Lelio's 'Gloria' premieres at the Berlinale; Paulina García wins Silver Bear

Sebastián Lelio's drama 'Gloria' had its world premiere in the main competition of the Berlin International Film Festival (the Berlinale) in February 2013. The Chilean director was already known in Chile for earlier features, but the Berlin selection placed him before a major international audience.

The film follows Gloria, a divorced woman in her late fifties in Santiago, as she looks for love and independence, and it treats her life and desires with warmth and humour. Paulina García played the title role. At the festival she won the Silver Bear for best actress, one of the Berlinale's main acting prizes.

The success helped 'Gloria' reach cinemas in many countries and brought Lelio wider recognition. It also began his lasting relationship with Berlin, a connection that later tributes to him have often highlighted. Lelio went on to make international films, including 'A Fantastic Woman', which won the Oscar for best international feature in 2018.