Fantasy Filmfest Nights Berlin (April Edition)
Spring edition of Germany's largest genre film festival at Zoo Palast
2026
About Fantasy Filmfest Nights
Fantasy Filmfest Nights — edition 2026
The April 2026 edition condenses 17 feature films and 4 short films into four days at Zoo Palast. The program brings together a cross-section of current international genre cinema: psychological horror, sci-fi action, mystical coming-of-age stories, and Polish auteur genre cinema.
Confirmed films: Obsession (Curry Barker, Opening Film), Good Boy (Jan Komasa, with director's presentation), Desert Warrior (Rupert Wyatt, with Anthony Mackie and Ben Kingsley), Whistle (Corin Hardy, with Dafne Keen and Nick Frost), Mārama (Taratoa Stappard, with Toby Stephens). A mix of visually stunning blockbusters, nasty indie horror, and quirky sci-fi comedies.
Highlights Fantasy Filmfest Nights 2026
- 17 feature films and 4 short films over four days
- Opening film: Obsession (Curry Barker)
- Jan Komasa in person (Good Boy)
- Genre headliners: Desert Warrior (Anthony Mackie/Ben Kingsley), Whistle (Dafne Keen/Nick Frost)
- Zoo Palast as home venue
Programme Fantasy Filmfest Nights 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026 – Opening Night
- Opening Film: Obsession (Curry Barker)
Friday, April 17, 2026
- Several screenings from afternoon until late evening
- Desert Warrior (Rupert Wyatt; Anthony Mackie, Ben Kingsley)
- Whistle (Corin Hardy; Dafne Keen, Nick Frost)
Saturday, April 18, 2026
- Several screenings throughout the day
- Good Boy with a personal presentation by Jan Komasa
- Mārama (Taratoa Stappard; Ariāna Osborne, Toby Stephens)
Sunday, April 19, 2026 – Closing Day
- Final screenings, closing film in the evening
- Komasa presentation part 2
Full schedule with times available at fantasyfilmfest.com.
Prices Fantasy Filmfest Nights 2026
Practical information — Fantasy Filmfest Nights
Getting There
S-Bahn lines S3, S5, S7, S9 or U-Bahn lines U2, U9 to Zoologischer Garten (directly at Zoo Palast). Bus lines 100, 200, M45, M46, X9 stop nearby.
Tickets
Single tickets and festival passes available via fantasyfilmfest.com. Advance sales start a few weeks before the festival begins. Festival pass holders have priority for reserved seats.
Tip
Book popular premieres in the late evening slots on Friday and Saturday early – they are regularly the first position in the festival pass ranking. Those seeing multiple films in one day should allow for longer breaks and bring water/snacks.
Three Seasonalities of a Festival
The Fantasy Filmfest is Germany's largest genre film festival and has been a fixture on the European festival calendar since 1987. In Berlin, it takes place in three different formats: the White Nights in January (intimate winter edition), the Nights in April (more compact spring edition), and the main festival in September (large tour through seven German cities). The spring edition – the Nights – offers a condensed program over an extended weekend and is considered a must-attend event for genre film fans in the capital.
Zoo Palast as Home Venue
Like all Berlin editions of the festival, the spring edition is exclusively shown at Zoo Palast – one of Berlin's most traditional premiere cinemas on Hardenbergstraße near Bahnhof Zoo. Opened in 1957, the cinema with its large auditorium and several smaller screens has been the Berlin home of the Fantasy Filmfest for decades. For the Nights, primarily the large auditorium is used – with premieres that often come directly from festivals like Sitges, Frightfest, or Sundance.
2026 Program: 17 Feature Films and 4 Short Films
In 2026, the April edition will showcase a compact, curated program. The opening film is Obsession by Curry Barker, a psychological horror sensation starring Michael Johnston and Andy Richter, where magical compulsion leads to monstrous consequences. Further highlights:
- Good Boy – Jan Komasa (Oscar-nominated for Corpus Christi) presents his new film in person on April 18/19
- Desert Warrior – Rupert Wyatt with Anthony Mackie and Ben Kingsley
- Whistle – Corin Hardy with Dafne Keen and Nick Frost
- Mārama – Taratoa Stappard with Ariāna Osborne and Toby Stephens
Its Own Subculture
The audience of the Fantasy Filmfest series forms its own Berlin subculture: long-time regular attendees, connected through forums and online meetings, often with festival passes for all three Berlin editions. They applaud during the opening trailers, know the organizers personally, and travel from all over Germany. This makes the festival emotionally different from regular cinema visits – more of a community event than just a film screening.
Where it takes place Fantasy Filmfest Nights
Fantasy Filmfest Nights at a glance
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