Open-Air Cinema Nights Schmellwitz with Lusatian FilmShow

Neighbourhood Cinema at Ernst-Mucke-Platz

The Open-Air Cinema Nights Schmellwitz are one of the most important cultural summer formats in the Cottbus district of Schmellwitz. For four evenings, the Schmellwitz Civic Association e.V. transforms Ernst-Mucke-Platz – a city square in northern Cottbus – into an open-air cinema with a 7x4 meter LED screen. 2026 will see the 8th edition of the event.

Lusatian FilmShow – The Comeback

A special premiere marks the 2026 edition: The Lusatian FilmShow (Sorbian: Łužyska filmowa pśeglědka / Łužiska filmowa přehladka) returns after a break and is integrated into the Open-Air Cinema Nights. The FilmShow is a competition for non-professional filmmakers from Lusatia, organized in cooperation with the FilmFestival Cottbus. Submissions from all genres are welcome; the only condition is that the films are made by non-professionals.

Programme

• Lusatian FilmShow with award-winning short and feature films
• European Film Highlights in the evening
• School Screenings in the "School & Cinema" format during the day
• Free admission

Prize Money

• Main Prize: €700 (Quattrohaus)
• Special Prize Łužycafilm | Sorbian-German Film Network: €500
• Special Prize Cottbuser Aufbruch: €300
• Audience Award: Gift basket from E-Center Scholz Cottbus

Schmellwitz and Cottbus

Schmellwitz is one of the larger districts of Cottbus, a city in the Spree-Neiße district in southern Brandenburg, on the border with Lusatia. With around 100,000 inhabitants, Cottbus is Brandenburg's second-largest city and an important cultural centre of the region. The annual FilmFestival Cottbus is one of the most significant film festivals for Eastern European cinema in Germany.