French Film Days Tübingen | Stuttgart

French Film Days — Tübingen's Gateway to the Francophone World

The French Film Days Tübingen | Stuttgart is the largest German film festival consistently dedicated to Francophone cinema. Since 1984 — the 43rd edition runs in 2026 — Filmtage Tübingen e.V. curates a dense program of French, Belgian, Swiss, and African Francophone productions every year at the end of October. Over four decades, the festival has become the most important platform for Francophone film in Germany and a meeting point for the German-French film and cultural scene.

What You'll Experience

Eight days of Francophone cinema in its original version with German subtitles: feature films, documentaries, short films, animation. The focus is on debut and second films by young filmmakers — the festival is a place for discovery. In addition, there are retrospectives, thematic focuses (a different focus country from the Francophone world each year), film discussions with attending filmmakers, school events, teacher training, and a lively festival center.

The Prizes

Two main prizes shape the festival: The Filmtage Tübingen Prize is awarded in the International Competition for the best new Francophone films. The German-French Youth Jury Prize is presented by a binational jury of young film enthusiasts — a special feature that also makes the festival a space for learning and exchange. In addition, audience awards and special prizes are presented.

Tübingen, Stuttgart, and More

The main venue is Tübingen with its city center cinemas — Kino Museum, Atelier, Arsenal — which run a dense daily program together during the festival period. In Stuttgart, the festival runs concurrently at the Delphi Arthauskino (Tübinger Straße) with a curated selection. Further partner programs take place in Reutlingen and Rottenburg. Thus, the festival radiates regionally and makes Francophone cinema accessible throughout Baden-Württemberg.

A Festival with a Stance

The festival is not just a film screening — it is a cultural and political actor. It promotes the French language, fosters German-French exchange, brings school classes to the cinema, invites filmmakers from African Francophonie, and keeps the spotlight on Belgian and Swiss cinema, which is otherwise rarely seen in Germany. The mix of competition, focus country, school events, and festival center gives the event its unmistakable character.