3rd Berlin International Film Festival
The 3rd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 18 to 28 June 1953. This year's festival did not give any official jury prizes, instead awards were given by audience voting. This continued until the FIAPF granted Berlin "A-Status" in 1956.
Golden Bear was awarded to Le Salaire de la peur by audience vote. The festival held a retrospective on the Silent films.
Films in competition
The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear award:| English title | Original title | Director | Country |
| The Village | Sie fanden eine Heimat | Leopold Lindtberg | Switzerland, United Kingdom |
| Where Chimneys Are Seen | 煙突の見える場所 Entotsu no mieru basho | Heinosuke Gosho | Japan |
| The Wages of Fear | Le Salaire de la peur | Henri-Georges Clouzot | France, Italy |
| Green Magic | Magia verde | Gian Gaspare Napolitano | Italy, Brazil |
| Man on a Tightrope | Elia Kazan | USA | |
| The City Stands Trial | Processo alla città | Luigi Zampa | Italy |
| A Heart Plays False | Ein Herz spielt falsch | Rudolf Jugert | West Germany |
| Fight of the Tertia | Der Kampf der Tertia | Erik Ode | West Germany |
| Monsieur Hulot's Holiday | Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot | Jacques Tati | France |
| In Olden Days | Altri tempi - Zibaldone n. 1 | Alessandro Blasetti | Italy |
| The Boy Kumasenu | Sean Graham | Ghana | |
| Cangaçeiro | O Cangaceiro | Lima Barreto | Brazil |
| Sword for Hire | 戦国無頼 Sengoku burai | Hiroshi Inagaki | Japan |
| Hell Raiders of the Deep | I sette dell'Orsa maggiore | Duilio Coletti | Italy |
Key
Awards
The following prizes were awarded by audience votes:- Golden Bear: Le Salaire de la peur by Henri-Georges Clouzot
- Silver Bear: Magia verde by Gian Gaspare Napolitano
- Bronze Berlin Bear: Sie fanden eine Heimat by Leopold Lindtberg