XPOSED Queer Film Festival Berlin
International queer film festival – 20th anniversary edition across three Berlin venues
About XPOSED
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20 Years of Queer Film Culture in Berlin
XPOSED began in 2006 as a small short film festival, run by filmmakers themselves. Over two decades, it has evolved into one of Europe's most prominent queer film festivals – with its own program advisory board, its own awards (the Lolly Awards), and a firm place in Berlin's cultural calendar. 2026 marks the 20th anniversary edition, which significantly expands the festival once again: more feature films, more short films, a dedicated campus for industry workshops, and three parallel exhibitions.
Three Curated Venues
The festival takes place at three locations that hold a distinct place in Berlin's independent culture. Sinema Transtopia in the former Wedding hospital, Haus der Statistik, is the central venue – an arthouse cinema with a migrant and queer focus, centering transnational narratives. Aquarium at Südblock at Kottbusser Tor represents a political and queer art and discourse scene around Kottbusser Tor. Vierte Welt in Kreuzberg is a performance and discourse space with a clear queer-feminist profile. This tripartite structure lends the festival spatial and conceptual depth.
2026 Program: 15 Feature Films, 59 Short Films, Three Exhibitions
The 2026 program brings together 15 new feature films, documentaries, and experimental works, along with 59 new short films from around the world. From May 21st to 24th, a retrospective series will celebrate the 20-year anniversary. In parallel, three exhibitions will showcase video installations and VR experiences – a format that XPOSED has cultivated for years as a boundary between cinema, visual arts, and performance. Additionally, there will be interactive cinema performances and the XPOSED Pop Up Campus featuring panels and workshops for filmmakers.
Lolly Awards and Closing Party
The highlight on the final day (May 31st) is the Lolly Awards – the festival prizes for the best feature films, short films, and performances. This will be followed by the Closing Party with live performances. The festival sees itself, as the organizers put it, as a "place of resistance" – queer narratives that question cultural and artistic boundaries. In a political climate that increasingly makes queer self-determination a matter of negotiation, this is not just a program line but a stance.
XPOSED — edition 2026
The 2026 festival program is significantly more extensive than in previous years – the anniversary provides the occasion for expanded programming. In terms of content, XPOSED remains true to its line: queer narratives from around the world, prioritizing voices beyond the Western mainstream, and a clear political and artistic ambition.
The division across three venues is programmatic: Sinema Transtopia hosts the transnational, migration-influenced narratives, Aquarium at Südblock upholds the discursive and queer-political line, and Vierte Welt focuses on performance and the experimental. Travel between venues is possible on foot or via the U-Bahn – Sinema Transtopia is near Alexanderplatz, while the other two venues are at Kottbusser Tor.
Programme XPOSED 2026
Phase 1 — Retrospective and Opening (May 21–24, 2026)
- May 21st, 2026 — Festival Opening with Opening Film
- May 21–24, 2026 — Retrospective for the 20-Year Anniversary (Selection of films from the festival's history)
Main Program (May 24–30, 2026)
- 15 New Feature Films — new queer feature films, documentaries, and experimental works from around the world
- 59 New Short Films — in thematically curated short film blocks (typically 90 minutes per block)
- Three Exhibitions — Video installations and VR experiences (free admission)
- Interactive Cinema Performances
- XPOSED Pop Up Campus — Panels, workshops, and industry formats for filmmakers
Closing — May 31st, 2026
- Lolly Awards — Award ceremony for the best feature films, short films, and performances
- Closing Party with live performances
Full program, film trailers, tickets, and Pop-Up Campus registration at xposedfilmfestival.com/2026.
Highlights XPOSED 2026
Prices XPOSED 2026
Practical information — XPOSED
Getting There
Sinema Transtopia (Haus der Statistik, Otto-Braun-Straße): S-Bahn lines S5/S7/S9 to S+U Alexanderplatz, then a five-minute walk. Aquarium at Südblock (Kottbusser Tor): U-Bahn lines U1/U3/U8 to Kottbusser Tor. Vierte Welt: U-Bahn line U8 to Kottbusser Tor.
Admission
Films: €0–€15. Exhibitions: free admission. Tickets online at xposedfilmfestival.com/2026 and at the box office. XPOSED Pop Up Campus: separate registration via the festival website.
Tip
Short film blocks are the ideal entry point to the festival – a 90-minute block often covers more thematic ground than a single feature film. For those who want to experience the festival in its full breadth, combine feature films, short film blocks, and at least one exhibition.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a XPOSED al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place XPOSED
Sinema Transtopia / Aquarium am Südblock / Vierte Welt