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 BetzelEmil DovifatWerner EisbrennerGünther GeislerWalter KarschFrau Lucht-PerskeFritz PodehlTatjana SaisLudwig TrautmannThe following films were in competition for the Golden Bear awards:
The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:
Golden BearDie Vier im Jeep by Leopold Lindtberg - Golden Bear for Best Drama...Sans laisser d'adresse by Jean-Paul Le Chanois - Golden Bear for Best ComedyIn Beaver Valley by James Algar - Golden Bear for Best DocumentaryJustice est faite by André Cayatte - Golden Bear for Best Crime or Adventure FilmCinderella by Wilfred Jackson - Golden Bear for Best Music FilmSilver BearPath of Hope - Silver Bear for Best DramaLeva på 'Hoppet' - Silver Bear for Best ComedyThe Tales of Hoffmann - Silver Bear for Best Music filmBronze BearThe Undefeated - Bronze Bear for Best DocumentaryThe Browning Version - Bronze Bear for Best DramaThe Mating Season - Bronze Bear for Best ComedyDestination Moon - Bronze Bear for Best Crime or Adventure FilmGolden MedalKleine Nachtgespenster - Golden Medal for Best Culture Films and DocumentariesDer Film entdeckte Kunstwerke indianischer Vorzeit - Golden Medal for Best Arts and Science FilmThe Story of Time - Golden Medal for Best Advertising FilmSilver MedalBegone Dull Care - Silver Medal for Best Culture Films and DocumentariesGoya - Silver Medal for Best Arts and Science FilmHet gala-Concert - Silver Medal for Best Advertising FilmBronze MedalDer gelbe Dom - Bronze Medal for Best Culture Films and DocumentariesBosch - Bronze Medal for Best Arts and Science FilmBlick ins Paradies - Bronze Medal for Best Advertising FilmAudience AwardLarge Bronze plate - CinderellaSmall Bronze plate - The Browning VersionSpecial Prize of the city of BerlinSpecial prize for an excellent Film Achievement - The Forbidden ChristSpecial prize for an excellent Film Achievement - Dieu a besoin des hommesCertificate of Honour - Dr. Holl
