Sehsüchte — International Student Film Festival

Sehsüchte — where the next generation of world cinema is on show

Sehsüchte is Europe's largest international student film festival. Founded in 1972 at what was then the Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen „Konrad Wolf" (Konrad Wolf Film and Television Academy) in Potsdam-Babelsberg, the festival is today a central platform for emerging filmmakers from over sixty countries. Unlike many other film festivals, Sehsüchte is run entirely by students of the Filmuniversität — from programming and industry partnerships to festival management. This student-led independence is the key to the festival's profile: the films shown here have not yet been channelled through major distribution structures, and the discussions held here rarely find room at larger festivals.

The 55th edition — themed "What's left?"

In 2026, Sehsüchte celebrates its 55th edition. The motto "What's left?" is both programmatic and critical. It plays with the question of what remains of cinema, of stories, of political movements, of hopes for the future — and what new images the next generation can shape out of these ruins and remnants. The 2026 film selection reflects this tension between memory and new beginnings, between what remains and what is to come.

Programme — competitions and film schools

Sehsüchte presents five main competition categories: feature film, documentary, animation, advertising film and genre. In addition there are special programmes and "Schools on Stage" — programmes with selected film schools from around the world (in recent years including Poland, Cuba, Mexico, Iran and South Korea). An international jury awards prizes worth a total of around 40,000 euros, including sponsorship prizes from renowned industry partners. The films are screened at the Filmuniversität's Campus-Kino, a modern auditorium with professional projection, complemented by film talks with the directors.

Encounter — networking, talks, industry

Beyond the screenings themselves, Sehsüchte is a meeting platform. Talks by industry experts, workshops, panels on current topics in the film industry (AI, streaming, sustainability) and networking events bring up-and-coming filmmakers together with producers, distributors and festival programmers. For many students, Sehsüchte is the first international showing of a film — and thus a springboard into professional filmmaking. Over 50 years of history, Sehsüchte films have gone on to produce Oscar winners, Berlinale premieres and Cannes selections.

Potsdam-Babelsberg — Germany's film capital

Sehsüchte takes place in Babelsberg — Germany's home of cinema since 1912. Studio Babelsberg is one of the oldest and largest film studios in the world; the Filmuniversität (founded in 1954) is one of the most prestigious film schools in Europe and the festival's home. During Sehsüchte you'll experience Babelsberg's dual character: this is where film history is produced (from „Metropolis" to „Inglourious Basterds"), and this is where the next generation of film is trained and celebrated.