FilmFest Hamburg Industry Days has announced this year’s programme for its Made in Germany series. From 28 to 30 September 2026, the three-day event will bring together current topics and pressing issues facing the German film and media industry at the Curiohaus, located just around the corner from the festival cinema CinemaxX Dammtor. Through compact panels, discussions and subsequent networking formats, the programme will address increasingly challenging production conditions, financing and storytelling, as well as equal opportunities and sustainable processes of change. 

 

Fabian Massah, Head of FilmFest Hamburg Industry Days: “With Made in Germany, it is important to us that everyone who makes films and series possible can see themselves reflected in the programme: both in front of and behind the camera. Last year’s inaugural edition showed how great the need for open exchange within our industry is. In 2026, we are building on this with a high-calibre and diverse programme.” 

 

To kick off the programme, the LUMI initiative will bring BIPoC filmmakers to the big stage, where they will present their film and series ideas to industry guests. A subsequent panel discussion will examine the current political climate and explore its implications for creative work in the future. With the support of MOIN Filmförderung, LUMI is committed to visibility, access and creative spaces for underrepresented storytelling. 

 

The German Film Academy, German Films and MOIN Film Fund are inviting the German Oscar submissions for 2027 to Hamburg for an Oscar Kickoff. The teams behind Yellow Letters and Shame and Money will offer exclusive insights into their upcoming Oscar campaigns: What does it take to generate international attention? How do you get people talking about a film – and ultimately get it on the radar of Academy members? German Films will announce the third German Oscar submission shortly, completing the line-up. 

 

Under the title “A Financing Tsunami – Planning Under Threat”, the programme will focus on the industry’s increasingly difficult financing situation. In 2026, funding from the DFFF and GMPF is being exhausted faster than ever before, putting production and planning security under massive pressure, while further cuts are looming for 2027. Together with Helge Albers (Managing Director, MOIN) and leading film producers, the panel will explore what needs to happen now to give the film industry the necessary prospects and planning security. The event is part of the “All You Need Is Law” series and takes place in cooperation with the law firms Unverzagt, Von Have Fey and GRAEF Rechtsanwälte. 

 

Responsible storytelling will also be on the agenda. Based on the “Green Storytelling Checklist – Documentary”, Dr Julia Dordel (Dorcon Film / Green Storytelling Initiative), writer Vivien Pieper, Lillian Rosa (Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF) and Heiko Vollmer (splitterfilm) will discuss how documentary media can integrate sustainability into their storytelling as a matter of course, and how dialogue between filmmakers and decision-makers can succeed. 

 

The opportunities and challenges of adapting literature for the screen will be explored through the example of Ponyherz, the book series by Usch Luhn. Producer Anette Unger (Leitwolf Film), director Markus Dietrich and Daniela Steiner (Carlsen Verlag) will discuss the collaboration between film and publishing, fan expectations and economic uncertainties. The focus will be on pitfalls in material development, different narrative logics, and challenges involving rights, scheduling and financing – as well as opportunities to reach new audiences, expand the film’s reach and generate fresh creative impulses. 

 

Finally, “Transformation and Resilience Under Pressure” will turn the spotlight on how the industry can respond to crises and structural change. Film technology service provider Cinegate is being wound down in 2026. Frank Kappes will discuss what he has learned from the process and how he sees the future. At Constantin Film, a transformation process was initiated in 2023 following incidents of boundary violations on sets. Paula Poprawa (Constantin Film) and Rebekka Gorges (inclusive media minds) will report on preventive training, codes of conduct and trusted contact persons, as well as how sustainable change can be embedded in organisational structures. 

 

The programme will be complemented on all three days by networking opportunities hosted by MOIN Filmförderung and other partners. All dates, speakers and further information will be published here shortly. 

 

Participation in the Made in Germany events is open to all accredited industry professionals attending FilmFest Hamburg. Industry Accreditation and Industry Accreditation Plus (including access to Explorer and IFDS) are available online.