With well-attended cinemas, numerous national and international guests and a diverse film programme, FilmFest Hamburg is pleased to look back on a positive first half of the festival after five days. The second half promises to be just as exciting, with Helen Mirren, Fatih Akin, Iris Berben, Wolf Biermann, Esther Ofarim and many other guests set to make for special encounters and packed red carpets. Meanwhile, the FilmFest Hamburg Industry Days are underway. 

 

“What a first half of the festival! Our cinemas are full, the discussions after the films are lively, and on the red carpets big names rub shoulders with emerging talents. It is precisely this mix that defines a film festival: discovering films together, engaging in conversation with one another, and experiencing the cinema as a vibrant space. Thank you to the Hamburg audience for such enthusiasm for cinema. Best of all: it’s not over yet. There’s still plenty to discover over the next five days,” says festival director Malika Rabahallah. 

 

Following the opening film The Idiot(s) starring Małgorzata Szumowska, the first director’s talk of this year’s Filmmaker in Focus series took place, during which the Polish director, together with co-director Michał Englert, offered insights into their work and their cinematic style. Other highlights of the festival’s first few days included the world premiere of Children Of The Sun starring Jella Haase. Wim Wenders presented his 3D film FROM INSIDE OUT – The Architecture of Peter Zumthor, whilst Doris Dörrie and Angela Winkler brought us How can I help?. The festival also welcomed Oscar-winning director and screenwriter Martin McDonagh, one of the most distinguished international filmmakers. 

 

Oskar and Emil Belton presented their new series Rehab. The team from Blindspot Berlin attended the screening, accompanied by Albrecht Schuch and Bayan Layla, amongst others. For Shaun the Sheep, director and animator Matthew Walker and Thomas D. from the band Die Fantastischen Vier, who composed the film’s theme song, were in attendance.  

 

The second half of the festival will continue to bring high-profile guests to Hamburg: Helen Mirren will be presented with the Douglas Sirk Award, Fatih Akin will celebrate the German premiere of his new film Ghost Song, and Iris Berben will attend the festival alongside Mirjam Unger for Third Wedding. The premiere of Coward will be attended by the second Filmmaker in Focus, Lukas Dhont, along with the film’s lead actors Valentin Campagne and Emmanuel Macchia. Wolf Biermann stars as the protagonist in Jens Meurer’s film Biermann and will be present for a Q&A afterwards. Also joining us will be set decorator Katie Spencer and production designer Sarah Greenwood. The creative duo, who have been nominated for seven Oscars, will offer an insight into the creation of the Barbie universe in our Deep Dive talk. Greta Gerwig’s film will be screened at the Kinopolis following the discussion. 

 

At the Hapag-Lloyd screening, director Shaked Oren will present his film Esther alongside its lead actress, Esther Ofarim. Saskia Rosendahl will be on the red carpet with The Meltdown and I spy with my little eye. Luna Wedler, Alexander Fehling and Barbara Sukowa are expected in Hamburg with Eurotrash. Also in attendance will be the makers of The Intouchables, Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano – both on the red carpet and at the FilmFest Hamburg Industry Days. The team behind Großstadtrevier will be on the red carpet on 3 October for the premiere of the 90-minute film Großstadtrevier – Knock out. 

The final day of the festival is also Free Admission Day: there are a total of 37 films to discover, including the closing film Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, for which a further allocation of free tickets will be made available on 30 September at 4 pm. 

 

The FilmFest Hamburg Industry Days kicked off on 28 September and will run until 1 October. Panels, discussions and networking events bring together filmmakers and industry representatives from Germany and abroad. 

 

On Wednesday 30 September, the Hamburg Producers Awards and the Arthouse Cinema Award will be presented at the FilmFest Bar @Coda Club. 

 

FilmFest Hamburg 2026 runs until 3 October. Tickets are available online and at the box offices of the festival cinemas.