The Greatest Showman #843 - Actor Silver Bear

"Yes, this is an excellent work. In this year's film list, besides Just the Wind, my personal second choice." The award for Rachel Mahwazan once again brought Battlefield Wizard to the forefront. Tony Kaye, curious, asked Renly for his opinion. Renly expressed his admiration clearly and succinctly.

Tony's expression shifted to surprise, his eyes widening in disbelief.

But Renly simply smiled and nodded, reaffirming his thoughts. Tony then scrunched his face in annoyance. "God, look what I missed."

At the Berlin Film Festival, few distributors are present, and it's even more challenging to distribute an obscure film like Battlefield Wizard. After missing Berlin, one wonders when and where it will be shown again.

On the stage, a bright, cheerful voice filled the air: "The winner of the Silver Bear Award for Best Actor at the 62nd Berlin Film Festival is..." Renly and Tony paused their conversation, glancing toward the stage. Jack continued, "Renly Hall, Transcendence."

Renly instinctively raised his hands, preparing to applaud. But before he could complete the gesture, an overwhelming burst of joy hit him. The adrenaline shock left his mind frozen for a moment. The next second, scorching gazes from all directions bombarded him like fireworks on his skin.

Did he win?

Tony froze for half a second, his body stiffening. He turned to the stage, his gaze darting to Jack's beaming face, then to Renly standing beside him. A rush of joy exploded within him, and he stood up abruptly, clapping his hands with enthusiasm.

If one were to look for Renly's biggest supporter in the crowd, it would undoubtedly be Tony. As the director of Transcendence, Tony had witnessed the miracle of Renly's performance. In his mind, Renly was the rightful winner, a well-deserved choice.

Everything seemed to fall into place.

Tony wasn't alone in his excitement—before the ceremony even began, Renly had been widely regarded as the top contender for Best Actor.

Screen magazine's official review described Renly's performance: "Every viewer who watched Transcendence was overwhelmed. We clearly knew that he was capable of any role, but without a doubt, he delivered a perfect performance once again. He captured every detail so impeccably, each emotion, each gesture, so genuine and profound. It was a miracle on screen."

Beyond Screen, other media outlets praised Renly's portrayal. At just 22 years old, the British actor had won the hearts of critics and audiences alike when he debuted at the Berlin Film Festival.

Especially after Transcendence's promotion concluded, Renly stayed in Berlin, signaling to many that he was the clear frontrunner for Best Actor.

As anticipated, the hunch proved true!

Thus, this victory was not a fluke. Renly's triumph was groundbreaking—breaking barriers and conventions.

At only 22, Renly became the second-youngest Best Actor winner in Berlin Film Festival history!

European actors typically find success later in life, often reaching their peak in their 40s or 50s. While European cinema tends to favor artistic purity, age still plays a role in the industry. Mature actors, with their experience and depth, often deliver powerful performances.

However, Renly defied this trend.

The youngest-ever Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival was Lou-Taylor, who won the Silver Bear in 2005 for The Thumb-Sucking Man at just 20 years old. Now, Renly, at 22, had done the same, an unorthodox choice that broke all expectations.

Following last year's surprising wins for Best Actor and Actress in A Farewell, this year's Berlin Film Festival shocked again, awarding young talents.

The jury, led by Mike Leigh, made a bold choice in honoring young performers, recognizing that young actors represent the future of the film industry and artistic expression.

So, at the 62nd Berlin Film Festival, the Silver Bear for Best Actor went to Renly Hall.

Tony was the first to stand and clap. The other guests exchanged glances before following suit. Applause thundered around the room as everyone realized the magnitude of these upsets. This marked the third standing ovation of the evening, and the applause continued to grow, filling the entire venue with energy.

In that instant, Renly became the center of attention, the focus of thousands of gazes. His chest swelled with joy, and his smile brightened as he walked toward the stage.

On the left, Sammy Gale and Betty Kaye applauded, tears streaming down their faces. Their excitement mirrored Renly's. Renly chuckled, walking over to hug the two, expressing thanks and offering comfort before making his way to the stage.

Jack, standing with the trophy in hand, greeted Renly with open arms, giving him a big bear hug. "Dude! Oh, buddy," Jack exclaimed, patting Renly on the back.

Renly grinned. "Dude, my trophy, aren't you going to hand it over?" His lighthearted joke made Jack laugh as he presented the trophy, taking a step back to give Renly a knightly salute before stepping away.

Renly looked down at the Silver Bear Award in his hands. The weight of the trophy felt both tangible and symbolic. While he had anticipated this moment, the overwhelming emotions were difficult to express. The silver arcs of the bear reflected the light, a little rough, yet more real, the weight beyond his expectations.

This was the Best Actor trophy from his first international top film festival, the first major acting award of his career. Following his surprise win at Sundance, Renly had now earned the Berlin Film Festival's approval. For many actors, such an achievement might never come, but Renly reached it at just 22.

Words fell short of expressing Renly's emotions. The weight of the trophy was heavy on his heart, and a smile spread across his face, brighter than ever.

"Excuse my rudeness," Renly said, snapping back to reality. "If I could, I'd just stand here and admire it for a long time. That would be the best acceptance speech." His humor lightened the mood, and the audience chuckled.

He continued, "The road to making Transcendence was definitely challenging. There was this one shot we took 71 times—trust me, not a great memory, but it was an important one. It taught me that I could become an excellent actor."

"And next time Tony calls me up for a collaboration, I'll have to think about it," Renly joked again, sparking more laughter from the crowd. Tony shouted back, "You too, little lunatic." The entire room erupted into laughter.

Renly grinned, replying, "Thank you." The joy was contagious, and the laughter rang throughout the venue.