Filmfest Hamburg

Filmfest Hamburg is an annual public film festival held in Hamburg each autumn. It attracts around 60,000 visitors and is considered one of Germany’s leading film festivals, serving as a meeting place for filmmakers, industry professionals and the public.

Across ten sections, the festival presents around 120 national and international films, including world, European and German premieres. The programme ranges from artistically ambitious arthouse films and television productions to innovative mainstream cinema. The festival sees itself as a venue for cinematic discovery and cultural exchange. Filmmakers from around the world travel to Hamburg to present their work in person and discuss it with audiences.

Since 2019, Filmfest Hamburg has highlighted the work of two filmmakers who have had a significant impact on world cinema through its Filmmaker in Focus format, which combines discussions of their work with a retrospective.

In addition to its public film programme, the Filmfest Hamburg Industry Days have formed part of the festival since 2025. After the Berlinale, they are regarded as one of the most important B2B industry gatherings for the German and European film industries.

Since 2024, the festival has also included a Day of Free Admission on 3 October as a permanent fixture. Malika Rabahallah has served as director of Filmfest Hamburg since 2024.