Encounters was a section of the Berlin International Film Festival's official selection. It was established in 2020 when the new leadership inaugurated, and the competitive section was aimed to introduce both narrative films and documentaries with innovative and independent perspective. [1]
In 2025, following Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek dismissal, the section was officially dropped by the new festival heading team. [2]
| Year | English title | Original title | Director | Production Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Works and Days | The Works and Days (of Tayoko Shiojiri in the Shiotani Basin) | Anders Edström and C.W. Winter | Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States |
| 2021 | We | Nous | Alice Diop | France |
| 2022 | Mutzenbacher | Ruth Beckermann | Austria | |
| 2023 | Here | Bas Devos | Belgium | |
| 2024 | Direct Action | Guillaume Cailleau and Ben Russell | Germany, France | |
| Year | Award | Recipient | English title | Original title | Production Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Special Jury Award | Sandra Wollner | The Trouble with Being Born | Austria | |
| Best Director | Cristi Puiu | Malmkrog | Romania | ||
| Special Mention | Matías Piñeiro | Isabella | Argentina | ||
| 2021 | Special Jury Award | Lê Bảo | Taste | Vị | Vietnam |
| Best Director | Ramon Zürcher Silvan Zürcher | The Girl and the Spider | Das Mädchen und die Spinne | Switzerland | |
| Denis Côté | Social Hygiene | Hygiène sociale | Canada | ||
| Special Mention | Fern Silva | Rock Bottom Riser | United States | ||
| 2022 | Special Jury Award | Mitra Farahani | See You Friday, Robinson | À vendredi, Robinson | France |
| Best Director | Cyril Schäublin | Unrest | Unruh | Switzerland | |
| 2023 | Special Jury Award | Paul B. Preciado | Orlando, My Political Biography | Orlando, ma biographie politique | France |
| Lois Patiño | Samsara | Spain | |||
| Best Director | Tatiana Huezo | The Echo | El eco | Mexico | |
| 2024 | Special Jury Award | Qiu Yang | Some Rain Must Fall | 空房间里的女人 | China, United States, France, Singapore |
| Aliyar Rasti | The Great Yawn of History | Khamyazeye bozorg | Iran | ||
| Best Director | Juliana Rojas | Cidade; Campo | Brazil, Germany, France | ||