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
52nd Berlin International Film Festival 52nd Berlin International Film Festival The 52nd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 6 to 17, 2002. The festival opened with "Heaven" by Tom Tykwer. New print of Charlie Chaplin's 1940 American satirical dramedy film "The Great Dictator" was the closing film of the festival. The Golden Bear was awarded to British–Irish film "Bloody Sunday" directed by Paul Greengrass and Japanese Animated film "Spirited Away" directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The retrospective dedicated to European films from 1960’s titled "European 60’s" was shown at the festival. Dieter Kosslick became the director of the festival, taking over from Moritz