FilmFestival Cottbus

The showcase for the cinema of Central and Eastern Europe

The FilmFestival Cottbus (FFC) is one of the world's most important festivals for contemporary filmmaking in Central and Eastern Europe. The next edition will take place from 4 to 9 November 2025, when Cottbus will once again become a lively meeting place for filmmakers, industry contacts and cinema fans from all over the world. Many films have their German or world premiere in Cottbus. Cinematic diversity is a top priority at the FFC: from arthouse films to blockbusters, from investigative documentaries to horror films, from road movies to romantic comedies, almost all genres and styles are represented at the festival. At the heart of the festival are the three competitions for feature films, youth films and short films, which showcase bold stories, new cinematic perspectives and exceptional talent year after year. Prizes are awarded for best director, best debut and intercultural dialogue, among others. In addition to prize money, the winners of the competitions receive the glass ‘Lubina’. It is the symbol of the festival: Lubina, Sorbian for ‘the charming one’, stands for the cultural diversity of the region and the festival's open-mindedness across borders. Since its founding in the early 1990s, the FFC has developed into a platform for dialogue between East and West. Filmmakers, producers and distributors from around 30 countries meet here to exchange ideas and initiate new projects. The films in our collection have been screened at the FilmFestival Cottbus in various years. The collection was created in cooperation with the festival.

Many films have their German or world premiere in Cottbus. Cinematic diversity is a top priority at the FFC: from arthouse films to blockbusters, from investigative documentaries to horror films, from road movies to romantic comedies, almost all genres and styles are represented at the festival.

At the heart of the festival are the three competitions for feature films, youth films and short films, which showcase bold stories, new cinematic perspectives and exceptional talent year after year. Prizes are awarded for best director, best debut and intercultural dialogue, among others. In addition to prize money, the winners of the competitions receive the glass ‘Lubina’. It is the symbol of the festival: Lubina, Sorbian for ‘the charming one’, stands for the cultural diversity of the region and the festival's open-mindedness across borders.

Since its founding in the early 1990s, the FFC has developed into a platform for dialogue between East and West. Filmmakers, producers and distributors from around 30 countries meet here to exchange ideas and initiate new projects. The films in our collection have been screened at the FilmFestival Cottbus in various years. The collection was created in cooperation with the festival.

Watchlist