The 2026 Berlinale is being hailed as a “festival of resurgence,” according to German Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer, who announced a significant increase in public funding for the German film industry.
Film financing is set to double, reaching €250 million. In a move aimed at further strengthening the domestic market, streaming platforms will also be required to meet a statutory minimum investment quota, encouraging more productions in Germany.
While the festival’s funding outlook is robust, the presence of major Hollywood stars was more subdued this year. Although numerous international film figures attended the opening ceremony, the number of A-list celebrities has declined – a trend that organisers note does not reflect on the quality or relevance of the films being showcased.
As always, the Berlinale remains a politically engaged festival. The programme features numerous films with political themes, and the red carpet has once again served as a platform for messages advocating women’s rights, opposing racism, and expressing solidarity with Iran. However, the 2026 edition has also been widely condemned for its silence on Gaza. Earlier this month, over 80 prominent filmmakers and actors, including Oscar-winning actors Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton, issued a statement slamming the Berlin Film Festival for its “institutional silence” and expressing their “dismay” at its “involvement in censoring artists who oppose Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.”
Alongside Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale ranks among Europe’s largest and most prestigious film festivals, and it remains the continent’s biggest public festival in terms of attendance. In 2025, the event recorded 336,000 tickets sold.
This year’s edition honoured Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, winner of the 2023 Oscar for her role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” with an Honorary Golden Bear for her lifetime achievement. A total of 22 films are competing for the Golden Bear in the main competition. The festival opened with the Afghan film “No Good Men,” marking a strong statement in director Tricia Tuttle’s second year at the helm.
Beyond the main competition, numerous sections are showcasing films from around the world, including three Luxembourgish co-productions from the production company Amour Fou. The Austrian-German-Luxembourgish co-production “Die Blutgräfin” (“The Blood Countess”) by Berlin-based cult director Ulrike Ottinger has been selected for the “Berlinale Special Gala” section. The films “Roya” and “Die Liebhaberinnen” (“Women as Lovers”) are also being screened during the festival.
At a Luxembourg evening held at the embassy in Berlin, Prime Minister Luc Frieden underscored the importance of upholding core values in politically uncertain times. He noted that film, as a medium, carries the responsibility of representing these values and bringing socially relevant topics to the screen.
In a post on his Instagram account, Frieden reiterated his pride in Luxembourg’s film sector and its international co-production work, affirming the country’s continued support for the industry and its creative talents. He also shared an encounter with British-Kosovar singer Dua Lipa during the event.
The Berlinale runs until 22 February, offering a diverse range of films and genres for discovery in Berlin.
