The 1st annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 6 – 17 June 1951. The opening film was Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca. At this very first Berlin Festival, the Golden Bear award was introduced, and it was awarded to the best film in each of five categories: drama, comedy, crime or adventure, music film, and documentary. This system disappeared already the following year, partly because films that year were voted on by the audience.
The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:
Johannes Betzel
Emil Dovifat
Werner Eisbrenner
Günther Geisler
Walter Karsch
Frau Lucht-Perske
Fritz Podehl
Tatjana Sais
Ludwig Trautmann
The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear awards:
The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:
Golden Bear
Die Vier im Jeep by Leopold Lindtberg - Golden Bear for Best Drama
...Sans laisser d'adresse by Jean-Paul Le Chanois - Golden Bear for Best Comedy
In Beaver Valley by James Algar - Golden Bear for Best Documentary
Justice est faite by André Cayatte - Golden Bear for Best Crime or Adventure Film
Cinderella by Wilfred Jackson - Golden Bear for Best Music Film
Silver Bear
Path of Hope - Silver Bear for Best Drama
Leva på 'Hoppet' - Silver Bear for Best Comedy
The Tales of Hoffmann - Silver Bear for Best Music film
Bronze Bear
The Undefeated - Bronze Bear for Best Documentary
The Browning Version - Bronze Bear for Best Drama
The Mating Season - Bronze Bear for Best Comedy
Destination Moon - Bronze Bear for Best Crime or Adventure Film
Golden Medal
Kleine Nachtgespenster - Golden Medal for Best Culture Films and Documentaries
Der Film entdeckte Kunstwerke indianischer Vorzeit - Golden Medal for Best Arts and Science Film
The Story of Time - Golden Medal for Best Advertising Film
Silver Medal
Begone Dull Care - Silver Medal for Best Culture Films and Documentaries
Goya - Silver Medal for Best Arts and Science Film
Het gala-Concert - Silver Medal for Best Advertising Film
Bronze Medal
Der gelbe Dom - Bronze Medal for Best Culture Films and Documentaries
Bosch - Bronze Medal for Best Arts and Science Film
Blick ins Paradies - Bronze Medal for Best Advertising Film
Audience Award
Large Bronze plate - Cinderella
Small Bronze plate - The Browning Version
Special Prize of the city of Berlin
Special prize for an excellent Film Achievement - The Forbidden Christ
Special prize for an excellent Film Achievement - Dieu a besoin des hommes
Certificate of Honour - Dr. Holl
