| The 97th Academy Awards® were special again this year. For the third time in a row, the German entry was nominated in the Best International Film category. In addition, authors Tim Fehlbaum, Moritz Binder and co-author Alex David received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay for the German production SEPTEMBER 5, Volker Bertelmann was nominated for Best Original Score and Lily Christl for Best Costume Desigen - both of them for CONCLAVE. Gerd Nefzer received a nomination für Best Visual Effects for DUNE:PART TWO. All these nominations for German films and German filmmakers were really good news and already showed the great international interest and the special appreciation abroad for German films and German filmmakers. So again, this year's Academy Awards® were already a great success for the German film industry in the run-up to the ceremony.
In the Best International Feature Film category, THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG by Mohammad Rasoulof was nominated for Germany. At a reception in Los Angeles two days before the awards ceremony on Sunday, March 2, German Films together with MOIN Filmfoerderung celebrated German filmmakers and their projects with a get-together at the beautiful Delphine by W Hollywood Hotel. Around 120 guests came together to celebrate the nominees. Amongst them were the crew of THE SEED OF THE SCARED FIG with producers Mani Tilgner and Rozita Hendijanian from Run Way Pictures, actresses Mahsa Rostami and Setareh Maleki as well as editor Andrew Bird. The crew of SEPTEMBER 5 included writer-director Tim Fehlbaum, writer Moritz Binder, co-author Alex David, producers Thomas Woebke and Philipp Trauer, executive producer Martin Moszkowicz as well as editor Hans-Jörg Weissbrich. CONCLAVE was represented by the nominees Volker Bertelmann and Lisy Christl as well as the director Edward Berger. Due to scheduling conflicts, nominees Mohammad Rasoulof and Gerd Nefzer were only able to arrive the day after the reception. Even though there were just one Oscar® for the German nominees in the end - at this ponit congratulations once again to Gerd Nefzer on his his third Academy Award® - German Films still want to congratulate all the nominees for their work, which has received well-deserved appreciation through the nominations. | |
| In collaboration with Bíó Paradís, Goethe Institute Denmark and the German Embassy German Films organized the 15th edition of German Film Days in Iceland from February 21 to March 2, 2025. The German Film Days in Reykjavik have a long-standing tradition. Every year, outstanding German films from the previous year that have attracted attention at festivals and in cinemas are presented. This year a total of 7 films were shown at screenings. There was also a special screening of Tom Tykwer's RUN LOLA RUN as part of the 70th anniversary of German Films from 2024. See the full list of films: DYING by Matthias Glasner
FROM HILDE WITH LOVE by Andreas Dresen.
RIEFENSTAHL by Andres Veiel
SHE CHEF by Melanie Liebheit und Gereon Wetzel
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG by Mohammad Rasoulof
CUCKOO by Tilman Singer
RUN LOLA RUN by Tom Tykwer | |
| From March 19 to 23, 2025 the 22nd edition of the Sofia Meetings took place as part of the Sofia International Film Festival. German Film co-hosted the opening dinner together with Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB), Connecting Cottbus and the Film Festival Cottbus. The official program included 19 projects in development and 19 projects in the work-in-progress phase. Parallel to the main program, there were numerous offerings such as industry screenings, talks, workshops and panels. Among the projects was the majority German co-production THE PASSPORT by Rakan Mayasi (DE/BE/PS, Mayana Films), which was presented by the producers Zorana Musikic and May Odeh. These were honored with the CHAOS VFX and EWA BG Awards. | |
| The 27th edition of Cartoon Movie took place in Bordeaux, from March 4 to 6. It once again brought all European creativity and diversity to the screen and stage, with daring projects and passionate teams. The pitching event for the animation industry was attended by a total of 838 participants, including 251 buyers, 12.2 percent of whom were newcomers. 55 projects of feature movies from 16 European countries were presented this year. The lineup was spearheaded by France with 19 projects, followed by Germany (7), Norway (5) and Spain (4), while Belgium, Czechia, Ireland and Latvia participate with three films each. Wrapping up the list was Finland with two projects, while Denmark, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Armenia (the latter non-EU Participating Country in the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme) participated with one project each. Led by Czechia and Latvia – country to which Cartoon Movie was dedicating its spotlight this year - with three projects each. Some trends: Adult animation keeps gaining ground. Regarding target groups, films aimed at Young Adults/Adults had risen from 18 percent to 31 percent year-on-year (16 projects). Also, more than half of the selected projects (45 percent) had implemented some elements/procedures towards sustainability. The Producer of the Year prize was jointly awarded to Dream Well Studio (Latvia), Sacrebleu Productions (France) and Take Five (Belgium), coproducers of FLOW, the film by Gints Zilbalodis that has made history after winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in the Academy Awards’ last edition. Presented at Cartoon Movie in 2022, this European co-production was premiered at Cannes Film Festival and recognised at Annecy, the Golden Globes and the European Film Awards, among other festivals and events. These were the 7 German co-production projects presented at Cartoon Movie 2025: THE TWILIGHT WORLD by Werner Herzog, Psyop Filmproduction. CONDENADITOS by Matisse Gonzalez; Studio Seufz. SKIP by Ulysses Filmproduktion. NESSIE JUNIOR by Stephen Donnelly, FFL Film- und Fernseh-Labor Ludwigsburg. COCOBANANA by Will Ashurst, SERU Animation. VALENTINO by Samir Arabzadeh, Zooper Film. THE LAST WHALE SINGER by Reza Memari, Telescope Animation. | |
| From March 20 to 23, 2025 the Festival del Cinema Tedesco took place at the Cinema Quattro Fontane in Rome again. The event is organized in collaboration with the Goethe Institut and the German Embassy in Rome. The festival opened with an almost sold-out screening of ANOTHER GERMAN TANK STORY in the presence of director Jannis Alexander Kiefer, followed by a lively discussion with the audience. Other highlights included the screening of the short film program NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER, in whose context upcoming director Isaac Martínez presented his film BLACK YOUTH, as well as the special screening of LUIGI NONO - DER KLANG DER UTOPIE as part of the newly established cooperation with the Villa Massimo. The festival successfully closed with a screening of VENA, after which a curious audience was able to put their questions to director Chiara Fleischhacker. This year, not only one but two films were awarded the Audience Award: ELBOW by Asli Örzaslan and VENA by Chiara Fleischhacker. Congratulations to the winners! Full program of the Festival del Cinema Tedesco:
ANOTHER GERMAN TANK STORY by Jannis Alexander Kiefer
ELBOW by Asli Örzaslan
NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2024 by various directors
LUIGI NONO - DER KLANG DER UTOPIE by Thomas von Steinaecker
IN GOOD FAITH by Frauke Lodders
TELL THEM ABOUT US by Rand Beiruty
MÜNTER & KANDINSKY by Marcus O. Rosenmüller
VENA by Chiara Fleischhacker | |
| We have an update about the facts & figures: In 2024, 531 German films in 67 countries generated a total box office of 116.2 million Euros and were seen by 15.8 million cinema-goers around the globe. - Find the English version here
- Finde the German version here
- Find the Hitlist of German films 2024 here
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| The focus of the next session for the English-language KINO! FILM SALON online film club on April 13 will be Tim Fehlbaum’s Oscar® nominated history thriller SEPTEMBER 5 with German Actress Leonie Benesch (THE TEACHERS‘ LOUNGE, BABYLON BERLIN, THE CROWN) in the lead cast. The film was the opening film of the Orrizonti Extra section at the Venice International Film Festival in 2024 and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay (Tim Fehlbaum, Moritz Binder, Alex David) at this year’s Academy Awards®. Recently, the drama received ten nominations at the German Film Prize 2025. Our curator Jim Kolmar‘s curational comment on the movie: "SEPTEMBER 5 is a volatile, unusually intimate depiction of the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis. Tim Fehlbaum’s latest is a ticking time bomb of a thriller, told with clockwork narrative precision and whip-smart dialogue. A team of live TV sports broadcasters find themselves suddenly documenting an act of , and use the opportunity to cover the unfolding events in what soon becomes a historic media moment.
With deft editing, breakneck pacing and an idiosyncratic international cast, SEPTEMBER 5 is a lean, gripping glimpse at a pivotal shift in how we consume information, what it takes to convey truth, and the desperate means employed by those empowered to do so. The film garnered many international accolades, including an academy award nomination, and it’s easy to see why." Mark you calendars and don’t miss the chance to discuss SEPTEMBER 5 with special guest Moritz Binder in attendance. RSVP here Date and time: Sunday, April 13th at 11:00am – 12:00pm PT, 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET, 8:00pm – 9:00pm CET.
Hosted by Jim Kolmar KINO! FILM SALON is a production of Telescope Film, in collaboration with the German Film Office Trailer here | |
| Episode 76 - April 17, 2025:
Actress Lea Drinda joined us in our latest Podcast episode to talk about the many things that make her happy, Paella, books and movies, her favorite project so far - BECOMING CHARLIE - and the pleasure to just be. And on top she had some great talent recommendations. You can find all of the episodes on our website and wherever podcasts are available. SHORT TAKE on Instagram! | |
| Episode 5 - April 8, 2025:
For our latest episode about comedy we had a wide-ranging talk with casting agent Iris Baumüller: About loving the characters and taking them seriously, that special sense of timing, the inclusive casting process for WEIL WIR CHAMPIONS SIND, AI and her wish to cast a real love story. Episode 6 - April 29, 2025:
How did the talk with Film critic Antje Wessels end up in a Liam Neeson appreciation? Comedy, that’s how. We talked about respect for films and filmmakers when writing reviews, the comedy genre in general and favorite scenes from films such as FESTE & FREUNDE or BRIDESMAIDS! You can find all of the episodes on our website and wherever podcasts are available. DEEP DIVE GENRE on Instagram! | |
| UPDATE!!
Future Present – German-Israeli Co-Production Pitching at Festival de Cannes
Join German Films, Produktionsallianz and the Israeli producer delegation for an exclusive pitching and networking event at Cannes! "Future Present" connects emerging producers with industry experience to foster meaningful collaborations and explore new co-production opportunities. Producers are invited to submit their projects for pitching sessions, where they can engage with like-minded peers, discuss industry challenges, and build global partnerships essential for the future of cinema. Selected participants will gain direct access to industry professionals, participate in one-on-one meetings, and join discussions on innovative production, financing, and storytelling strategies. You can apply now and submit your project by April 14, 2025 to germanisraelfilms@gmail.com with: - Film Title & Logline
- Short Synopsis
- Secured Funding Details
- Producer & Director C.V.
Not pitching? You’re still welcome to join, listen in, and network! Just send your name in advance. A Marché du Film or Festival de Cannes badge is required for entry. Call for submissions: Golden Panda Awards
Organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the People's Government of Sichuan Province, the Gold Panda Awards is an international cultural award for promoting humanistic exchanges and encouraging dialogues through film and television productions with the giant panda as a cultural symbol. This year's event will feature four categories: Film, TV Drama, Documentary, and Animation. It seeks submissions of outstanding film and television works that have been or will be broadcast, released, or screened in one or more countries (regions) between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025. Deadline is April 25, 2025. All information, terms and conditions and the submission form can be found here. Call for submissions at Conecta FICTION & ENTERTAINMENT
Conecta FICTION & ENTERTAINMENT is an international professional market focused on the creation, development, production, financing, broadcasting, marketing and commercialization of television content, both scripted and unscripted, positioned within the top 10 international tv markets in the audiovisual industry. The market will take place from June 16-19, 2025 in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The call for projects are now open, deadlines are from April 2-8, 2025. All information, terms and conditions can be found here. Call for Projects at FEST – Pitching Forum
FEST – Pitching Forum is an international competition for film projects and a key event for financing and co-production. It focuses on providing opportunities for project development, funding, support, and co-production. The Pitching Forum is divided into two phases: Training Sessions (June 24–26, 2025) – Held exclusively in person in Espinho, Portugal, for representatives of the selected projects. Final Pitch Sessions (June 27–28, 2025) – Conducted both in person (Espinho, Portugal) and online. FEST – Pitching Forum is accepting submissions in the following categories: - Feature Gems – Feature films in early development
- Work in Progress – Feature films in post-production
- Make It Short – Short films at any stage of development
- Series – Series projects at any stage
Submit your project here with our exclusive waiver code SWGFILMS_PF2025 granting a 50% discount on the submission fee. All information, terms and conditions can be found here. | |
| Awards for German productions and co-productions at Vilnius. | |
| International releases of German films in April 2025 supported by the German Films Distribution Support program: AKIKO - THE FLYING MONKEY in Poland (Distributor: Filmowa Warszawa, World Sales: Loco Films, Theatrical Release: April 11, 2025, Grant: 5,000 €)
DYING in Italy (Distributor: Satine Film, World Sales: The Match Factory, Theatrical Release: April 3, 2025, Grant: 15,000 €)
FÜHRER AND SEDUCER / GOEBBELS AND THE FÜHRER in Hungary (Distributor: ADS Service, World Sales: Beta Film, Theatrical Release: April 24, 2025, Grant: 6,000 €)
FÜHRER AND SEDUCER / GOEBBELS AND THE FÜHRER in Japan (Distributor: At Entertainment, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: April 11, 2025, Grant: 13,000 €)
GREETINGS FROM MARS in Switzerland (Distributor: DCM Film Distribution, World Sales: -, Theatrical Release: April 10, 2025, Grant: 7,000 €)
RIEFENSTAHL in Serbia (Distributor: MCF MegaCom Film, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: April 3, 2025, Grant: 2,000 €)
RIEFENSTAHL in the Netherlands (Distributor: Imagine Film Distributie Nederland, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: April24, 2025, Grant: 14,000 €)
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG in Ukraine (Distributor: EPO Molodist, World Sales: Films Boutique, Theatrical Release: April 24, 2025, Grant: 4,490 €)
THE SUPER ELFKINS in Bulgaria (Distributor: Pro Films, World Sales: Sola Media, Theatrical Release: April 11, 2025, Grant: 7,000 €)
THE LIGHT in Greece (Distributor: The Film Group, World Sales: Beta Film, Theatrical Release: April 24, 2025, Grant: 4,000 €)
WHAT MARIELLE KNOWS in Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Distributor: DCM Film Distribution, World Sales: Lucky Number, Theatrical Release: April 17, 2025, Grant: 6,000 €) Please note: Correct at time of going to press. Changes may occur at any time. | |
| Contact:
Angela Sonntag (Head of Press & Public Relations) | |
| German Films Service + Marketing GmbH
Herzog-Wilhelm-Straße 16
80331 München/Deutschland Tel +49-89-59 97 87-0
Fax +49-89-59 97 87-30 | |
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