The FilmFestival Cottbus (FFC), founded in 1991, targets both regular audiences and industry experts, focussing on Central and Eastern European cinema. With an annual attendance of approx. 17,000 visitors and 500 accredited industry participants, this five-day event is one of the most notable cultural events in the Berlin Brandenburg metropolitan area.
It showcases around 120 films from more than 40 co-production 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 experimental 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.
