The Silver Bear for Best Director () is an award presented annually at the Berlin International Film Festival since 1956. It is given for the best achievement in directing and is chosen by the International Jury from the films in the Competition slate at the festival.
Grant Gee is the most recent winner for his work on Everybody Digs Bill Evans (2026) at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival.
History The award was first presented in 1956. The prize was not awarded on five occasions (1969, 1971, 1973–74, and 1981). In 1970, no awards were given as the festival was called off mid-way due to the controversy over official selection film, o.k. by Michael Verhoeven, which led to the resignation of the international jury.
At the 6th Berlin International Film Festival held in 1956, Robert Aldrich was the first winner of this award for his work on Autumn Leaves,
Mario Monicelli has received the most awards in this category, with three. Satyajit Ray is the only director to win the award in consecutive years, for Mahanagar (1964) and Charulata (1965). One directing team has shared the award: Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross for The Road to Guantánamo (2006). Astrid Henning-Jensen became the first woman to win the award, for Winterborn (1979).
Winners
1950s Year Director English Title Original Title 1956 1957 1958 1959 Best Samurai Movies of All Time, Ranked - MovieWeb
1960s Year Director English Title Original Title 1960 Jean-Luc Godard, Enfant Terrible of Modern French Cinema, Dies at 91|The Hollywood Reporter 1961 1962 8 Movies That Have Gotten Martin Scorsese's Seal of Approval - MovieWeb 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
1970s Year Director English Title Original Title 1972 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980s Year Director English Title Original Title 1980 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990s Year Director English Title Original Title 1990 1991 1992 Il Capitano 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000s Year Director English Title Original Title 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 and 2007 2008 2009
2010s Year Director English Title Original Title 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020s Year Director English Title Original Title 2020 Hong Sang-soo's latest film to compete at this year's Berlin film fest - Yonhap News Agency 2021 2022 Berlin Film Festival Awards: ‘Alcarràs’ Wins Golden Bear, Claire Denis Named Best Director - Deadline 2023 2024 Nelson Carlo De Los Santos AriasPepe2025 Huo MengLiving the Land生息之地2026 Grant Gee Everybody Digs Bill Evans
Multiple winners
The following individuals received two or more Best Director awards:
Number of Wins Director(s) Nationality Films 3 Mario Monicelli Italy Fathers and Sons (1957), Caro Michele (1976), Il Marchese del Grillo (1982) 2 Satyajit Ray India Mahanagar (1964), Charulata (1965) Carlos Saura Spain The Hunt (1966), Peppermint Frappé (1968) Richard Linklater United States Before Sunrise (1995), Boyhood (2014)
See also Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director Silver Lion
References
External links
Berlinale website