48th Berlin International Film Festival

The 48th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 11 to 22 February 1998. The festival opened with the Irish film The Boxer by Jim Sheridan. Francis Ford Coppola's The Rainmaker was selected as the closing night film.

The Golden Bear was awarded to Central Station directed by Walter Salles. The retrospective was dedicated to Siodmak Bros., titled Siodmak Bros. Berlin – London – Paris – Hollywood was shown at the festival.

Juries
The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:
 * Ben Kingsley, British actor - Jury President
 * Senta Berger, Austrian actress and producer
 * Li Cheuk-to, Hong Kong art director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival
 * Leslie Cheung, Hong Kong actor and musician
 * Héctor Olivera, Argentinian filmmaker
 * Helmut Dietl, German filmmaker
 * Brigitte Roüan, French filmmaker and actress
 * Annette Insdorf, French producer
 * Maya Turovskaya, Ukrainian historian and film critic
 * Maurizio Nichetti, Italian actor, filmmaker and producer
 * Michael Williams-Jones, British president of Miramax Films

Main Competition
The following films were for the main competition:

Main Competition
The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:
 * Golden Bear: Central Station by Walter Salles
 * Silver Bear Special Jury Prize: Wag the Dog by Barry Levinson
 * Silver Bear for Best Director: Neil Jordan for The Butcher Boy
 * Silver Bear for Best Actress: Fernanda Montenegro for Central Station
 * Silver Bear for Best Actor: Samuel L. Jackson for Jackie Brown
 * Silver Bear for an Outstanding Single Achievement: Matt Damon for Good Will Hunting
 * Silver Bear for an outstanding Artistic Contribution: Alain Resnais for Same Old Song
 * Alfred Bauer Prize: Hold You Tight by Stanley Kwan
 * Honourable Mention:
 * Sławomir Idziak for I Want You
 * Isabella Rossellini for Left Luggage
 * Eamonn Owens for The Butcher Boy

Honorary Golden Bear

 * Catherine Deneuve

Berlinale Camera

 * Carmelo Romero
 * Curt Siodmak

Blue Angel Award

 * Left Luggage by Jeroen Krabbé

FIPRESCI Award

 * Sada by Nobuhiko Obayashi