Autumn in Berlin: It's cinema time! Because now it's not just the big summer blockbusters that are showing, but also the first Oscar candidates and promising new discoveries. In addition, Berlin cinemas offer a wide range of opportunities to get to know new and unknown film worlds, especially in November, as numerous film festivals such as "Around the World in 14 Films" and the "Italian Film Festival" are starting.
There is probably even a film festival taking place every day in some Berlin cinema, celebrating Italian, French or Berlin films, the horror genre or simply the top films of all film festivals together.
Tip 1: Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin 2025
The UKRAINIAN FILM FESTIVAL BERLIN 2025 is showing contemporary feature and documentary films from Ukraine under the motto "The time we have left" . It poses the question of what we do with our time. Despite war and global crises, this is not about resignation, but about attitude and depth, with films that reflect exactly that. In addition to a short film competition, it will once again show films with post-colonial perspectives in the countries of the former Soviet Union as well as a retrospective of Ukrainian cinema.
When: 22 - 26 October
Where: various cinemas
UKRAINIAN FILM FESTIVAL BERLIN
Tip 2: Film Restored
Action is the name of the game at Film Restored, the Deutsche Kinemathek's film heritage festival, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Stunts and spectacular action scenes have characterised cinema from its early beginnings. The entire spectrum of this genre will be shown, from early silent films with the star of the time, Harry Piel, to the epic "A Touch of Zen", as well as films that see themselves as political interventions and have sparked social debate.
When: 22 - 26 October
Where: Sinema Transtopia, Lindower Straße 20/22, Wedding / Kinemathek - Halle, Mauerstraße 79, Mitte
Tip 3: Interfilm - International Short Film Festival Berlin
Brevity is the spice of life: The short films at Interfilm don't need long to tell moving stories and show film as an attitude, not just entertainment. This year's programme focuses on courage and hope in dark times, on solidarity and resistance against destructive forces.
When: 4 - 9 November 2025
Where: Various locations
Tip 4: Italian Film Festival Berlin
At the Italian Film Festival Berlin, you can get an impression of current Italian cinema. You'll find out the programme on 24 October - it's sure to have the latest highlights in store for you.
When: 11 - 16 November 2025
Where: Kulturbrauerei, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 5: Lithuanian cinema goes Berlin
LT Kino Goes Berlin 2025: You can see short and feature-length films from Lithuania at the Lithuanian film festival, which is celebrating its 15th edition. The programme includes current productions, highlights from other festivals and classics. You can discuss the films at the get-together and at the Cinema Brunch with Lithuanian specialities on 9 November.
When: 6 - 9 November 2025
Where: Acud Kino & Sputnik Kino, Mitte
Tip 6: Afrikamera
The AFRIKAMERA festival presents current films from Africa and highlights key social and political issues in Africa. Under the motto Change , this year's films revolve around gender roles and scrutinise current structures and power relations.
When: 11 - 16 November 2025
Where: various cinemas
Tip 7: French Film Week
Another festival follows at the end of November. The film week offers a foretaste of the upcoming films from France. You will be able to see in advance which French films will be shown on German screens at a later date. Films from all possible genres are planned, reflecting the diversity of French cinema.
When: 20 - 26 November 2025
Where: various cinemas
Tip 8: Around the world in 14 films
The "Around the World in 14 Films" festival is a cinematic journey around the world. At the festival of festivals you can see excellent films from Cannes or Venice and other international festivals that have not yet been shown in Germany. The first country at Around in the World in 14 Films is Norway with the opening film Sentimental Value starring Stellan Skarsgård.
When: 28 November. - 6 December 2025
Where: Cinema in the Kulturbrauerei, delphi LUX and Neues Off
Tip 9: Winter film festival in the Nikolai quarter
Not quite a film festival, but great fun: only one film is shown at the Winter Film Festival in the Nikolai Quarter. You can watch the legendary Feuerzangenbowle with Heinz Rühmann three times a day if you've made yourself comfortable on the armchairs and sofas in the open air. Of course, you can also get a Feuerzangenbowle at the nostalgic stalls at the Christmas market in the idyllic Nikolai quarter.
By the way: All Pfeifffers with three "F "s in their name get a free cup of Feuerzangenbowle.
When: 20 November 2025 - 1 January 2026
Where: Nikolaiviertel centre
Winter film festival in the Nikolai quarter
Tip 10: Christmas film festival
The Christmas film festival at Movimemento will also get your heart racing. Here you can take a break from roast goose and visiting relatives and watch classic but unconventional films about the festive season.
When: 18 - 21 December
Where: Movimento
Tip 11: Berlinale
The Berlinale may not take place until February, but it is simply Berlin's biggest and most important film festival. for 10 days, the film world looks to Potsdamer Platz, where films in the competition celebrate their glittering premieres and top international stars stand on the red carpet in a flurry of flashbulbs. In addition, there are countless other films from all over the world that will take you to other countries and worlds. It is already clear that the retrospective is dedicated to films from the 1990s.
We report live from the film festival every year in our BerlinaleBlog.
When: 12 - 22 February 2026
Where: Berlinale Palast at Potsdamer Platz and other cinemas
