Green Visions Potsdam Film Festival

A Festival with a Clear Mission

While most film festivals focus on genres or countries of origin, Green Visions Potsdam has a clearly defined theme: climate, environment, sustainability. The festival screens films that not only inform but also show pathways to action — and supplements each screening with discussions involving scientists, filmmakers, and activists. The third edition in 2026 continues this approach.

Dieter Kosslick as Festival Director

Festival director is Dieter Kosslick — director of the Berlinale from 2001 to 2019 and one of the most influential figures in European film festival operations over the last two decades. With him at the helm, Green Visions Potsdam has quickly established itself as a serious film festival. Kosslick brings his network, experience, and intellectual sharpness to the program — transforming a regionally founded festival into an event that the German-speaking film audience beyond Brandenburg also takes seriously.

24 Films, International Selection

The 2026 program includes 24 national and international documentary, feature, and animated films — many of them German premieres. The core themes are climate protection, emission reduction, ecosystem preservation, and sustainable construction and living. A central film in this year's edition is “Ein Haus aus Müll” (A House Made of Trash) (Tatjana Mischke, Valentin Thurn), which explores ecological building.

UNESCO Creative Cities and Neighborhood Cinema

A special feature is the “UNESCO Creative Cities” program: 8 short films from 7 World Heritage Cities — Bristol, Barcelona, Dublin, Helsinki, Krakow, Seoul, and Potsdam — will be shown with free admission. In addition, there is the “Kiezkino” (neighborhood cinema): three free film screenings in the Potsdam districts of Bornstedt, Waldstadt, and Drewitz. This is a conscious effort by the festival to move beyond the city center and bring the program to the local communities.

Democracy Dialogue on the Closing Day

May 31, 2026 — the festival's closing day — is dedicated to a “Democracy Dialogue.” In times when climate debates are increasingly politically polarized, the festival aims to create a space for discussion and encounter, not just for film screenings. The event is organized by Runze & Casper Werbeagentur GmbH in cooperation with the City of Potsdam and the Filmmuseum.