The FilmFestival Cottbus (FFC) is one of the leading international festivals of Eastern European film. It's next edition will take place from November 3rd to 8th, 2026.
Founded in 1991, the FFC targets both regular audiences and industry experts, focussing on Central and Eastern European cinema. With an annual attendance of approx. 17,000 visitors, this five-day event is one of the most notable cultural events in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan area. It showcases around 140 films from more than 40 coproduction countries, along with a number of workshops, masterclasses, film education activities and panel discussions. It features three competition categories for feature, short and youth films, as well as special sections that change annually to showcase selected film countries and delve into political and historical topics. The program also includes a family and children's film section, a section dedicated to films tackling ecological subjects, a genre section and a focus on blockbusters. Thus, the programme ranges from arthouse to action films, from horror movies to investigative documentaries, from experimengtal films to RomComs - which appeals to a vast audience across the whole society.
The FFC also provides opportunities for film literacy and intercultural and social dialogue through moderated Q&A sessions, topic-specific discussions, a digital presence, workshops for school children and co-operation with universities. It challenges prejudices and celebrates cultural diversity, nurtures young talent, promotes European AV works and connects with co-production countries outside the EU. To this end, it creates synergies with the co-production market connecting cottbus, which takes place in parallel. The FFC co-operates closely with more than 30 European film festivals, including the "Moving Images - Open Borders" festival network. Throughout the year, it presents film programs in Germany and at international film festivals, including those in the Polish-German border region.
The festival focuses on feature films from the successor states of the former socialist countries in Eastern Europe, East Central Europe, South Eastern Europe, the Baltics, the Caucasus, Central Asia and their economically and culturally closely related neighboring countries Finland, Greece and Turkey. The FFC is an audience festival and with the co-production market connecting cottbus, an industry meeting point for Central and Eastern European cinema. The FFC wants to show good films and give them access to the market. In addition, it aims to strengthen talents, to arouse curiosity about Eastern Europe, to question common clichés and to promote the dialogue between and with Eastern European filmmakers. Therefore, almost every film is followed by an exciting film discussion (Q&A). Networking meetings also provide opportunities for exchange between filmmakers and industry representatives.
A total of fifteen prizes are awarded at the FilmFestival Cottbus, with a total value of more than 60,000 euros. A prominent international festival jury awards the main prize for the best feature film, the special prize for the best director as well as the prizes for outstanding acting performances - all of them receive the coveted prize sculpture LUBINA (Sorbian: the lovely one) in addition to the prize money. In addition, prizes will be awarded for the best youth and short films.
As the gateway to the East, Cottbus is located in close proximity to its Polish neighbor in the bilingual (German/Sorbian) region of Lausitz in the German state of Brandenburg. Every autumn, the city of about 100,000 inhabitants 120 km southeast of Berlin becomes the most important meeting point for international and national film guests as well as friends of Central and Eastern European film. Here, veteran directors and Oscar winners meet up-and-coming talents, Eastern European shooting stars meet German acting colleagues, and international flair mixes with a family festival atmosphere.