After a screening of all the submitted films in Munich on August 20 and 21, an independent jury decided that the feature film SOUND OF FALLING by Mascha Schilinski will enter the race for Germany in the "Best International Feature Film" category at the 98th Oscars®.
German Films received five film submissions for the 98th Oscar® Competition in the category "Best International Feature Film". The German entry is chosen by a selection committee newly appointed each year. This committee consists of nine representatives from eight different trade associations and institutions from the German film industry.
This year, Locarno Film Festival took place from August 6 - 16, 2025. A total of 22 German productions and co-productions were in the program. German Films is also cooperating once again with Locarno Pro in the “Match Me!” program. On the first weekend of the festival, German Films and Film Fund North-Rhine Westphalia hosted the Locarno Pro Meet & Greet with about 300 guests.
For the 25th edition of the Festival de Cine Alemàn in Buenos Aires, viewers are again invited to attend at the Cinepolis Recoleta cinemas. Film fans can discover new German feature, documentary and short film highlights from September 18-24, 2025.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted 14 students as winners of the 52nd Student Academy Awards® competition, including the German animation film A SPARROW'S SONG by Tobias Eckerlin.
In our next episode of the SHORT TAKE podcast we will be talking to French composer Amaury Laurent Bernier, who lives in Hamburg. Amaury is known for his music in 3 DAYS IN QUIBERON, TOTEM or, most recently, TWO TO ONE, as well as many other films.
We will be starting a new season of the DEEP DIVE GENRE podcast in September. The focus in our eighth season will be on SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY. In the first episode, we spoke to director of photography Markus Foerderer and actor Maren Eggert.
Job announcement: Managing Director European Film Promotion (EFP) European Film Promotion (EFP) is looking for an experienced, strategically minded Managing Director with strong leadership and networking skills and a passion for European cinema. Based in Hamburg, you will lead EFP both operationally and strategically, in close collaboration with the EFP Board and 38 member organizations – supported by a committed team on site. Work location is Hamburg, starting in mid-June 2026. For more details about the position, please visit: https://efp-online.com/jobs.
Ulrike Ottinger at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures From September 25 to October 4, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will present a film series focusing on the works of author and iconoclast Ulrike Ottinger. Ottinger whose daring films often transcend genre boundaries while addressing themes such as identity, gender, and cultural uprooting, will join the screenings for four programs this September to discuss her trajectory as an artist, her approach to crafting images, and her visionary eye for color and mise-en-scène. More info can be found here.
Call for submissions
European Film Awards 2026: The European Film Academy is looking forward to film submissions for the third and final submission period. In accordance with the new submission structure, submission periods are determined by the date of the first official screening/world premiere of a film: For the third and final submission period of the 38th European Film Awards, films premiering in August and September can be submitted. The deadline is Monday, September 15, 2025, with an early bird fee in place until August 31, 2025. Regulations and submission details can be found here.
Berlinale Co-Production Market: Call for entries for Feature Film & Drama Series Projects: The Official Selection will comprise around 20 international projects. Their producers will have tailor-made, pre-scheduled meetings with selected potential partners from a pool of 600 experienced producers, financiers, funds, sales, and distribution and TV partners. Deadline is September 17, 2025. Online submission and more details can be found here.
CPH:DOX 2026: CPH:DOX, one of the world’s leading documentary film festivals, is now officially open for submissions for the 2026 edition. The deadlines for submitting a film are: September 1, 2025 (for films finished by that date). November 1, 2025 (for films finished after September 1). This year, CPH:LAB is again calling for creative and experimental projects that challenge the conventions of storytelling. The lab provides a unique platform for innovative voices to develop their ideas with the support of experienced mentors and a collaborative environment. CPH:DOX 2026 will take place from March 11-22, 2026. More info can be found here.
Visions du Réel: The call for non-fiction films and projects for the 57th edition of Visions du Réel (April, 17–26, 2026) is now open. The festival is looking for films for the Official Selection and projects for VdR–Industry activities. The films in competition are screened as world, international or European premieres. Deadlines are October 17, 2025 (early deadline), December 15, 2025 (final deadline), November 6, 2025 (Deadline VdR–Development Lab). More information can be found here.
