Political Films on the Far Right, Ukraine War Win Berlin Panorama Audience Awards

Faraz Shariat's 'Prosecution,' about a prosecutor confronting far-right violence, and Alisa Kovalenko's documentary 'Traces' about sexual violence against Ukrainian women during the war, took top honors in Berlin's main sidebar section. (L to R): 'Prosecution,''Traces' © Lotta Kilian-Jünglinge Film/Alisa Kovalenko Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Two timely and politically-charged films have won the top prizes at the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama section, the festival’s main sidebar. Faraz Shariat’s Prosecution, a German drama about a young prosecutor trying to fight far-right violence in eastern Germany, took the Panorama Audience Award for best feature film at this year’s festival. The prize for best documentary in the Panorama section went to Alisa Kovalenko’s Traces, a look at Ukrainian women have survived conflict-related sexual violence and torture during Russia’s war of aggression against their country and who are speaking out. Related Stories Movies 'Sad Girlz' Wins Berlin Generation Crystal Bear Movies 'Salvation' Review: Mystical Visions, Folkloric Superstitions and Political Alarmism Combine to Unsettling Effect in Anatomy of a Massacre The Panorama Audience Award are voted on by the Berlin movie-going public. More than 26,500 votes were cast this year. Chen Emilie Yan stars in Prosecution as Seyo Kim, a young prosecutor confronting far-right violence in eastern Germany who becomes a target of a racist attack. She begins to investigate he own assault, with the goal of bringing her attackers to trial and exposing a wide-ranging far-right network. But her investigations lead her to question the state institutions she has devoted her life to. Julia Jentsch, Alev Irmak, Arnd Klawitter, and Sebastian Urzendowsky co-star. New Europe Film Sales is handling world sales. Traces follows Iryna Dovhan, a former captive turned activist who documents testimonies of victims of sexual assault in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. Telling Iryna’s story, and that of the women she meets, the documentary weaves a portrait of a collective trauma that is also a testament to resilience. Traces is being sold worldwide by Stranger Film Sales. The Panorama Audience Awards will be presented on Sunday at the Zoo Palast in Berlin by the Berlinale together with Berlin radio station radioeins and regional public broadcaster RBB television. Prosecution and Traces will be screened back-to-back following the ceremony. Read More About: Berlin 2026 Berlinale international THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up More from The Hollywood Reporter international ‘Four Minus Three’ Wins Europa Cinemas Prize