The 6th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 22 June to 3 July 1956.

[1] The FIAPF granted the festival the "A status" during this year,[1] which was previously only reserved for Cannes and Venice.

[1][3] The Golden Bear was awarded to Invitation to the Dance directed by Gene Kelly.

[4] However, this decision by the jury was widely criticized as the film was considered "too shallow" for a Golden Bear.

The favourite among many critics was the Finnish entry The Unknown Soldier by Edvin Laine, which was an anti-war film without any illusions based on a novel by Väinö Linna.