Berlin Film Festival Announces Star-Studded 2026 Lineup
The Berlin International Film Festival, one of Europe's premier cinema events, has revealed an impressive programme for its 76th edition scheduled for February 12-22, 2026. The festival will showcase films from 80 countries, bringing together established Hollywood stars and emerging talent in the German capital.
A-List Talent Takes Centre Stage
Six-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams headlines the competition with her performance in At the Sea, directed by acclaimed Hungarian filmmaker Kornél Mundruczó. Festival director Tricia Tuttle described Adams' portrayal of a dancer grappling with sobriety at her family's Cape Cod home as "absolutely enthralling."
British rapper-actor Ashley Walters makes his directorial debut with Animol, a coming-of-age story set in a youth offender detention centre featuring his Adolescence co-star Stephen Graham. Walters expressed excitement on social media, calling it "the start of a beautiful journey for this film - and a new chapter for me as a director."
Diverse Programme Across Genres
The festival's 22 competition films span multiple genres, with Channing Tatum showcasing dramatic range in Josephine, based on director Beth de Araújo's childhood experience witnessing a brutal crime. The film co-stars British actor Gemma Chan as parents seeking justice.
Pop sensation Charli xcx will present The Moment in the Panorama sidebar section - a mockumentary about her 2024 summer tour directed by her music video collaborator Aidan Zamiri, featuring Alexander Skarsgård.
International Cinema Showcase
Other notable entries include Rosebush Pruning by Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz, featuring Callum Turner, Pamela Anderson, Riley Keough, Jamie Bell and Elle Fanning in what Tuttle described as a "twisted thriller" set in a Spanish villa.
Japanese anime artist Yoshitoshi Shinomiya presents his first solo feature A New Dawn, following a boy living in a fireworks factory facing closure as he investigates his father's disappearance.
Festival Context and Significance
Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle, the US-born former head of the London Film Festival, emphasised the festival's role in supporting independent cinema during challenging times for the industry. "It's a battle to keep independent cinemas open," she told reporters, describing cinema-going as "the most powerful way to see an artist's creation" and "a really important place to sit with strangers and friends."
The festival will open with Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat's romantic comedy No Good Men, set in a TV newsroom on the eve of the Taliban's 2021 return. Malaysian Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh will receive an honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement.
Founded during the Cold War as a forum for East-West dialogue, the Berlinale maintains its position alongside Cannes and Venice as one of Europe's most significant film festivals, continuing to champion artistic expression and international collaboration in cinema.
