“It feels kind of weird to get a lifetime achievement award because I’m not done yet! I want to keep working, learning, scaring myself with every new challenge and sometimes do the same to you…” said the famous director Steven Spielberg excitedly receiving from Bono’s hands the U2 the honorary Golden Bear for his entire career, at the award ceremony held yesterday (21/2) at the Berlinale Palast.

Upon Spielberg’s entrance into the packed hall, the audience rose to their feet and gave him a standing ovation for a full five minutes.

The award is the culmination of the 73rd Berlin Film Festival’s major tribute to the rich filmography of the American director, screened during this year’s event.

“There are many reasons to love Spielberg, and since I’ve had a couple of vodkas I’ll tell you mine, which are very personal,” said the U2 frontman, who was at the Festival for the screening of the documentary “Kiss the Future.”

“I love him for ‘The Sugarland Express.’ I saw it at the cinema as a child and I will never forget Goldie Hawn’s face as it was projected on the big screen. Because in the face of the mother who will do everything to get her child back, I also saw my own mother. I cry every time I see it since then, because I feel safe inside: that my own mother will always come looking for me. This is pure cinema, or rather pure Spielberg. Because for moments like this, Spielberg’s cinema became an adjective… In a little while we will see “The Fabelmans” again. Critics gave it rave reviews, but I disagree with them on one thing: it wasn’t the first time Spielberg told his life story. Doesn’t he always talk about children and their traumatized family? Doesn’t he always talk about innocence lost and innocence regained? Spielberg told both your story and my story..” Bono added.

Taking the stage, the American director thanked Bono for his laudatory speech and his look at his work, as well as the Berlin Film Festival for this great honor. “I stand before you tonight accepting the Golden Bear and I have to tell you a joke: bears scare me, even more than sharks. But it is good to be afraid even to face life with boldness and humility…” said Steven Spielberg. “I’ve been directing for six decades, but time, as Eisenstein said best, is such a relative thing. Because inside I feel like I just directed “Duel” or “Jaws” last year. At 76 I know a lot more about how to make movies than I did when I was 25 and directed my first film. But the anxieties, fears and challenges remained in me just as alive, as if no time had passed. Fortunately, the joy and excitement that accompany the first day of filming remained just as intense. Cinema became my home for all my challenges and joy. But my true home has been for three decades a wonderful artist, my partner, the mother of my children, my Kate. Kate, thank you for everything..” he added.

During his long and successful career, Spielberg has won a large number of awards, been nominated for an Academy Award a total of 19 times and won three Academy Awards: two for “Best Picture” for “The Color Purple” and “Schindler’s List” and a “Best Director” for “Saving Private Ryan.” “I couldn’t do it on my own. Never, none of my success was my own. I owe it all to my collaborators, the teams of each of my films. Everyone gets an award tonight…” noted the director at yesterday’s award ceremony.

According to the Berlinale press release, the event was attended by 1,600 people. “We are very happy to see that cinemas are back in full operation after the pandemic and audiences can once again experience cinema together and that the festival is once again a place for exciting experiences, inspiring encounters and lively exchanges,” commented festival directors Mariete Risenbeek and Carlo Satrian.