This fall, Czech audiences will again get a look at the newest works of German-language cinema as Das Filmfest returns for its 19th edition. The festival, which presents films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, will be held from October through November in Prague, Brno, Olomouc, and Ústí nad Labem.
Das Filmfest has established itself as one of the leading showcases for German-language film in Central Europe. Known for presenting both high-profile titles and discoveries from emerging directors, it blends stories of history, identity, and contemporary social issues. Screenings will feature filmmaker Q&As and accompanying events, including special programming for schools and industry guests.
In Prague, the festival runs Oct.15–19 at Kino Lucerna and Edison Filmhub before moving on to Brno, Olomouc, and Ústí nad Labem. A full program is expected in mid-September, but organizers have already unveiled some of this year’s highlights.
Festival highlights: From World War II to contemporary satire
Among the first announced titles is Amrum, the latest film from Fatih Akin, which premiered at Cannes. The drama follows a 12-year-old boy navigating the collapse of Nazi ideology on a North Sea island during the final days of World War II. The period is also revisited in Landesverräter, Michael Krummenacher’s drama based on the true story of Ernst Schrämli, a Swiss man convicted of passing information to a German spy.
The lineup also features films in contention for the 2026 Academy Awards. Mascha Schilinski’s The Sound of Falling, winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes, portrays the lives of four women linked across generations on the same rural farm. Austria’s submission, Bernhard Wenger’s debut Peacock, uses satire and dry humor to follow a “professional companion” confronted with the challenge of simply being himself.
Literary and biographical themes appear in André Schäfer’s Bekenntnisse des Hochstaplers Thomas Mann (Confessions of Thomas Mann), which examines the nearly fifty-year process behind Thomas Mann’s Confessions of Felix Krull. The Swiss feature Bagger Drama explores family grief after tragedy, while Sarah Miro Fischer’s The Good Sister confronts moral dilemmas when a young woman must testify against her brother accused of rape.
Das Filmfest also includes lighter fare, such as Sabine Hiebler and Gerhard Ertl’s 80 Plus, a road comedy about two older women on an unconventional journey to Switzerland.
Documentaries, family programming, and wider reach
Documentary cinema continues to play a central role in the festival. Riefenstahl, directed by Andres Veiel and journalist Sandra Maischberger, investigates the life and legacy of filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl through archival material and personal correspondence. Torsten Körner’s paired films Die Unbeugsamen (The Indomitable) and its sequel explore women’s political participation in postwar Germany.
Programming for younger audiences includes the live-action sci-fi adventure Greetings From Mars, the time travel comedy The Secret Floor, and the adventure film Checker Tobi und die Reise zu den fliegenden Flüssen, which stars a popular German YouTuber.
Following the Prague festival from Oct. 15–19, Das Filmfest will travel to several other Czech cities: Brno (Oct. 20–26), Olomouc (Nov. 1–5), and Ústí nad Labem (Nov. 10–12). Films will screen in their original language with Czech subtitles.
The festival is organized by the Goethe-Institut in the Czech Republic, the Austrian Cultural Forum in Prague, and the Embassy of Switzerland, with support from Czech and international partners. Additional information can be found from the official Das Filmfest website.
