Cinema for young people as a cross-border experience: The bi-national competition offers the unique opportunity to view current films for young people (full-length and mid-length works) from Germany and Poland. A jury of pupils from both partner cities, Cottbus and Zielona Góra, will decide on the winner of the main prize.

Previews, tributes as well as homages to prominent jury members are presented to the audience here. The section also features productions brought to Cottbus through the cooperation with national and international festivals. The >Location Lausitz< series is a regular part of this programme section and presents films that are related to the region in different ways – either productions by auteurs from Lusatia, films about Lusatia or works shot in Lusatia.

Established on occasion of the 20th festival anniversary in the year 2000, the globalEAST film series explores the diverse influences and reciprocal effects of Eastern Europe in global contemporary cinema. This year, this transcontinental tracking leads to the "Fifth Continent" – prompted by and as part of the celebrations on occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous Lusatian-born explorer of Australia, Ludwig Leichhardt.

After "Eastern Europe by Regions" and "Eastern Europe by Religions", the Focus continues to shed light on diversity in Eastern Europe for the third consecutive year. In 2013, following the guiding theme of "Eastern Europe by Cultures", the programme series concentrates on the cinematographic self-portrayal and external presentation of the Roma minorities as well as on their culture and history.

Each festival day offers special films for our youngest guests. From cinema classics to current productions for young viewers, the programme introduces children to the medium of film in an entertaining way. Following the screenings, they are invited to media-educational talks with film professionals and guests.