The 28th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 22 February to 5 March 1978.

[1] Director Wolf Donner successfully managed to shift the festival's date from June to February, a change which has remained ever since.

The jury awarded the Golden Bear to Spain for its contribution to the festival.

[4] The Part 2 of the retrospective dedicated to West German actress Marlene Dietrich was shown at the festival, as well as the retrospective called "Censorship – Banned German Films 1933-1945".

[5] The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:[6] The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear award:[7] The following films were shown in the retrospective dedicated to Marlene Dietrich (Part 2): The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:[3]