What To Watch At Berlinale 2026
The 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) returns as one of the world’s largest public film festivals, showcasing more than 200 titles across a spectrum of genres and styles. While only a fraction can enter the competition, the festival’s structured sections ensure a rich mix of blockbusters, experimental art and global voices.
Competition Highlights
Kurtuluş (Salvation)
Emin Alper presents a restrained provincial drama that pits tradition against an overbearing state, exemplifying his democratic aesthetic.
Dao
French‑Senegalese director Alain Gomis returns to the competition, weaving connections between France and the West African nation of Guinea‑Bissau.
Rosebush Pruning
Berlin‑based Brazilian‑Algerian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz assembles a predominantly American cast for a story set in Spain.
The Loneliest Man in Town
Austrian duo Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel blend documentary and fiction to follow an aging blues musician whose life takes an unexpected turn.
The Blood Countess
Ulrike Ottinger offers a playful vampire comedy starring Isabelle Huppert and Birgit Minichmayr, set against Austrian mythic locations such as the Narrenturm.
The Testament of Ann Lee
Amanda Seyfried leads as a 19th‑century Englishwoman who founds the Shaker movement in America; the film is directed by Mona Fastvold.
Saccharine
Midori Francis portrays a medical student who takes a dangerous slimming pill, pushing the body‑horror genre to its limits.
Monster Pabrik Rambut
Director Edwin returns with a blockbuster starring singer Rachel Amanda, exploring workplace terror and resistance.
WAX & GOLD
Viennese filmmaker Ruth Beckermann presents a documentary shot in a grand hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Lord of the Flies
A new British television adaptation of the classic novel appears in the Special section.
Filipiñana
Rafael Manuel’s debut depicts a Philippine country club where a 17‑year‑old employee confronts the elite oligarchy.
Chronicles from the Siege
Syrian‑born Abdallah Alkhatib reflects on freedom struggles rooted in his Yarmouk origins.
Hangar Rojo
Julian Pablo Sallato’s debut revisits Chile’s 1973 Pinochet era through an everyday narrative.
Where To?
Assaf Machnes follows a Palestinian taxi driver in Berlin whose regular passenger is Israeli, highlighting nocturnal city life.
Shanghai Daughter
A story of a Shanghai woman travelling to a rubber‑producing region, mirroring Germany’s broader reassessment of ties with China.
London
Sebastian Brameshuber’s road‑movie features Viennese driver Bobby Sommer and guest appearance by Ted Fendt.
Staatsschutz
Chen Emilie Yan plays a prosecutor exposing biases within the German justice system.
Traces
Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikitiuk document women’s contributions to Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
Quatro Meninas
Karen Suzane’s period piece follows four wealthy 19th‑century girls whose maids flee, sparking a clash of freedoms.
Feito Pipa
Allan Deberton tells the story of young Gugu’s quest for football fame while caring for his grandmother.
Ghost School
Ten‑year‑old Rabia investigates the closure of her school, confronting radical religious influences in Pakistan.
The Lights, They Fall
Saša Vajda’s debut follows 16‑year‑old Ilay’s summer in Berlin’s periphery as his mother lies dying.
An Accident
Austrian director Angelika Spangel escalates a village incident into a dangerous game for schoolchildren.
Einar Schleef – I Found No Germany
Sandra Prechtel’s portrait uses archival material to probe theatre‑maker Einar Schleef’s complex legacy.
Liebhaberinnen
Adaptation of Elfriede Jelinek’s novel featuring an ensemble led by Johanna Wokalek.
Black Lions – Roman Wolves
Haile Gerima completes a decades‑long African cinema project about Italy’s rule in Ethiopia.
Chronos: River of Time
Volker Koepp’s documentary travels through Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine, meditating on war.
Castings for a Film, Ihsan’s Diary
Explores a 1915 Beirut film project about a soldier in Jerusalem, shown in the Forum Expanded exhibition.
Fanfiction: Volcanology
Riar Rizaldi, a leading Indonesian essay filmmaker, appears in the Forum Expanded exhibition.
Forever…Forever
Johann Lurf continues the avant‑garde tradition of light, camera, action.
Let There Be Whistleblowers
Obituary tribute to radical cinema pioneers Flo and Ken Jacobs.
Slacker
Richard Linklater’s 1990 cult classic is screened 36 years later, revisiting Austin’s counter‑society.
D’Est
Chantal Akerman’s celebrated journey through post‑opening Eastern Europe.
Prince in Hellland
Rosa von Praunheim’s early‑90s documentary captures Berlin’s drug scene and post‑reunification melancholy.
Wildwood, NJ
Documentary of women recounting summer beach holidays in Wildwood, New Jersey, presented in a feminist, dialectical style.
Panelstory, or How a Housing Estate Is Born
Věra Chytilová critiques socialist housing projects and their communal limits.
Secrets of a Soul
G.W. Pabst’s instructional psychoanalysis film returns with neuro‑technological enhancements.
Assarab
Ahmed Bouanani’s myth‑rich tale follows a poor farmer who discovers money in a sack of flour.
The Pornographers
Shōhei Imamura’s 1966 daring exploration of a porn filmmaker’s quest to expose unconscious drives.
For full details, schedules and ticket information, the official programme booklet can be downloaded here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 Berlinale take place?
The festival runs from 12 February to 22 February 2026.
How many films are featured in the 2026 programme?
The programme includes over 200 films.
Where can I access the official programme booklet?
The booklet is available for download from the Berlinale website at the link provided above.
Which of these films are you most eager to see at the Berlinale?