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Introduction to the film festival

Film Festival Highlights
The Berlin International Film Festival (hereafter referred to as “Berlinale”) is organised by the Kulturveranstaltungen des Bundes in Berlin GmbH. The Berlinale is a major public cultural event and, with over 330,000 tickets sold and the participation of around 20,000 professional visitors from more than 100 countries, including more than 3,500 journalists, it is one of the international film industry’s most important events. The Berlinale programme consists of around 400 films and comprises the Official Programme (Competition, Encounters, Berlinale Shorts, Panorama), the Generation and Perspektive Deutsches Kino sections, as well as the Forum, which is organised independently by the Arsenal - Institute for Film and Video Art. Films can be submitted to one or more of the sections mentioned above. The person responsible for the accuracy of the information given in the online film submission form (hereinafter called “the submitter”) selects the appropriate section(s) during the film submission process. The Berlinale is a FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) accredited festival and is subject to its guidelines.

Awards

Golden Bear, Silver Bears, GWFF Best First Feature Award, Berlinale Documentary Award, Teddy Awards、Award for Best Film, Award for Best Director, Special Jury Award, GWFF Best First Feature Award, Berlinale Documentary Award, Teddy Awards、GWFF Best First Feature Award, Berlinale Documentary Award, Teddy Awards, Panorama Audience Awards、GWFF Best First Feature Award, Berlinale Documentary Award, Teddy Awards, Caligari Film Prize、Crystal Bears, Awards of the Generation International Juries, GWFF Best First Feature Award, Berlinale Documentary Award, Teddy Awards、Golden Bear, Silver Bear,Berlin EFA Nominee, Teddy Award、Compass-Perspektive-Award, Kompagnon-Fellowship, GWFF Best First Feature Award, Berlinale Documentary Award, Teddy Awards, Heiner Carow Prize

Rules

Genre ：Action Comedy War Science fiction Ethics Terror Thriller Violence Adventure Crime Family Music Love Magic Fantasy Shootout Suspense Youth Inspirational Literary Biography Western Drama others Documentary
Subject ：Unlimited
Video Format ：MPEG4 DCP MOV MPEG

Only films that have been formally submitted can be considered for selection.

Film registrations are accepted exclusively online.

Submission deadlines (the following deadlines must be met without exception):

Films which have been submitted and viewed for previous editions of the Berlinale may not be registered again.

Only films completed within the 12 months prior to the start of the festival may be registered.

World premieres are preferred in all sections. However, except for German films, a theatrical release as well as a festival participation in in the main country of origin will be accepted. European premieres are considered only by the sections Panorama, Generation, and Forum. German premieres are not eligible. Kindly note the respective premiere status minimum requirement of each section. Further information on the definition of the various premiere statuses can be found in the FAQ.

While feature-length films need a minimum running time of 60 min, Berlinale Shorts accepts films up to 30 min, short films for Generation will be accepted up to 20 min.

Series are programmed by process of invitation to submit.

The Festival Director reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines individually.

Every submitter will receive a written notification about the result of the selection screening. Due to the large number of submissions received, we are unable to provide individual feedback on selection decisions.

Evaluation

Jury Profile
Jury Name Judge photos Jury Profile

Authorization type

    Proxy Submission

Duration (several sessions)

    76

Film Festival Features

  • Red Carpet
  • Celebrity Guest
  • Filmscreen
  • Cash prize
  • Trophy
  • Copyright transactions
  • Prize
  • Certificate

Dates & Deadlines

  • 2025-09-01
    Submission start time

  • 2025-10-20
    Deadline for feature films

  • 2025-11-03
    Short film deadline

  • 2025-11-03
    Submission end time

  • 2026-01-20
    Finalist notification start time

  • 2026-01-20
    Finalist notification end time

  • 2026-02-12
    Award ceremony start time

  • 2026-02-22
    Award ceremony end time

Categories and fees

  • Competition
    Video length ：60 - 240
    Accepted formats: DCP or QuickTime ProRes. 35mm or other formats only upon request. Eligible are feature films and documentaries of at least 60 minutes running time which are intended for theatrical release. have not participated at any international film festival. A presentation in the country of origin will be tolerated. A prior presentation at an online festival is permitted as long as the streamings were only accessible in the country of origin (geoblocking). have not been released commercially other than in their country of origin. have neither been presented on television nor on the internet/VOD. In case of international co-productions the main country of production will be considered as country of origin. World premieres are preferred (general information on premiere status). German films have to be world premieres to be eligible for the Competition.

    2025/10/20
    Deadline for feature films

    Standard: 200 Dollar

    Student： 200 Dollar

    Not available
  • Generation （Feature Film）
    Video length ：60 - 240
    Accepted formats: DCP or QuickTime ProRes. 35mm or other formats only upon request. Eligible for Generation are feature-length films (at least 60 minutes running time) which have not been released in Europe (for European films: except country of origin, this does not apply to German films). have not been screened at any European film festival; A presentation at festivals in the country of origin (except for German films) will be tolerated. A prior presentation at an online festival is permitted as long as the streamings were only accessible outside of Europe / in the country of origin (geoblocking). have neither been broadcast nor presented on the internet/VOD other than in their country of origin (except for German films). In case of international co-productions the main country of production will be considered as country of origin. World premieres are preferred (general information on premiere status). German films applying for Generation need to be a European premiere as minimum requirement and may not have been presented publicly in Germany (festival, theatrical release, TV, Internet, VOD). The Artistic Director of the festival reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines.

    2025/10/20
    Deadline for feature films

    Standard: 200 Dollar

    Student： 200 Dollar

    Not available
  • Berlinale Shorts
    Video length ：1 - 30
    Eligible for the Berlinale Shorts competition are fiction, documentary, animation, hybrid and experimental films, which fulfil the following criteria: maximum length of 30 min (including credits). have not participated at any international film festival. A presentation in the country of origin will be tolerated. A prior presentation at an online festival is permitted as long as the streamings were only accessible in the country of origin (geoblocking). have not been broadcast nor presented on the Internet/VOD. World premieres are preferred (general information on premiere status). German films have to be World Premieres to be eligible for Berlinale Shorts Accepted formats are: DCP or QuickTime ProRes. 35mm or other formats only upon request. The Artistic Director of the festival reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines.

    2025/11/03
    Short film deadline

    Standard: 90 Dollar

    Student： 90 Dollar

    Not available
  • Panorama
    Video length ：60 - 200
    Eligible films for Panorama are feature films and documentaries of at least 60 minutes running time which have not been released in Europe other than in their country of origin. have not been screened at any other German or European film festival. A presentation at festivals in the country of origin (except for German films) will be tolerated. A prior presentation at an online festival is permitted as long as the streamings were only accessible outside of Europe / in the country of origin (geoblocking). have neither been broadcast nor presented on the internet/VOD other than in their country of origin (except German films). are available in the formats DCP or QuickTime ProRes. 35mm or other formats only upon request. Television productions are only eligible if they are intended for a theatrical release. In case of international co-productions the main country of production will be considered as the country of origin. World premieres are preferred (general information on premiere status). German films applying for Panorama need to be a European premiere as minimum requirement and may not have been presented publicly in Germany (festival, theatrical release, TV, Internet, VOD). The Artistic Director of the festival reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines.

    2025/10/20
    Deadline for feature films

    Standard: 200 Dollar

    Student： 200 Dollar

    Not available
  • Perspectives（Feature）
    Video length ：60 - 200
    To be considered a debut fiction feature film, the director must not have previously made a fiction film with a running time of over 60 minutes that has been screened publicly (at a festival, in the cinema, on television, on the internet/VOD). This also applies to previous fiction films they have co-directed. However, any documentaries made previously by the director (including feature-length documentaries) do not affect the eligibility.

    2025/10/20
    Deadline for feature films

    Standard: 200 Dollar

    Student： 200 Dollar

    Not available
  • Forum
    Video length ：60 - 200
    Eligible films for Forum are feature films and documentaries of at least 60 minutes running time which have not been released in Europe other than in their country of origin. have not been screened at any other German or European film festival. A presentation at festivals in the country of origin (except for German films) will be accepted. A prior presentation at an online festival is permitted as long as the streamings were only accessible outside of Europe / in the country of origin (geoblocking). have neither been broadcast nor presented on the internet / VOD other than in their country of origin (except German films). are available in the formats DCP or QuickTime ProRes. 35mm or other formats only upon request. are meant to be released in film theatres. In case of international co-productions the main country of production will be considered as the country of origin. World premieres are preferred (general information on premiere status). German films applying for Forum need to be a European premiere as minimum requirement and may not have been presented publicly in Germany (festival, theatrical release, TV, Internet, VOD). The head of the Forum section reserves the right to settle any cases not covered by the regulations. Forum Expanded is a curated programme upon invitation only and does not receive submissions.

    2025/10/20
    Deadline for feature films

    Standard: 200 Dollar

    Student： 200 Dollar

    Not available
  • Generation （Short Film）
    Video length ：1 - 20
    Running times Berlinale Shorts: 30' or less Generation: 20' or less Perspektive Deutsches Kino: 30' till less than 60' (German films only)

    2025/11/03
    Short film deadline

    Standard: 90 Dollar

    Student： 90 Dollar

    Not available

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