Berlin International Film Festival 110 countries. At some high-profile feature film premieres held during the festival, movie stars and celebrities are present on the red carpet. The Berlin International Film Festival was founded in West Berlin in 1951, with film historian Dr. Alfred Bauer as its first director, a position he would hold until 1976. Alfred Hitchcock’s "Rebecca" opened the first festival which ran from June 6-17th. Bauer was succeeded by film journalist Wolf Donner in 1976. After his first Berlinale in June 1977, he successfully negotiated the shift of the festival from the summer to February (February 22nd - March 5th 1978), a
50th Berlin International Film Festival 50th Berlin International Film Festival The 50th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 9 to 20, 2000. The festival opened with "The Million Dollar Hotel" by Wim Wenders. "Bossa Nova" by Bruno Barreto, screened out of competition was the closing film of the festival. The Golden Bear was awarded to American film "Magnolia" directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The retrospective titled "Artificial People" and dedicated to artificial beings and machines in the films was shown at the festival, screening films like Der Golem and The Terminator. On its 50th anniversary the premieres of the films in competition