European Film Festival Göttingen
47th Edition – European Cinema at the Lumière and Méliès Art House Cinemas
About European Film Festival Göttingen
Tradition Since 1979
The European Film Festival Göttingen was launched in 1979 and quickly developed into an important platform for European auteur cinema in Southern Lower Saxony. For over four decades, the festival has pursued a consistent programming philosophy: films that receive too little visibility in the commercial distribution chain are presented here to a cinematically interested audience.
Arthouse Cinemas as Venues
The Lumière and Méliès cinemas are the main venues for the festival. Both are among the most dedicated arthouse cinemas in Lower Saxony and stand for a sophisticated, curated film program. The atmosphere of the arthouse cinemas – smaller auditoriums, intimate focus on the film, personal encounters with filmmakers – perfectly matches the festival character and distinguishes the experience from multiplex cinemas.
New German Cinema
A dedicated section is devoted to current German cinema. Under the title New German Cinema, the festival showcases the most exciting new productions of the year, giving German auteur cinema beyond big comedies and mainstream productions the stage it deserves. This section is an important meeting point for both the interested audience and filmmakers and film scholars.
Short Film Competition Mach mal halblang
The short film competition 'Mach mal halblang' (Take it easy) is a special feature of the Göttingen festival. Young filmmakers and students present their short films to an expert jury, which awards prizes and thus opens up career opportunities. The title of the competition winks ironically at the genre of short films and its specific demands.
Film Discussions and Accompanying Program
Accompanying the screenings, there are film discussions – with directors, screenwriters, actors, or film scholars. These encounters deepen the understanding of the films shown and are an essential element of the festival culture, differentiating it from a regular cinema visit.
European Film Festival Göttingen — edition 2026
The 2026 festival edition is the 47th since 1979 and continues the established programming policy. The curated selection presents European auteur films that have little visibility in regular cinema distribution. Thus, the festival appeals to a sophisticated audience seeking cinematic diversity beyond the mainstream.
The New German Cinema section and the Mach mal halblang short film competition are integral parts of the festival. They provide a platform for current German cinema and emerging filmmakers that is rarely found elsewhere. The film discussions after the screenings deepen understanding and create encounters between the audience and filmmakers.
Programme European Film Festival Göttingen 2026
The complete 2026 program will be published in autumn 2026 on filmfestival-goettingen.de. The structure follows the proven cornerstones of previous years:
Venues
- Kino Lumière Göttingen
- Kino Méliès Göttingen
Sections
- European Feature Films (Competition and Out of Competition)
- Short Films from Europe
- New German Cinema – Current German Auteur Cinema
- Short Film Competition Mach mal halblang for Emerging Talent
Accompanying Program
- Film discussions with directors and filmmakers
- Talks with screenwriters and actors
- Lectures by film scholars
- Award ceremonies for the competition sections
Highlights European Film Festival Göttingen 2026
- 47th edition since 1979
- Venues: Lumière and Méliès arthouse cinemas
- New German Cinema section with current productions
- Mach mal halblang short film competition for emerging talent
- Film discussions with filmmakers
Prices European Film Festival Göttingen 2026
Practical information — European Film Festival Göttingen
Venue
Kino Lumière and Kino Méliès, 37073 Göttingen.
Getting There
By train to Göttingen Hauptbahnhof (main station), both cinemas are near the city center. By car via the A7 motorway; parking in the city center multi-storey car parks.
Date 2026
November 2026. The exact date will be announced by the organizer in autumn.
Tickets
Tickets are available at the cinema box offices and via the festival website. Current information at filmfestival-goettingen.de.
Organizer
European Film Festival Göttingen. Program overview at filmfestival-goettingen.de.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.