The 33rd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 18 February to 1 March 1983. The festival opened with the out of competition film Tootsie, by Sydney Pollack.
The Golden Bear was jointly awarded to Ascendancy, directed by Edward Bennett, and La colmena, directed by Mario Camus.
The retrospective titled Exile. Six Actors from Germany was dedicated to German or Austrian actors Wolfgang Zilzer, Curt Bois, Dolly Haas, Francis Lederer, Elisabeth Bergner and Hertha Thiele, who were forced to leave Germany after the 1930s rise of the Nazi regime.
The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:
The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear:
The following films were shown in the retrospective "Exile. Six Actors from Germany":
The following prizes were awarded by the Jury: