Merseburg DEFA Film Days

DEFA — the other film tradition

DEFA (Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft) was the central film production company of the GDR. Between 1946 and 1990, around 700 feature films were made here — classics like „Die Legende von Paul und Paula“, precursors to „Sonnenallee“, sophisticated auteur cinema works, and at the same time box-office hits. Today, the DEFA heritage is its own field of research — and in Merseburg, a festival has been held since 2006 that presents these films not as museum pieces, but as a lively basis for discussion.

Domstadtkino Merseburg — the ideal venue

The Domstadtkino in Merseburg is one of the most beautiful municipal cinemas in Saxony-Anhalt — an art-house cinema in the former district town in the Saalekreis region. The 21st Merseburg DEFA Film Days will take place here from April 10th to 12th, 2026, organized by the Förderverein Kino Völkerfreundschaft. Motto 2026: „21 Beats of Life — Work, Upheaval & Applause“. The thematic focus: the world of work in the GDR and music and entertainment in DEFA cinema.

Films, Discussions, Music

Opening with the film „Zeit zu leben“, followed by a panel discussion titled „The GDR World of Work in the Mirror of Art“ with researchers and artists. The closing event is a concert titled „The DEFA Songbook“, performed by jazz singer Pascal von Wroblewsky and the Lora Kostina Trio. Between films, actors and actresses who appeared in the works shown share their memories — a form of oral history that makes the festival special.

New Audiences for DEFA

The organizers report growing interest from younger viewers — in both documentaries and feature films. The festival is not positioned as nostalgic GDR commemoration, but as a critical engagement with film history and its relevance today. An event that holds an important place in the cultural reflection between East and West in the state of Saxony-Anhalt — not a bygone event, but a highly relevant one.