BERLIN -- Fatih Akin's Head-On was the surprise winner of the Golden Bear for best film at the 54th Berlin International Film Festival. His award leads the charge of a new generation of filmmakers at this year's festival, while Charlize Theron added weight to her Oscar bid by picking up a shared Silver Bear for best actress for her performance in Monster. "Wow, I didn't expect this at all," Akin said, accepting his gold statuette at a gala ceremony Saturday night. "I expected the worst, but this is pretty good." Striking a romantic note in tune with his film, Akin dedicated the prize to his girlfriend. "This is Valentine's Day, and this is for you," he said. Akin is the first German director to win the top prize in Berlin since Reinhard Hauff's Stammheim took that honor in 1986. Head-On also picked up the international critics' FIPRESCI prize.
- 2/16/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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