61st Workshop for Young Filmmakers

One of the World's Oldest Festivals for Young Filmmakers

The Workshop for Young Filmmakers is one of the most traditional and oldest festivals for young filmmakers worldwide. Since the 1960s, it has offered young filmmakers from German-speaking countries a platform to showcase their work, meet each other, and learn from one another. 2026 marks the 61st edition – an anniversary that underscores the continuity and significance of the format. The organizer is the Bundesverband Jugend und Film e.V. (BJF).

No Competition Pressure

What sets the Workshop apart from many other film festivals is its deliberate rejection of competition. There is no main prize, no winning film, no jury creating rankings. Instead, the focus is on collective exchange: films are shown, discussed together, and explored in workshops. The atmosphere is consistently geared towards learning and networking, not competition. This programmatic choice is rare in the film festival landscape and makes the Workshop a valued destination for young filmmakers seeking a truly discursive format.

Filmmakers Under 27 Years of Age

Eligible to participate are filmmakers under 27 years of age who work in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, German-speaking communities internationally). All formats and genres are accepted – feature film, documentary, animation, experimental film, music video. There is no length restriction. The only condition: the films must not be older than two years. The submission deadline is at the beginning of February of the respective festival year.

Four Days of Program

The program spans four days: film screenings in several parallel series, workshop discussions, workshops on specific film technology and creative topics, networking events, and filmmaker talks. Each year, nominations for more prestigious festivals such as Up-and-Coming and the Youth Cinema Network Award emerge from the program – thus, the Workshop serves as a springboard into the international festival scene.

Wilhelm-Kempf-Haus in Naurod

The main venue is the Wilhelm-Kempf-Haus in Wiesbaden-Naurod – an educational and conference center of the Diocese of Limburg, which, due to its quiet location on the outskirts of Wiesbaden and its extensive accommodation and conference facilities, is ideal for an intensive four-day festival. Participants can stay on-site, which further enhances the workshop and exchange character. Additionally, the Caligari FilmBühne in downtown Wiesbaden is used as a second venue – a classic arthouse cinema that opens the public screenings to a broader audience.

Wiesbaden as a Film City

In recent decades, Wiesbaden has developed into one of Germany's most important film locations. The German Film Institute & Film Museum (DFF), the goEast Festival, the German TV Crime Festival, and the exground filmfest – all are based here. The Workshop for Young Filmmakers fits into this landscape as the format specifically dedicated to promoting young filmmaking talent and providing them with a protected space that operates outside the logic of commercial festivals.

Funded by the Cultural Office and BJF

The Workshop is financially and programmatically supported by the Kulturbüro Rheinland-Pfalz, which recognizes the festival's important role in promoting young filmmakers. The organizer is the Bundesverband Jugend und Film e.V., which builds structures for young filmmakers nationwide. This funding landscape makes the Workshop one of Germany's most secure festivals for emerging talent.