Name: Snowdance Independent Film Festival 2026
Start: 2026-02-04T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-08T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Trudi / Kreuzeskirche / Lichtburg Essen

Snowdance Essen

About Snowdance Essen

From February 4th to 8th, 2026, Essen will become the stage for international independent filmmaking: The Snowdance Independent Film Festival will showcase 9 feature films, 7 documentaries, and 4 short film programs (Dramatic, Black, Lunatic, and Sunderland Shortz) in the three venues Trudi, Kreuzeskirche, and Sabu/Lichtburg. New for the 2026 edition: the Snowdance Vision Award, which will be presented on February 5th in the Kreuzeskirche. Opening on Wednesday evening, February 4th at 7:30 PM, awards ceremony on February 7th at Trudi. A declaration of love for cinema off the beaten track.

Dates 04 Feb — 08 Feb 2026

Venue Essen (05113)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Snowdance Essen — edition 2026

Tickets →

Snowdance 2026 runs from February 4th to 8th in Essen. 9 feature films, 7 documentaries, and 4 short film programs at three venues (Trudi, Kreuzeskirche, Sabu / Lichtburg). New: Snowdance Vision Award (Feb 5th in the Kreuzeskirche). Awards ceremony on Feb 7th at Trudi.

Five festival days, three venues, around 20 international independent productions. Snowdance Essen 2026 expands its award portfolio with the new Vision Award.

Highlights Snowdance Essen 2026

20 international independent films
Premiere of the Snowdance Vision Award (Feb 5th, Kreuzeskirche)
3 venues: Trudi, Kreuzeskirche, Sabu/Lichtburg
Festival Bar at Motel One Essen
4 short film programs: Dramatic / Black / Lunatic / Sunderland

Programme Snowdance Essen 2026

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026

7:30 PM – Opening (by invitation)

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

Kreuzeskirche – Snowdance Vision Award Ceremony
First film screenings at Trudi and Sabu

Friday, February 6th – Saturday, February 7th, 2026

Film program: 9 feature films, 7 documentaries
Short film programs: Dramatic Shortz, Black Shortz, Lunatic Shortz, Sunderland Shortz
Saturday, February 7th – Main awards ceremony at Trudi

Sunday, February 8th, 2026

Best-of encore screenings and closing program

Full program and set times: snowdance.net/en/program-2026/.

Prices Snowdance Essen 2026

Single tickets and festival pass available via the festival website. Opening on Feb 4th by invitation.

Practical information

Practical information — Snowdance Essen

Date

Wednesday, February 4th – Sunday, February 8th, 2026.

Opening

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, 7:30 PM (by invitation).

Vision Award

Thursday, February 5th, 2026, Kreuzeskirche.

Awards Ceremony

Saturday, February 7th, 2026, at Trudi.

Venues

Trudi (formerly St. Gertrud), Kreuzeskirche, Sabu, Lichtburg – Essen City Center.

Tickets

Advance sales via the festival website snowdance.net. Single tickets and festival pass available.

Festival Bar

Motel One Essen, February 5th–8th, 2026.

Organizer

Snowdance Independent Film Festival e.V. with support from the Regionalverband Ruhr and the City of Essen.

Snowdance Comes to Essen

Since 2009 (first edition in Landsberg am Lech), the Snowdance Independent Film Festival has established itself as a German platform for independent and auteur film. After several years in Bavaria, the festival has found its new home in Essen – and in 2026, it will hold its edition from February 4th to 8th. The program clearly bears the hallmark of a curated, jury-based selection beyond the major industry festivals.

Three Venues in Essen's Cultural Landscape

Three venues will be used, each with its own distinct character:

Trudi – former St. Gertrud Church, now a cultural center: the central festival hub, hosting the awards ceremony on February 7th.
Kreuzeskirche Essen – an impressive neo-Gothic church building serving as an event space. Stage for the new Snowdance Vision Award on February 5th.
Sabu – an independent film bar, and Lichtburg (one of Germany's largest cinemas).

2026 Program – 20 Films in Four Categories

The 2026 Snowdance edition will feature a total of around 20 films:

9 Feature Films: The world outside, The deserter, The emperor's new crown, The End Of The World, Make Me Feel, A Break In The Rain, Together we are less separated, The Color of Exile.
7 Documentary Films: Anna and grandma, Cast Off, Blind spot, The Spies Among Us, The Wind In Her Hands, Below, Loving Karma.
4 Short Film Programs: Dramatic Shortz, Black Shortz, Lunatic Shortz, Sunderland Shortz – each featuring between 4 and 8 short films per program.

Snowdance Vision Award – New Award in 2026

A highlight of the edition: Snowdance is introducing the Snowdance Vision Award for the first time in 2026. The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 5th, 2026, at the Kreuzeskirche. With this, the festival expands its award portfolio with a category for visionary, aesthetically groundbreaking filmmaking.

Festival Bar at Motel One

A meeting point for networking and festival talk: the Festival Bar at Motel One (Essen Hbf), open from February 5th to 8th. Filmmakers, jurors, and the audience will meet there after the screenings.