The German films are represented across several of the festival’s key program sections, ranging from works by established filmmakers to international co-productions and emerging talent.

The World Cinema section presents current international productions from outside Asia, combining new works by renowned filmmakers with films by promising emerging directors. Particular attention is given to titles that have already attracted attention or received awards at major international festivals. This year, Busan will screen EVERYTIME by Sandra Wollner, Germany’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, as well as ROSE by Markus Schleinzer, Austria’s submission. EVERYTIME celebrated its world premiere in Cannes, while ROSE premiered at the Berlinale. Isabelle Stever’s drama I RARELY WAKE UP DREAMING, also selected for World Cinema, competed at the Locarno Film Festival earlier this year.

Flash Forward brings together first and second feature films by promising non-Asian directors, providing a platform for new international voices and distinctive cinematic approaches. Jannis Lenz’s drama OASIS, which recently attracted attention in Venice and received the Bisato d’Oro 2026 – Grand Jury Prize, is presented in this section.

Three further majority German productions are screening in the Icons section, which showcases the latest films by established international auteurs in contemporary cinema. This year’s selection includes MY WIFE CRIES by Angela Schanelec, YELLOW LETTERS by İlker Çatak and FROM INSIDE OUT – THE ARCHITECTURE OF PETER ZUMTHOR by Wim Wenders.

Alongside several other German co-productions, Shahrbanoo Sadat’s NO GOOD MEN is screening in the A Window on Asian Cinema section. The film was the opening film of the Berlinale, where it was warmly received by audiences, and has since screened at several other festivals.

All German productions and co-productions in Busan at a glance:

World Cinema
EVERYTIME by Sandra Wollner (DE/AT, The Barricades)
I RARELY WAKE UP DREAMING (SELTEN WACHE ICH TRÄUMEND AUF) by Isabelle Stever (DE/UA, X-Filme Creative Pool)
ROSE by Markus Schleinzer (DE/AT, Walker+Worm, ROW Pictures)
GENTLE MONSTER by Marie Kreutzer (AT/DE/FR, Komplizen Film)

Flash Forward
OASIS (OASE) by Jannis Lenz (DE/AT, Zeitgeist Filmproduktion, Third Picture)
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JO: CHAPTER PHAEDRA by Jacqueline Lentzou (GR/DE/FR, Kelek Film)

Wide Angle – Documentary Showcase
GABIN by Maxence Voiseux (FR/DE/CH, AMA FILM)

Icons
MY WIFE CRIES (MEINE FRAU WEINT) by Angela Schanelec (DE/FR, Blue Monticola)
YELLOW LETTERS (GELBE BRIEFE) by Ilker Çatak (DE/FR/TR, if…productions)
ALL OF A SUDDEN by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (FR/JP/DE/BE, Heimatfilm)
MINOTAUR by Andrey Zvyagintsev (FR/DE/LV, Razor Film Produktion)
FATHERLAND (VATERLAND) by Pawel Pawlikowski (PL/DE/IT/FR, Nine Hours)
FROM INSIDE OUT – THE ARCHITECTURE OF PETER ZUMTHOR by Wim Wenders (DE/CH, Road Movie, DCM)

Vision Asia
ZOGSOOL by SAKHYA Byamba (MN/DE, BUCK)

A Window on Asian Cinema
HEAD TO HEAD by Ghasideh Golmakani (IR/DE, Ghasideh Golmakani)
ELEPHANTS IN THE FOG (ELEFANTEN IM NEBEL) by Abinash Bikram Shah (NP/DE/BR/FR/NO, Die Gesellschaft DGS, Zischlermann Filmproduktion)
PROMISED SPACES by Ivan Marković (FR/KH/RS/DE, Fiskultura Films)
NO GOOD MEN by Shahrbanoo Sadat (DE/FR/NO/DK/AF, Adomeit Film, Amerikafilm)