WHEN Berlinale opens on February 12 in Berlin, Germany, all eyes will be on the multitalented International Jury that is deciding who takes home the Golden and the Silver Bears at the Berlinale. Twenty-two films are competing for the awards in this year’s Competition, among them are, one first feature, one animation as well as one documentary. Productions from 28 countries are represented. Twenty films are world premieres. Nine films were directed or co-directed by women. 14 filmmakers have been at the festival before, six even in Competition. The winners will be announced at the Berlinale Palast on February 21, 2026. Director, writer and photographer Wim Wenders (Germany) heads the jury The other members of the jury are director and producer Min Bahadur Bham (Nepal), actor Bae Doona (South Korea), director, producer and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur (India), director, screenwriter and producer Reinaldo Marcus Green (USA), director, screenwriter and producer HIKARI (Japan) and producer Ewa Puszczyńska (Poland). Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle in an earlier press statement described Jury president Wim Wenders as one of the most influential voices in international cinema. “To say we are proud of this homegrown polymath is an understatement, and we cannot wait to see where jury president Wim Wenders leads our jury in picking the Golden and Silver Bear winners of the 76th Berlinale.” Wenders’ career spans six decades. Most recently, Wenders impressed audiences and critics with Perfect Days (2023) which earned an Oscar nomination, and with the 3D documentary Anselm (2023) about artist Anselm Kiefer. Wenders is among the most significant representatives of New German Cinema and has been a global presence since the 1970s. His work, both fiction and documentary, has inspired generations of filmmakers and captivated audiences worldwide. With his early films such as The Goalkeeper’s Fear of the Penalty (1972), Alice in the Cities (1974), Kings of the Road (1976), and The American Friend (1977), he shaped a new cinematic language and redefined the image of German film. Also, Wenders has long been closely connected to the Berlinale: In addition to Pina, The Million Dollar Hotel (Opening Film 2000), and the 3D feature Everything Will Be Fine (2015), he has presented numerous works in the festival programme. He was a strong supporter and contributor in the founding years of the Berlinale Talent Campus (now Berlinale Talents). In 2015, he was honoured with the Berlinale’s Honorary Golden Bear for his outstanding achievements in film and cinema, and seven of his films were screened in restored versions. The 76th Berlinale will take place from February 12 to 22, 2026. The Award Ceremony will be on February 21, 2026.

No Good Men To Open Berlinale 2026

THE Berlinale 2026 kicks off with the world premiere of No Good Men, the third feature film by award-winning Afghan director, Shahrbanoo Sadat. No Good Men will open the festival on February 12, 2026 at the Berlinale Palast. Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle comments: “Shahrbanoo Sadat is one of the most exciting voices in world cinema and No Good Men really delivers on the promise of her first two features. Sadat continues her vital work spotlighting Afghan women’s lives, here bringing romance and touches of humour to a rousingly political story. That it is based on real events, and the director risked so much to get this film made makes No Good Men even more meaningful as our Opening Gala of the 76th Berlinale.” No Good Men follows Shahrbanoo Sadat’s acclaimed works Wolf and Sheep (2016) and Parwareshgah (The Orphanage, 2019). Both films screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and The Orphanage was supported by the Berlinale World Cinema Fund. No Good Men was produced as an international co-production between Germany, France, Norway, Denmark and Afghanistan.

Dates For 2026 Durban FilmMart Announced

THE yearly Durban FilmMart will hold in Durban, South Africa from July 24 to 27 at the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani hotels. A statement from the organisers indicate that delegate registration will open in early April. Also, organisers revealed that the call for the DFM Pitch and Finance forum is currently open to documentary and fiction projects in development, both series and feature length. Project representatives will have the opportunity to pitch to a panel of film professionals consisting of potential co-producers, broadcasters, film funds, and distributors. The deadline for applications is Sunday, February 1, at 23:59 CAT. Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African film industry in a world where professionals and products are globally competitive and celebrated. The mission of the Durban FilmMart Institute is to provide appropriate and effective programmes and services to promote, support and facilitate investment in the African film industry. The Durban FilmMart Institute runs year-round developmental programmes and an annual market (Durban FilmMart). The DFMI has recently launched Filmmart.africa which is an online tool for filmmakers to connect and which we hope will enhance visibility for African content. For more information about the DFMI programmes visit www.durbanfilmmart.co.za