The Festival del Cinema Tedesco took place in Rome from March 19–22, 2026, opening with GAVAGAI by Ulrich Köhler and closing with THE GOOD SISTER, which won the Audience Award. Highlights included filmmaker Q&As, the NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER program, and a Villa Massimo focus, alongside a masterclass with Steffen Goldkamp and Tom Otte. The event drew strong public interest and featured numerous guests from the German film industry.
The 23rd Sofia International Film Festival took place from March 18–22, 2026, with German Films co-hosting the opening dinner alongside key partners. German co-productions were strongly represented across program sections and events, while the festival’s 30th anniversary also showcased German films such as SILENT FRIEND, introduced on site by FACE TO FACE ambassador and actor Enzo Brumm.
The 28th edition of Cartoon Movie, a pitching and co-production forum, opened its doors in Bordeaux from March 3 to 5, 2026. It brought the whole of European creativity and diversity in animation to the screen and stage, with adventurous projects and passionate teams. The German Filmmakers Reza Memari and Fabian Driehorst were honored with prizes.
The 98th Academy Awards Ceremony was held on March 15, 2026. There were several German co-productions and German filmmakers nominated. All German nominees were honored at the Pre-Oscar® reception hosted by Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House together with German Films, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Los Angeles. Congratulations to SENTIMENTAL VALUE and MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN, which won the Academy Award®.
FILMART took place in Hong Kong from March 17 to 20, 2026. To heighten the visibility of European films at this International Film & TV Market, EFP partnered with German Films and hosted the EUROPE! UMBRELLA. EightGerman sales companies were onsite and were able to meet with the Asian industry.
As our two FACE TO FACE ambassadors both have the release of their current films coming up, we have two upcoming SHORT TAKE episodes on one release day in April. One episode features writer-director Anna Roller, whose drama ALLEGRO PASTELL recently premiered at the Berlinale and starts in cinemas on April 16. The other episode features writer-director Joscha Bongard. His film BABYSTAR premiered last year at Toronto Film Festival and will be released in cinemas on April 24.
We close our season 9, which focused on animation, with two more episodes. In the fifth episode, we talked to filmmaker, animator and illustrator Raman Djafari, who had the chance to work with Elton John and Dua Lipa. In the last episode of this season, we talked to 3D-Layout artist Maike Ramke-Lassahn who is also a storyboard artist with more than ten years work experience, staging stories for children with humor and sensitivity.
TIFF: The Market - NEW Creators’ Lab: TIFF: The Market is happening from September 10–16, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. Emerging directors, writers, and more from all over the world can access professional development workshops, receive tailored mentorship to refine their craft, and project guidance from internationally acclaimed industry professionals. All programs (Directors’ Lab, Writers’ Lab, Sloan Science & Technology Writers’ Fellowship, Sloan Science & Technology Project Pitch) are accepting applications until April 9, 2026. More information can be found here.
