75th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg

An Institution for Newcomers

The International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg (IFFMH) was founded in 1952 — just two years after the Berlinale, making it Germany's second-oldest film festival. What makes it unique: it has always focused almost exclusively on directorial debuts and second feature films. Those shown here have a real chance of being featured at major festivals. The list of discoveries is legendary: François Truffaut, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Jim Jarmusch, Atom Egoyan, Lars von Trier, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Bahman Ghobadi — all had one of their first international stages in Mannheim.

75 Years — 2026 Anniversary Edition

In 2026, the festival celebrates its 75th anniversary, making it one of Germany's few cultural brands that has existed continuously from the early Federal Republic to the present day. The festival is currently led by an international team based in Mannheim. The films will be shown over eleven festival days in several cinemas in both cities — in Mannheim, at the Cinema Quadrat and Stadthaus N1, among others; in Heidelberg, at the Karlstorkino in Südstadt and at venues in the Old Town.

Program Structure

The centerpiece is the "ON THE RISE!" competition — first and second films by directors who have not yet established themselves. In addition, there is the "Cutting Edge Talent Camp" (a development program for emerging filmmakers), the "Pushing the Boundaries" series (formally experimental works), film discussions with the directors, a Young Jury composed of students from Baden-Württemberg universities, and since 2024, a streaming service that shows selected films nationwide parallel to the festival.

Mannheim and Heidelberg — The Twin City Model

The division between two cities has grown historically and is also programmatic: Mannheim, the vibrant industrial and working-class city in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region; Heidelberg, the romantic university and tourist city. Both belong to the state of Baden-Württemberg and are part of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. A festival shuttle connects the venues — typically, there are three to four screenings in each city per day. You can choose to focus on one city or travel between the two (a 20-minute S-Bahn ride).

Imagine Futures — The Pre-Campaign

In September 2026, the "Imagine Futures" cultural campaign will launch in both cities — posters, film screenings in libraries, preliminary talks with curators. The festival management aims to increase the visibility of the 75th anniversary and anchor the festival more firmly in the urban consciousness of both cities.