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 2024
The UKRAINIAN FILM FESTIVAL BERLIN 2024 is showing films from Ukraine that are often characterised by the effects of war under the motto "The Art of Being Free". It is a platform that gives Ukrainian filmmakers a stage and at the same time addresses important political issues. The festival introduces you to the latest Ukrainian auteur cinema and highlights decolonisation processes in Ukraine and other former Soviet states such as Armenia and Georgia. It also celebrates the 100th birthday of filmmaker Serhii Parajanov by showing his poetic masterpiece The Colour of the Pomegranate - arguably one of the most beautiful films of all time.
When: 23-27 October
Where: Colosseum cinema, Prenzlauer Berg
UKRAINIAN FILM FESTIVAL BERLIN
Tip 2: Korea Independent Film Festival
The 8th. Korea Independent Film Festival shows ten selected Korean independent films. The festival opens with "A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea" by Mi-young Kim, a film about complicated human relationships, followed by other films such as "a Wild Roomer" and documentary works such as "Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV". Older Korean independent films will also be presented. And actor Jong-hwan Park, known from "The Boys Who Cried Wolf", will be present at Babylon as a guest of honour.
When: 25 October - 4 November 2024
Where: Babylon, Mitte
Korea Independent Filmfestival
Tip 3: Interfilm - International Short Film Festival Berlin
Happy Birthday Interfilm. The Interfilm short film festival turns 40 years old. This must be celebrated with great short films from all over the world. The focus is on the body. And to mark its milestone birthday, the festival is also looking back to its origins in the wild Berlin of the 1980s.
When: 5 - 11 November 2024
Where: Different locations
Tip 4: Italian Film Festival Berlin
You can get an impression of current Italian cinema at the Italian Film Festival Berlin. To close the festival, the Italian funk-jazz band Calibro 35 will be playing pieces by Ennio Morricone, the master of film music, on 17 November.
When: 12 - 17 November 2024
Where: Kulturbrauerei, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 5: Lithuanian cinema goes Berlin
LT Kino Goes Berlin 2024: short and feature-length films from Lithuania can be seen at the Lithuanian Film Festival. The programme includes current productions, highlights from other festivals and classics. This year you can discover Lithuanian short films directed by women at the FEMALE SHORTS. You can talk about the films at the get-together and at the Cinema Brunch with Lithuanian specialities.
When: 8 - 10 November 2024
Where: Acud Kino & Sputnik Kino, Mitte
Tip 6: Mauerfilmfest
To mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. To mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Berlin Wall Foundation is showing rarely shown short films, documentaries and feature films about the Berlin Wall. On the anniversary day, over 25 short films will be presented in four thematic sections: Building the Wall, Fear & Mistrust, Everyday Life with the Wall and Fall of the Wall & Transformation. There will also be a special children's and youth programme on Sunday
When: 9 - 10 November 2024
Where: Filmtheater Colosseum
Tip 7: Afrikamera
The AFRIKAMERA festival presents current films from Africa and highlights key social and political issues in Africa. This year's focus "BELIEVE" is on films that deal with faith, spirituality and self-empowerment. They are complemented by current African cinema highlights and special programmes such as "BLACK JEWS - BETA ISRAEL" and a Ciné concert. The opening film is the family drama "The Village Next to Paradise", the debut film by Somali director Mo Harawe, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
When: 12 - 17 November 2024
Where: Kino Arsenal
Tip 8: French Film Week
Another festival follows at the end of November. The film week offers a foretaste of the upcoming films from France. You can see in advance which French films will be shown on German screens later. Films from all possible genres are planned, reflecting the diversity of French film.
When: 21 - 27 November 2024
Where: Cinema Paris, Kurfürstendamm 211, Charlottenburg and other cinemas
Tip 9: Around the world in 14 films
The festival"Around the World in 14 Films" 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 screened in Germany. Among the first films that have already been announced is The Seed of the Sacred Fig Tree by Mohammad Rasoulof, which is the German entry in the selection for the Oscar race.
When: 29 November. - 7 December 2023
Where: Kino in der Kulturbrauerei, delphi LUX and Neues Off
Tip 10: 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 film 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 Nikolaiviertel.
By the way: All Pfeifffers with three "F "s in their name get a free cup of Feuerzangenbowle
When: 20 November 2024 - 1 January 2025
Where: Nikolaiviertel Mitte
Winter-Film-Fest at Nikolaiviertel
Tip 11: Berlinale
The Berlinale doesn't start 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 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. We report live from the film festival every year in our BerlinaleBlog.
When: 13 - 23. February 2025
Where: Berlinale Palast at Potsdamer Platz and other cinemas
