17. ALFILM — Arab Film Festival Berlin
Berlin's annual festival for contemporary Arab cinema
About ALFILM
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The most important Arab film festival in the German-speaking world
Since 2010, ALFILM has been the premier destination for contemporary Arab cinema in Germany — and with the relocation of the opening in 2025 to HAU Hebbel am Ufer, the festival has set a new standard programmatically and spatially. The 17th edition from April 22 to 28, 2026 (some sources also mention April 24–29 — official confirmation of the exact start date is pending on the festival website) showcases a program balancing current feature films, a documentary focus, and retrospectives.
Three Sections, One Mission
The ALFILM program 2026 is classically divided into three parts:
- Selection — current feature films, documentaries, and short films from the last two years. The focus here is on artistically demanding cinema addressing contemporary themes.
- Spotlight — the core of the content and curation. The 2026 Spotlight is titled "Sudan: New Projections — Retrospectives, Revolutions, and Restorations" and is dedicated to Sudanese cinema through a dialogue between restored archival works, contemporary productions, and artistic interventions.
- Specials — special programs, film discussions, curated short film blocks, and cross-genre formats that complement the regular sections.
Opening Film: Annemarie Jacir's "Palestine 36"
The festival opens in 2026 with the epic historical drama "Palestine 36" by Palestinian-American director Annemarie Jacir — its German premiere at ALFILM, followed by a nationwide cinema release. Jacir, one of the most renowned voices in contemporary Arab cinema, returns to the Berlin stage where her previous films have already received awards.
More Than Cinema: Discourse, Exhibition, Party
The accompanying program has been a core element of ALFILM for years: numerous masterclasses, panels, and film discussions create the discursive space where films are given a political reading. The exhibition "Sudan Retold" accompanies the Spotlight thematically. For the opening on April 24, 2026, the festival invites guests to Festsaal Kreuzberg for the traditional opening party.
Multi-Site Festival Across Berlin
ALFILM has always been a multi-site festival with partner cinemas in several Berlin districts. The main venue in 2026 is the HAU Hebbel am Ufer in Kreuzberg, complemented by partners such as City Kino Wedding, Kino in der Kulturbrauerei, Sinema Transtopia, Wolf Kino, Spore Initiative, and Gretchen. This spatial distribution is part of the festival's concept: making Arab cinema accessible to a broad, multilingual Berlin audience.
ALFILM — edition 2026
The 17th edition is again a multi-site event: HAU Hebbel am Ufer serves as the main opening venue and festival center, complemented by partner cinemas in several Berlin districts (City Kino Wedding, Kino in der Kulturbrauerei, Sinema Transtopia, Wolf Kino, Spore Initiative, Gretchen). The sectioning follows the proven three-pillar model with a clear focus: the 2026 Spotlight is dedicated to Sudanese cinema at a time when the country is being re-examined politically and film-culturally by a new generation. Restored archival works, contemporary productions, and performances are brought into dialogue.
Programme ALFILM 2026
Program and schedule available at alfilm.berlin/program. Confirmed key points as of May 2026:
Wednesday, April 22 / Friday, April 24, 2026 — Opening HAU Hebbel am Ufer
- Festival kickoff with the German premiere of "Palestine 36" by Annemarie Jacir
- Welcome by ALFILM festival management and HAU
- Followed by an opening reception in the foyer
Main Program (April 22–28, 2026)
- Selection — Feature films, documentaries, and short films from the last two years from the Arab world and its diaspora
- Spotlight: "Sudan: New Projections — Retrospectives, Revolutions, and Restorations" — Focus section with films, performances, and the accompanying exhibition "Sudan Retold"
- Specials — Curated short film blocks, film discussions, special screenings with guests
Accompanying Program
- Several masterclasses with invited filmmakers
- Panels and film discussions for the cinematic and political interpretation of the films
- Exhibition "Sudan Retold" in conjunction with the Spotlight
- Opening party on April 24 at Festsaal Kreuzberg
Venues 2026
- HAU Hebbel am Ufer (Main Venue)
- City Kino Wedding
- Kino in der Kulturbrauerei
- Sinema Transtopia
- Wolf Kino
- Spore Initiative
- Gretchen (Opening Party)
Highlights ALFILM 2026
- Opening film: "Palestine 36" by Annemarie Jacir (German premiere)
- Spotlight: "Sudan: New Projections — Retrospectives, Revolutions, and Restorations"
- Accompanying exhibition "Sudan Retold"
- Multi-site festival in several Berlin cinemas
- Masterclasses, panels, film discussions
- Opening party at Festsaal Kreuzberg on April 24
Prices ALFILM 2026
Single ticket prices as usual for Berlin art-house cinemas (approx. €9–11 per screening). Festival passes and multi-ticket packages available via alfilm.berlin. Opening event and party ticketed separately.
Practical information — ALFILM
Getting There
Main venue: HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Stresemannstr. 29, 10963 Berlin-Kreuzberg (S/U Anhalter Bahnhof or Möckernbrücke). Other venues distributed throughout Berlin — see festival program.
Tickets
Tickets available through the respective venues and the festival website alfilm.berlin. Festival passes and single ticket purchases are possible. Opening film + party are ticketed separately.
Good to Know
Films are in their original language (Arabic) with English and/or German subtitles. Detailed program and showtimes at alfilm.berlin/program. Discussion formats primarily in English or Arabic (with translation). A separate ticket is required for the opening party at Festsaal Kreuzberg.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a ALFILM al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place ALFILM
HAU Hebbel am Ufer + Partner-Kinos
Stresemannstraße 29, 10963 Berlin