Fantasy Filmfest Berlin
Germany's largest genre film festival – the Berlin leg at Zoo Palast
About Fantasy Filmfest
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Germany's most important genre film festival
Founded in 1987, the Fantasy Filmfest has been one of Europe's most important genre film festivals ever since. Unlike most German film festivals, it is designed as a touring festival: every September, the festival tours seven German cities, with each city hosting its own festival week. Berlin has been a regular venue for the Berlin leg for many years.
Zoo Palast at Bahnhof Zoo
In Berlin, the festival traditionally takes place at the Zoo Palast – one of Berlin's most historic and beautiful cinemas, located at Hardenbergstraße 29a near Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten (Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district). Opened in 1957, this premiere cinema with its 1100-seat main auditorium and several smaller screening rooms provides an ideal stage for a festival that aims to combine mass appeal with curatorial sharpness.
Program: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Mystery
Each edition features around 40 feature films and 10 short films. The program is curated by the festival director and his team from major international genre film festivals (Sitges, Frightfest, BIFAN, Sundance, SXSW). The focus is on horror, thriller, science fiction, mystery, fantasy, and crime. Many films have their German premiere at the Fantasy Filmfest.
40th Anniversary and "Nights" as a Preview
In 2026, the Fantasy Filmfest will celebrate its 40th anniversary. As a preview, the Fantasy Filmfest Nights will be held in spring 2026 – a condensed format featuring selected highlights, such as "Good Boy" by Jan Komasa, "Nightborn" by Hanna Bergholm, "Obsession" by Curry Barker, "Whistle" by Corin Hardy, and "Rosebush Pruning" by Karim Aïnouz. The organizer is Rosebud Entertainment.
Fantasy Filmfest — edition 2026
The Fantasy Filmfest 2026 celebrates a major anniversary with its 40th edition. The Germany-wide tour runs from September 2nd to 30th, 2026, with one festival week each in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart.
In Berlin, the festival traditionally takes place at the Zoo Palast at Hardenbergstraße 29a in Charlottenburg. The exact Berlin festival dates and the complete program will be published in summer 2026 on fantasyfilmfest.com. Single tickets from €14, festival passes from €150.
Programme Fantasy Filmfest 2026
Tour 2026 – 40th Edition
- Festival Tour: September 2nd to 30th, 2026
- Seven German cities, one festival week per city
- Berlin (Zoo Palast), Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart
Program Structure
- Around 40 feature films from horror, thriller, science fiction, mystery, fantasy, crime genres
- Around 10 short films
- Many German premieres
- Q&As with selected directors
Fantasy Filmfest Nights (Spring 2026)
As a preview, the Nights will be held in spring 2026 with selected highlights, including:
- Good Boy – We Only Want Your Best (Jan Komasa)
- Nightborn (Hanna Bergholm)
- Obsession – You Shall Love Me (Curry Barker)
- Whistle (Corin Hardy)
- Rosebush Pruning (Karim Aïnouz)
Highlights Fantasy Filmfest 2026
- 40th edition of Germany's most important genre film festival
- Tour through seven German cities in September
- Berlin festival week at Zoo Palast in Charlottenburg
- Around 40 feature films + 10 short films per city
- Festival pass from €150 for frequent attendees
Prices Fantasy Filmfest 2026
Single tickets from €14, festival passes from €150. Sales via fantasyfilmfest.com and at the Zoo Palast box office. Festival pass holders have priority for reserved seating.
Practical information — Fantasy Filmfest
Getting there
Take the S-Bahn lines S3, S5, S7, S9 or the U-Bahn lines U2, U9 to Zoologischer Garten (directly opposite the Zoo Palast). Bus lines 100, 200, M45, M46, X9 stop nearby. By car, take Hardenbergstraße; parking is available at Bikinihaus and Europa-Center.
Tickets
Single tickets from €14, festival passes from €150. Sales via fantasyfilmfest.com and at the Zoo Palast box office. Festival pass holders have priority for reserved seating.
Tips
Since the full program is only finalized shortly before the festival, a festival pass is highly recommended: it guarantees access to all screenings. Several screenings per day are realistic – cold coffee and snacks are part of the festival experience. When buying single tickets, booking popular premieres (late weekend slots) on the first day is advisable.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Fantasy Filmfest al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Fantasy Filmfest
Zoo Palast
Hardenbergstraße 29a, 10789 Berlin