize: Alexandria... Why? by Youssef Chahine Silver Bear for Best Director: Astrid Henning-Jensen for Winterborn Silver Bear for Best Actress: Hanna Schygulla for The Marriage of Maria Braun Silver Bear for Best Actor: Michele Placido for Ernesto Silver Bear for an outstanding single achievement: Henning von Gierke for Nosferatu the Vampyre Sten Holmberg for Kejsaren Silver Bear: The Marriage of Maria Braun by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
References
External links 29th Berlin International Film Festival 1979 1979 Berlin International Film Festival Berlin International Film Festival:1979 at Internet Movie Database