cinefest Hamburg
International Festival of German Film Heritage
About cinefest
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Film History Between Fact and Fiction
Visitors to cinefest don't just come for the cinema, but for film archaeology. The festival is Germany's only film festival that systematically dedicates itself to German and European film history. In cooperation with numerous national and international institutions – film archives, cinematheques, universities – CineGraph presents famous classics alongside forgotten works and finds from storage shelves.
The Metropolis Kino in Neustadt
The venue is the traditional Metropolis Kino at Kleine Theaterstraße 10, in the heart of Hamburg's Neustadt. For decades, this cinema has been considered Hamburg's art-house cinema for film heritage and dedicated retrospectives. The auditorium is accessible; four wheelchair spaces are reserved in the back row, and hearing-impaired guests can access subtitled versions via the Greta&Starcks app.
Theme 2026: Film Writes History
The 2026 edition is themed "Film Writes History. History Between Facts and Fictions". How do feature films stage historical events, where do the sources end and the narrative begin — these are the guiding questions structuring the program. Silent film screenings with live musical accompaniment, restored sound films, documentaries, and discussions with film historians, archivists, and restorers are expected.
CineGraph and German Film Heritage
The organizer is CineGraph - Hamburg Centre for Film Research e.V., which is committed to the academic and public engagement with German film heritage. A conference traditionally accompanies the festival, delving deeper into the respective annual theme academically.
Why This Festival is Unique
While other German film festivals focus on premieres and competitions, cinefest does the groundwork of preservation: films that are no longer shown elsewhere are brought to the big screen in Hamburg. Those interested in German cinema before 1945, early sound film, or the film cultures of Central and Eastern Europe will find a program depth here that no other German festival offers.
cinefest — edition 2026
The 2026 edition examines the relationship between film and historiography: How does cinema process historical events? Where does the source end and the narrative begin? The complete program will be published in the weeks before the festival on the CineGraph website.
As in previous years, a scholarly colloquium will accompany the film series, bringing together film historians, restorers, archivists, and filmmakers from several European countries.
Programme cinefest 2026
The complete 2026 program will be published at the festival opening. As in previous years, cinefest will include:
- Silent films with live musical accompaniment
- Restored classics of German and European sound film
- Rediscoveries from European film archives
- International colloquium by CineGraph on the annual theme
- Film discussions with restorers and film historians
Detailed daily program and tickets at hamburg.de/cinefest.
Highlights cinefest 2026
Prices cinefest 2026
Practical information — cinefest
Getting There
U2/U3 Gänsemarkt or S1/S3 Stadthausbrücke, both a few minutes' walk. Reachable from the main train station via U2 in four minutes.
Tickets
Single ticket €9 regular, €6 reduced for children under 16 and members of CineGraph and Metropolis.
Accessibility
Entrance, foyers, cinema hall, and bar are accessible; four wheelchair spaces in the back row. Subtitled versions available via the Greta&Starcks app.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place cinefest
Metropolis Kino
Kleine Theaterstraße 10, 20354 Hamburg
Contact cinefest
cinefest at a glance
History of cinefest
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