International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg

IFFMH — Germany's Second-Oldest Film Festival

Founded in 1952, the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg (IFFMH) is Germany's second-oldest film festival after Berlinale (1951). In 2026, it celebrates its 75th Anniversary Edition. Venues include Cinemaxx Mannheim, Stadthaus N1, Atlantis-Kino Heidelberg, and other cinemas and cultural centers in both cities. The twin cities of Mannheim (urban district 08222) and Heidelberg (urban district 08221) are located in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region — culturally and historically closely linked, connected by the S-Bahn line, both university cities.

Program and Focus

The IFFMH is a festival for emerging and independent films — established in the international festival landscape as a platform for young directors, who often get their first major stage here. The festival's history is studded with discoveries: François Truffaut, Jim Jarmusch, Krzysztof Kieślowski, and Atom Egoyan screened their early films in Mannheim-Heidelberg — before they became world-famous.

2026 Program — Around 60 Films from Around the World

The festival program includes around 60 films from global productions — often German, European, or world premieres. Thematic and stylistic range: independent feature films, documentaries, animated films, short films, experimental works. The curators emphasize diversity: films from Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East — cinema beyond the Hollywood mainstream.

"ON THE RISE" Competition

The most important festival competition is "ON THE RISE" — films by directors in their first or second feature film. This is where the festival's main awards are presented: the Golden Pegasus, the Newcomer Award, and several special prizes from a prominent jury. Filmmakers travel from all over the world to present their films and discuss them with the audience.

Cutting Edge Talent Camp

A special feature of the IFFMH: the Cutting Edge Talent Camp — a workshop program for young filmmakers from Europe and beyond. Over several days, selected talents work with established directors, producers, and screenwriters on their projects. A platform that positions the festival not just as a showcase, but as a career springboard.

Young Jury and Audience

The festival actively involves the young audience: the Young Jury, composed of selected students and film enthusiasts, evaluates its own films and presents its own awards. Applications for the 2026 jury are open until September 14th, 2026. In total, the festival attracts around 60,000 visitors annually — a loyal fan base from the Rhine-Neckar region and beyond, as well as filmmakers.

75 Years of IFFMH — Anniversary Program

For its 75th anniversary, the festival is planning an expanded program: retrospectives of the most important discoveries in the festival's history, special events with former award winners, exhibitions on the festival's history. Starting in September 2026, a diverse cultural program will run in both cities as a prelude to the festival itself.