FACE TO FACE WITH GERMAN FILMS enters its next round! The initiative spotlights some of the most influential creative voices in contemporary German cinema. In 2026, FACE TO FACE WITH GERMAN FILMS is celebrating its eleventh edition. German Films will present this year’s seven talents in person as part of a panel event organized by German Films during the Berlinale on 16 February 2026.
Germany was the focus of the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festivalin January 2026. The PSIFF took place from January 2 to 12, 2026. Several German filmmakers like Mascha Schilinski, Lena Urzendowsky, Fabian Gamper, Michael Kofler, Aenne Schwarz, Katharina Otto-Bernstein, Sabine Schenk and Maximilian Leo were on site to present their films. In addition, director Jan-Ole Gerster was honored by Variety as one of the “10 Directors to Watch 2026”.
WHEN EAST MEETS WEST 2026 took place in Trieste from January 18–20, focusing on the Baltic countries and the GAS region and fostering new East–West industry connections. The program included targeted matchmaking with major German, Austrian, and Swiss film institutions and competitive sections for films in progress.
This year, German Films has once again produced a showreel featuring the highlights of German productions from this year's Sundance, Rotterdam and Berlinale festivals. In addition, more feature and animated films are presented in a brochure.
Two film professionals from Germany, Sabrina Krämer and Torsten Witte, have been honoured at the European Film Awards 2026. The German co-production SENTIMENTAL VALUE won Best European Film. Producers Maren Ade, Jonas Dornbach, and Janine Jackowski from Komplizen Film were honored with the Eurimages International Co-Production Award.
The two German co-productions SENTIMENTAL VALUE and THE SECRET AGENT received several Oscar® nominations - including Best Picture and International Feature Film. In addition, THE LOST BUS was nominated in the VFX category. The Berlin-based company RISE FX was largely responsible for the visual effects.
The first catalogue update for 2026, with a total of 28 new shorts, has just been published: The members of the AG Kurzfilm – German Short Film Association and a jury have selected a broad spectrum of short films. More than 1,100 short films produced since 2004 are now available for viewing.
Our upcoming SHORT TAKE episodes feature actor and European Shooting Star Enno Trebs,who began his career with a remarkable debut in Michael Haneke’s Palme d’Or–winning THE WHITE RIBBON. He has since developed into one of Germany’s most intriguing young performers, frequently collaborating with Christian Petzold. He is now taking on a leading role in Nicolas Ehret’s ECHO OF TOMORROW’S WAR.
Right at the start of the year, we are launching the ninth season of our podcast DEEP DIVE GENRE, focusing on Animation. For the first episode, we talked to writer-director Reza Memari about his newest feature: THE LAST WHALESINGER. In the second episode, sales executive and film expert Klaus Rasmussen shared his thoughts about why the genre works so well.
German Films Booth at EFM During the Berlinale, German Films will be at the EFM - European Film Market from February 12-18, 2026. Come find us at Booth #18 in the Gropiusbau!
BIF Market: Collaboration BIFFF – German Films BIFFF and German Films will be collaborating 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 the 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.
German Student Shorts nominated at the Annie Awards and the Ves Awards The Annie Awards, organized by the International Animated Film Society ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972, honor the best international achievements in the field of animation. For the 53rd edition, the German animated shorts A SPARROW’S SONG by Tobias Eckerlin and THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE by Oscar Jacobson received nominations in the category “Best Student Film”. Both films were produced at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. The winners will be revealed during an award ceremony in Los Angeles on February 21. A SPARROW’S SONG by Tobias Eckerlin is also nominated at the 24th Visual Effects Society Awards in the category “Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project”, together with the short FLYING FROM WAR by Ciara Borgards (ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln). The award presentation is scheduled for February 25 in Los Angeles.
