The 61st annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 10 to 20 February 2011,[1] with actress Isabella Rossellini as the president of the jury.

[2] The Coen Brothers film True Grit opened the festival.

[3] 300,000 tickets were sold in total during the event, to 20,000 attendees from 116 countries, including 3900 members of the press.

[5] German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl received the Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement.

The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:[6] In addition, the festival held a place open in the jury for the imprisoned Iranian director Jafar Panahi, "to signalize its support for his struggle for freedom".