AG Kurzfilm strengthens visibility and networking
The Berlinale 2026 (February 12–22) will kick off with a significantly increased presence of German short films: a total of 15 German short film productions will be represented in various sections of the festival—three times as many as last year. The selection includes numerous world premieres and international co-productions, underscoring the growing importance of German short films in the international festival scene.
Alongside its presence at the festival, AG Kurzfilm – the German Short Film Association is once again promoting the visibility and networking of the short film scene. Together with German Films, AG Kurzfilm will present its current project portfolio at the German stand at the European Film Market (EFM, February 12–18). The offering is aimed at international industry representatives as well as filmmakers, producers, distributors, and festival organizers.
Another key industry gathering is the traditional short film reception hosted by the German Short Film Association during the Berlinale. At this event, ver.di presents the 4th Fair Festival Award to the fairest German film festival — an important symbol of fair working conditions and transparent structures in film festivals.
German (co-)productions in the Berlinale program
The 15 German short film productions are represented in five Berlinale sections and reflect the aesthetic, thematic, and production diversity of current short films:
Berlinale Shorts:
GRAFT VERSUS HOST (Germany/Georgia 2026) by Giorgi Gago Gagoshidze, world premiere
MIT EINEM FREUNDLICHEN GRUSS (Germany 2026) by Pavel Mozhar, world premiere
UNIDENTIFIZIERTE UNFLUGOBJEKTE (UUO) (Germany 2026) by Sasha Svirsky, world premiere
Forum Expanded:
EXPRMNTL 4 KNOKKE (Germany 1968) by Claudia von Alemann, Reinold E. Thiel
İKI LABORANTIN YORGUN SAATLERI (THE WEARY HOURS OF TWO LAB ASSISTANTS) (Turkey / Germany / United Kingdom / Croatia 2026) by Burak Çevik, world premiere
KATABASIS (Germany / Italy 2026) by Martin Moolhuijsen, world premiere
MUSCLE (Nigeria / Italy / Germany 2025) by Karimah Ashadu, international premiere
THE RECCE (United Kingdom / Germany 2026) by Daniel Mann, world premiere
THIS DESIRABLE DEVICE (Serbia / Germany 2026) by Mina Simendić, world premiere
THIS SUFFOCATING NOW (Germany 2026) by Vika Kirchenbauer, world premiere
WARNUNGEN AN DIE FERNE ZUKUNFT (Germany 2026) by Juliane Jaschnow, Stefanie Schroeder, world premiere
Forum Special:
LOVE YOUR NAILS! (Germany 2026) by Narges Kalhor, world premiere
MEGATRASHWANNABEBIGSTARXD (Germany 2026) by Ava Leandra Kleber, Elisa Deutloff,
world premiere
Generation 14plus:
HOTEL OBLIQUE (Germany 2026) by Merlin Flügel, world premiere
TEDDY 40:
LIEBE, EIFERSUCHT UND RACHE (Germany 1991) by Michael Brynntrup
New films in the “German Short Films” catalog
Parallel to the film markets in Clermont-Ferrand and Berlin, AG Kurzfilm has expanded its short film catalog “German Short Films” to include current productions. The catalog is updated three times a year—at the beginning of the year, in spring, and in fall. The first 28 films of the new year are now available online. After registration, industry representatives can view the films online.
The 2026 festival calendar has also been reissued, offering a compact overview of key national and international festival dates. It is available for download in digital form and as an updated iCal file. A printed version (as of December 2025) is available at the AG Kurzfilm EFM stand or from the office, while stocks last.
Contact AG Kurzfilm @ EFM / Berlinale (12.-18.02.2026)
Stand Nr. 18 @Martin Gropius Bau
Jutta Wille (wille@ag-kurzfilm.de) | Jana Cernik (cernik@ag-kurzfilm.de) |
Júlia Kühne Escolà (kuehneescola@ag-kurzfilm.de) I Franziska Kache (kache@ag-kurzfilm.de) I Anne Turek (turek@ag-kurzfilm.de) I Felix Völkel (voelkel@kurzfilmtag.com)