The Berlinale awards an Honorary Golden Bear to important film personalities. The award honors a particularly outstanding oeuvre or film career and is regularly given to the guest of honour of the Homage. Additional Honorary Golden Bears can be given independently of the Homage section.

 

The Honorary Golden Bear is awarded during a festive ceremony usually followed by the screening of a film in the Berlinale Special programme.

 

The Honorary Golden Bear is visually identical to the festival's highest award, the Golden Bear. The Bears inspired the Berlinale logo and were designed by the Berlin sculptor Renée Sintenis (1888-1965). They have been produced by the Noack Foundry in Berlin since the beginnings of the Berlinale. The bear is also the official symbol of the city of Berlin.