The German feature film SOUND OF FALLING(Studio Zentral) by Mascha Schilinski has made it onto the shortlist of the last 15 films for the 98th Oscars® in the category "International Feature Film". This was announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on Thursday, December 16, 2025. In addition, Fabian Gamper made it to the shortlist in the "Cinematogrpahy" category for his work on the same drama.
This November, FACE TO FACE ambassador Mala Reinhardt toured various territories in Asia to promote her latest documentary film FAMILIAR PLACES. She made stops in China, Thailand, and Cambodia, among other places.
For its 29th edition, the European Film Promotion (EFP) announced ten European up-and-coming actors who will be honoured as EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS 2026. This year, Germany will be represented by actor Enno Trebs (THE WHITE RIBBON, AFIRE, MIROIRS NO. 3).
EFP will present the European Shooting Stars to the international film audience during the first Berlinale weekend.
The focus of the next session of KINO! FILM SALON online film club on January 18, 2026 will be the documentary RIEFENSTAHL by Andres Veiel. The thrilling film celebrated its world premiere in the official selection of the Venice International Film Festival in 2024.
We are starting the new year 2026 feeling refreshed and motivated. Our upcoming SHORT TAKE episodes will be featuring actor Samirah Breuer, who was recently took part in the Black Night Stars talent program,and director Visar Morina, who's film SHAME AND MONEY will premiere at Sundance Film Festival.
Eurimages International Co-Production Award for Komplizen-Film Congratulations to Komplizen Film! At the European Film Awards ceremony on January 17, 2026, Maren Ade, Jonas Dornbach, and Janine Jackowski from Komplizen Film will receive the Eurimages International Co-Production Award. Twenty films (co-)produced by Komplizen Film received funding from Eurimages, the Council of Europe's cultural promotion fund. These include Ade's Oscar-nominated TONI ERDMANN, Corneliu Porumboiu's LA GOMERA, Ildikó Enyedi's THE SORY OF MY WIFE, Nuri Bilge Ceylan's IN DRY GRASS, Marie Kreutzer's CORSAGE, and currently Nadav Lapis' YES and Joachim Trier's SENTIMENTAL VALUE, which received eight Golden Globe nominations. Other films (co-)produced by Komplizen Film include Pablo Larrain's MARIA and SPENCER, Nicolette Krebitz's AEIOU – THE FAST ALPHABET OF LOVE, and Valeska Grisebach's WESTERN.
Awards for YUNAN and ALL THAT'S LEFT OF YOU at Red Sea Film Festival The fifth edition of the Red Sea Film Festival took place from December 4 to 13, 2025 in Jeddah. At the festival in Saudi Arabia, YUNAN received two awards, Ameer Fakher Eldin was awarded with the Yusr Award for Best Director, and George Khabbaz received the award for Best Actor. In addition, the German production ALL THAT'S LEFT OF YOU was awarded the Silver Yusr Feature Film Award.
Calls for applications and submissions
Screenwriters program of the Oxbelly Retreat: The Screenwriters program of the 2026 Oxbelly Retreat, a gathering for international writers working in film and literature, will take place from July 1 to 9 in Costa Navarino, Greece. The Screenwriters program, led by filmmaker Radu Jude, supports writer-directors developing their second fiction feature scripts who are seeking to strengthen their craft and push the boundaries of their unique cinematic voice. Deadline is January 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM EET. More information can be found here.
BIF Market: BIFFF and German Films will collaborate on the tenth edition of the BIF Market. The Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (April 3 to 18, 2026) organizes the BIF Market which will take place from April 13 to 17, 2026. The 10th edition will continue to be a hybrid edition (onsite and online). The BIF Market is a place to be for everyone working on a genre project. Besides Belgian professionals it facilitates encounters with numerous international professionals, sales agents, festivals, and representatives of various funding institutions. More information can be found here.
DocsBarcelona Pro: DocsBarelona Pro has established itself as one of the main events for documentary professionals, offering a unique platform to network, present, and develop projects. The festival will take place from May 7 to 17, and the professional activities will be held from May 9 to 14. Opportunities are offered for feature-length and non-fiction series projects directed and/or produced by professionals from all over the world. Deadline is January 30, 2026. More information can be found here.
Transatlantic Rising Star Project 2026: The Delegation of the European Union to the United States today opened the first call for EU film directors to join the 2026 Transatlantic Rising Stars Project. Funded by the European Union, the project strengthens cultural links and creative collaboration between Europe and the United States. Each year, it supports artists across the visual arts, film, and music sectors through on-the-ground experiences in the United States.
The call invites European film directors from across all 27 EU Member States to apply for a fully funded two-week exploration of the American film world. Applications are open through January 16, 2026. Successful candidates will travel to the United States between mid May and early June 2026. More information can be found here.
