Name: exground filmfest 39 Wiesbaden 2026
Start: 2026-11-13T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-11-22T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Murnau-Filmtheater Wiesbaden u. a.

exground filmfest

About exground filmfest

Ten days of independent cinema in Wiesbaden: The exground filmfest presents its 39th edition (November 13–22, 2026) of international independent cinema beyond Hollywood logic. The main venue is the Murnau-Filmtheater. Around 250 industry guests, Fair Festival Award nomination – the only Hessian film festival with this award. 39th edition from November 13 to 22, 2026: ten days of independent cinema beyond Hollywood logic at Wiesbaden's Murnau-Filmtheater. International feature film and short film competitions, youth days, country focus, around 250 industry guests. Fair Festival Award nomination as the only Hessian film festival.

Dates 13 Nov — 22 Nov 2026

Venue Wiesbaden (06414)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

exground filmfest — edition 2026

39th exground filmfest in Wiesbaden from November 13 to 22, 2026. Main venue: Murnau-Filmtheater. International feature film competition, short film competition, youth days, country focus. Fair Festival Award nomination – the only Hessian film festival with this award. Around 250 accredited industry guests.

The festival presents itself with the usual section structure: international feature film competitions, short film competition, youth sections, country focus. Detailed program in autumn 2026 on exground.com.

Highlights exground filmfest 2026

39th edition – one of Germany's oldest independent festivals
Fair Festival Award nomination – only Hessian festival
Short Film Competition with a long tradition
Murnau-Filmtheater as the main venue
250 accredited industry guests – industry meeting point

Programme exground filmfest 2026

Program Structure

International Feature Film Competition
Short Film Competition – one of the oldest in Germany
youth days – Films and workshops for young people
Country Focus – each year a different region is curated
African Perspectives, Asia-Pacific, and similar special sections
Accompanying program: filmmaker talks, industry meetups

Venues

Murnau-Filmtheater – Main venue
Other Wiesbaden film venues complement the program

Festival Data

Opening: November 13, 2026 (Friday)
Festival closing: November 22, 2026 (Sunday)
10 festival days
Around 250 industry guests accredited
Fair Festival Award nomination

Full film program and screening times 2026: exground.com

Prices exground filmfest 2026

Single tickets, day passes, and festival passes – prices and sales on the festival website. Industry accreditations separately.

Practical information

Practical information — exground filmfest

Getting There

Train: RB/RE to Wiesbaden Hbf, then bus/tram to the city center. The Murnau-Filmtheater is centrally located. Car: A66 or A3, then Wiesbaden-Mitte.

Tickets

Single tickets, day passes, and festival passes are available via the festival website. Industry accreditations for filmmakers, distributors, and programmers.

Dates

November 13–22, 2026.

Tip

Plan for several days – individual films are often shown only 1–2 times. A festival pass pays for itself after 5–6 films.

Hesse's most independent film festival

The exground filmfest in Wiesbaden is one of Germany's best independent film festivals. What began as a small festival in 1987 is now internationally networked: The 39th edition in 2026 runs from November 13 to 22 and shows international independent cinema that would hardly stand a chance in major commercial distribution. The name "exground" says it all: ex (outside) + ground (ground) = outside the mainstream.

Murnau-Filmtheater as its home

The central venue is the Murnau-Filmtheater, located in the premises of the Deutsche Kinemathek (named after the German silent film director F. W. Murnau, whose estate is managed in Wiesbaden). Other venues in Wiesbaden's film landscape will be added. The combination of a city with a historical film culture and a modern festival is a Wiesbaden specialty.

Fair Festival Award – nominated

The festival is nominated for the Fair Festival Award in 2026 – an award that honors festivals for fair practices regarding filmmakers, employees, and remuneration. exground is the only Hessian film festival with this nomination – a statement about the festival's culture of values.

Industry Festival with 250 Accreditations

Around 250 accredited industry guests – filmmakers, distributors, festival programmers, film journalists – make exground a small but well-connected industry platform. Anyone curating independent films in Germany comes to Wiesbaden in November.

Program Sections

exground works with clearly defined sections that are structured similarly each year:

International Feature Film Competition
Short Film Competition – one of the most traditional in Germany
youth days – film program for young people, workshops, discussions
Country Focus – each year a different country/region as a curated theme
African Perspectives, Asia-Pacific, and similar special sections

The complete 2026 program will be published in autumn 2026 at exground.com.

Wiesbaden – A City of Film Culture

Wiesbaden has a distinct film culture history. The German Film Rating Board (FBW) is based here, the Murnau Foundation manages Germany's most important silent film heritage, and the exground filmfest is the city's most important festival. Visitors to the festival should also visit the Murnau House in the city center.