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Imagine Futures!: Schlüsselbild des 75. Filmfestivals Mannheim-Heidelberg
Design: DAUBERMANN
75th edition · Mannheim & Heidelberg

Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg

5–15 November 2026

Germany's second-oldest film festival turns 75. From 5 to 15 November 2026, the Internationales Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg fills the cinemas of both cities with first and second films by directors at the start of their careers.

What it is

The festival began in 1952 in Mannheim as a culture and documentary film week, second in Germany only to the Berlinale, and since 1994 it has been hosted jointly with neighbouring Heidelberg. Its focus has stayed the same: new directors, shown early. François Truffaut, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch and Krzysztof Kieślowski all screened work here before they were famous. Sascha Keilholz is the artistic director.

What to see

The full 2026 programme has been online since 16 October: 80 films from 50 countries. The presale opens on 19 October.

Opening, Centre Piece and closing
The festival opens on 5 November at Cineplex Mannheim with the German premiere of 'My Notes on Mars' by Lili Horvát, who attends. The Centre Piece is Marine Atlan's debut 'La Gradiva', and 'Congo Boy' by Rafiki Fariala closes the festival on 15 November.
ON THE RISE competition
The main competition, for debut and second films by new directors from around the world, with the festival's biggest prizes.
Hommage: Trine Dyrholm
The Danish actress is honoured on 6 November at 19:00 at the Planken Lichtspiele Mannheim. Three of her films are shown: 'The Dance' (2008), Thomas Vinterberg's 'The Commune' (2016) and 'Queen of Hearts' (2019). Her masterclass on 7 November at 15:30 in the festival lounge at the Karlstorbahnhof Heidelberg is free.
Retrospective: Back to the Futures
Twelve films on utopias and dystopias, from Bresson's 'A Man Escaped' (1956) and Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' to Bertrand Bonello's 'The Beast' (2023).
Nosferatu with live orchestra
A silent-film concert of Murnau's Nosferatu on 7 November, played by the orchestra of the Nationaltheater Mannheim at the OPAL opera house (30 / 20 euros).
Junges Filmfest
Seven films for children, teenagers and families, among them Miyazaki's 'My Neighbour Totoro', with class bookings. Ingo Siegner reads from his Kokosnuss dragon books in Heidelberg on 7 November, and the family day at Stadthaus N1 is on 8 November.
Solarceptors, a VR exhibition
An immersive virtual-reality exhibition at the Kunsthalle Mannheim, part of the Imagine Futures! campaign, on view 2 September to 22 November.
Talks with the filmmakers
Most screenings are followed by a Q&A with the visiting film team; masterclasses and panels run alongside.

The films

The ON THE RISE competition has 16 films, all German premieres, and 'Pianoman' by Felipe Quiroga from Bolivia is a world premiere. Alongside them, a few titles from other sections.

ON THE RISE
  • Big Little ThingsMichelle Zhou
  • Body of GlassNaëmi Ada
  • The Color of the SunXavier Tera
  • Cotton FeverDaniel Blake Schwartz
  • A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter PhaedraJacqueline Lentzou
  • First LightJames J. Robinson
  • GelegenheitsdiebeMate Ugrin
  • The Golden AgeBérenger Thouin
  • The GuestMads Mengel
  • Lovers Sleep AloneMassih Parsaei
  • MemorizuMiiku Sakanishi
  • PianomanFelipe Quiroga
  • The RiverbankEnock Carvalho, Matheus Farias
  • Tear GasUta Beria
  • Union CountyAdam Meeks
  • The World BeforeYoon Dan-bi
Pushing the Boundaries and Filmscapes
  • All of a SuddenRyūsuke Hamaguchi
  • CowardLukas Dhont
  • La Bola NegraJavier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi
  • MoulinLászló Nemes
  • You Don't Belong HereFlorin Șerban
  • I Can't Say No to MyselfHadas Ben Aroya
  • From Inside Out – Die Architektur von Peter ZumthorWim Wenders
  • Club KidJordan Firstman
  • InkDanny Boyle

The anniversary

The 75th edition runs under the motto Imagine Futures!, and the festival rolls out its pink carpet, the anniversary colour. Beyond the festival week it anchors a season across the Rhein-Neckar region, from September, on visions of the future in film, art and society. On 13 November the actor Lars Eidinger plays a DJ set at the Alte Feuerwache Mannheim from 22:00, with tickets sold by the venue.

The prizes

The main awards and what they carry.

International Newcomer Award
main prize of the ON THE RISE competition, for the best direction
30,000 €
Rainer Werner Fassbinder Award
for the best screenplay in the competition
15,000 €
Publikumspreis
voted by the audience
5,000 €
Young Actors Award
acting award, across all sections except the retrospective
10,000 €

Tickets

The festival uses solidarity pricing: you choose what you pay, with no proof needed. In 2026 a single ticket is 8, 12 or 14 euros and a festival pass 60, 85 or 100 euros. There are also multi-tickets for 5 or 10 films. At the Junges Filmfest, children and teenagers up to 18 pay 3.50 euros. Kulturpass holders (Kulturparkett Rhein-Neckar) get in free. From 19 October tickets are sold online, at the Tourist Information in Mannheim (Hauptbahnhof and Paradeplatz), at the Karlstorbahnhof in Heidelberg and at Reservix outlets in the region. Masterclasses, panel talks and the award ceremony are free.

Every film is shown with subtitles: German and English on international titles, English on German films, German on English-language films. So you can follow the programme whichever of the two languages you speak.

Tickets on ReservixPresale from 19 October

Getting there

Since 2019 the festival plays only in cinemas, across the centres of Mannheim and Heidelberg. The two cities are about 20 km apart and 15 to 25 minutes by train; both are on the ICE network, and Mannheim is roughly half an hour from Frankfurt Airport.

The venues
Mannheim
Cineplex Mannheim
N7 17, 68161 Mannheim
Showtimes
Planken Lichtspiele Mannheim
P4 13, 68161 Mannheim
Showtimes
Cinema Quadrat
K1, 2, 68159 Mannheim
Showtimes
Stadthaus N1
N1, 1, Mannheim
Festival venue
Heidelberg
Luxor-Filmpalast Heidelberg
Eppelheimer Straße 6, 69115 Heidelberg
Showtimes
Gloria & Gloriette
Hauptstraße 146, 69117 Heidelberg
Showtimes
Karlstorkino
Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 3, 69126 Heidelberg
Showtimes
Karlstorbahnhof
Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 3, Heidelberg
Festival venue
Cinema, tap for showtimesFestival venue

Common questions

When is the festival in 2026?
From 5 to 15 November 2026, in Mannheim and Heidelberg. It is the 75th edition.
What does a ticket cost?
The festival uses solidarity pricing: in 2026 a single ticket is 8, 12 or 14 euros and a festival pass 60, 85 or 100 euros, your choice. At the Junges Filmfest, children and teenagers up to 18 pay 3.50 euros. Masterclasses, panels and the award ceremony are free.
In which language are the films shown?
With subtitles: German and English on international films, English on German films, German on English-language films.
When can I buy tickets?
Advance sales open on 19 October 2026, online, at the Tourist Information in Mannheim, at the Karlstorbahnhof in Heidelberg and at Reservix outlets in the region. The full programme has been online since 16 October. A streaming selection also starts on 19 October.
Which film opens the festival?
'My Notes on Mars' by Lili Horvát, in its German premiere on 5 November at Cineplex Mannheim. 'Congo Boy' by Rafiki Fariala closes the festival on 15 November.
What is the main award?
The International Newcomer Award, worth 30,000 euros, for the best direction in the ON THE RISE competition.

Facts on this page checked on 16 October 2026.

Sources