cinefest Hamburg

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.