40th Braunschweig International Film Festival

40 Years of Filmfest Braunschweig

The Braunschweig International Film Festival was founded in 1986, making it the oldest film festival in Lower Saxony. The 40th edition in 2026 is a festival anniversary – an occasion that looks both back and forward: back to four decades of European cinema in Braunschweig, and forward to a festival structure that has continuously evolved.

Focus: European Cinema

With around 70 feature and short films over six days, the focus is on European productions – supplemented by selected international contributions. The festival presents feature films, documentaries, short films, animation, genre films, and special series, each with its own competition categories. The festival awards are among the coveted accolades in the German festival landscape.

Industry Meeting for Lower Saxony

With around 27,500 visitors annually and approximately 300 industry representatives, the Filmfest also serves as a central platform for the film landscape in Lower Saxony and Northern Germany. Industry events, funding presentations, networking formats, and workshop talks complement the public program.

Opening Film Concert

A specialty of the Braunschweig Film Festival is the close connection between film and live music. For the 40th anniversary, a specially curated film concert will open the festival on November 9, 2026 – a highlight that is set to particularly shape the anniversary edition.