SCHLiNGEL — International Film Festival for Children and Young Audiences

One of the largest children's film festivals in Europe

Since 1996, the SCHLiNGEL Film Festival has attracted children, teenagers, teachers, filmmakers, and industry professionals from all over Europe to Chemnitz every October. With over 150 films from around the world — feature films, animated films, documentaries, short films — it is one of the largest and most renowned festivals of its kind in Europe. The organizer is the Sächsischer Kinder- und Jugendfilmdienst e.V., which has established a remarkable tradition of young film culture in the former Karl-Marx-Stadt.

The 31st Edition 2026 — October 2nd to 10th

The 31st edition will take place in 2026: nine festival days from Friday, October 2nd, to Saturday, October 10th. The venues are several cinemas in Chemnitz's city center — the complete lineup and screening times will be published on ff-schlingel.de.

National and International Competitions

The heart of the festival are the competitions. In the international main competition for children and the youth competition, films compete for awards presented by various juries — including an international main jury, a children's jury, and a youth jury. In addition, there are annually changing country focuses: a specific country or region is presented in detail with a curated film selection. Non-competitive sections complement the program with highlights from the international festival circuit.

Film Education as a Second Pillar

In addition to the competitions, SCHLiNGEL has a distinct educational mission. Programs for kindergartens, schools, and after-school clubs teach film production, cinematography, screenwriting, editing, and film criticism — through practical tasks, students can immerse themselves in the world of film. Teacher information, didactic teaching materials, and workshops complement the offerings. A film criticism workshop allows young participants to write their own reviews.

Industry Meeting Point with Panels and Workshops

For the film industry, SCHLiNGEL is an important networking event: panel discussions on current issues in children's and youth film, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and an industry networking program are integral parts of the festival. International guests from production, directing, screenwriting, and film education meet in Chemnitz.

Chemnitz, European Capital of Culture 2025

Chemnitz is the third-largest city in Saxony and was the European Capital of Culture in 2025. SCHLiNGEL is a central event in the city's cultural calendar and benefits from the boost that the Capital of Culture year has given to the visibility of cultural events in the city. The venues are spread across the city center district and are within walking distance of the main train station.