A number of different prizes are awarded in the sections competition programmes Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus, both to short films as well as feature films. Three juries cast their votes. 

 

The Generation Kplus Children's Jury awards a Crystal Bear for the Best Feature Film in the Generation Kplus competition. It also gives a special prize, a Crystal Bear, for the Best Short Film.  

 

Accordingly in the youth film competition Generation 14plus, one Crystal Bear is awarded by the Generation 14plus Youth Jury to the Best Feature Film, as well as one to the Best Short Film. 

 

The Generation Kplus International Jury of the Generation Kplus competition awards the Grand Prix of the Deutsche Kinderhilfswerk (German Child Support Organisation) worth 7,500 Euros, to the best feature film. The charity's special prize, which has a value of 2,500 Euros, is awarded to the best short film. 

 

The Childrens and Youth Juries are directly recruited from the young audiences. The eleven members of the Childrens Jury as well as the slightly older seven members of the Youth Jury are selected from those who filled out a questionnaire, which solicits the opinion of the filmgoers in the Generation section. The questionnaire encourages them to express their personal and critical views on the films. Every year some 2,500 young filmgoers happily take on this offer. 

 

After the festival, filmmakers are given the completed questionnaires - some of them in English - to provide them with first-hand feedback on their films. Those who display visual acuity and power of judgement and who show interest in working in the jury stand a good chance of being selected to help decide who receives the Crystal Bears in the upcoming year. 

 

During the festival both juries receive intensive support, but their award decisions are made autonomously.