Dates and ticket presale for Critics’ Week 2026
The complete film program and numerous guests for Critics’ Week 2026 are now available on our website. We will announce final participants, a schedule for the opening event on February 9, and information on further events within our thematic focus “Argue Against, Argue Again – The Limits and Potentials of Debate Culture” in the coming days.
Tickets for all film and debate programs of Critics’ Week are now available in advance. Click here to go directly to the Hackesche Höfe Kino ticket presale. Tickets for the opening event are available on the website of the Akademie der Künste. All details about the opening program can be found on our website.
Access to the events is free of charge for reporting press, anyone with Berlinale accreditation, and members of the German Film Critics Association (VdFk). The number of free tickets is, however, limited. We therefore ask you to register in advance: Members of the press and VdFk members should contact Gloria Reményi (presse@wochederkritik.de) regarding our guest list, while people with Berlinale accreditation should contact Elena Friedrich (akkreditierung@wochederkritik.de). A limited number of remaining tickets will be allocated at the box office according to availability. Free tickets cannot be booked online via Hackesche Höfe Kino or Akademie der Künste. Please understand that we are currently unable to offer a separate accreditation option for film professionals.
All dates at a glance:
SUN Feb 8
8 p.m.
Pub Cinema
Location: tba
Our kick-off evening combines film and pub culture: we honor the recently deceased filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim with a screening of his 1971 cult film Die Bettwurst, accompanied by Jan Eilhardt’s short film Die Bierverweigerin—which will be followed by an interactive talk.
DIE BIERVERWEIGERIN
D: Jan Eilhardt, GER 2025, 4 Min., German Original with English Subtitles
DIE BETTWURST
D: Rosa von Praunheim, GER 1971, 78 Min., German Original with English Subtitles.
MON Feb 9
7 p.m.
Opening Event
Location: Akademie der Künste, Pariser Platz 4, 10117 Berlin
Doors: 6.30 p.m., in German und English
ARGUE AGAINST, ARGUE AGAIN – THE LIMITS AND POTENTIALS OF DEBATE CULTURE
The much-vaunted culture of debate in Germany appears to be in poor shape. Public discourse, it is often said, has become so toxic, the divisions so entrenched and stereotyping of any opposition so rigid, that a genuine culture of debate is now seriously under threat. In the cultural scenes of many countries, the willingness to engage openly and constructively with disagreement seems to be waning. This tendency has only further intensified since October 7, 2023. But what do we actually mean by a culture of debate? Why has it become endangered, and why is it worth defending anyway?
In light of current upheavals in the cultural sector, we will be discussing the idea of a culture of debate and its importance to inevitable social negotiations—in the film industry and beyond. We want to ask: What does criticism have to do with debate? After all, Critics’ Week was founded on the belief that debate is necessary and productive, but can also be enjoyable and cultivate empathy.
Program:
Discussion between Heidi Salaverría (philosopher, professor of art theory and artistic practice) and Hengameh Yaghoobifarah (writer, editor), moderated by Amina Aziz (freelance journalist).
Debate performance, staged and moderated by Martin Muth (debate format developer, moderator, artist) with music by Stephan Wortmann and the following guests: Frédéric Jaeger (filmmaker, co-founder and former artistic director of Berlin Critics’ Week), Cem Kaya (filmmaker), Canan Turan (independent film scholar, script consultant, curator), Dario Werner (German Debating Championships runner-up) and Susanna Wirthgen (German Debating Championships 2025 finalist, political scientist and economist).
TUE Feb 10
8 p.m.
Film program featuring Carolyn Lazard’s Fiction Contract and the world premiere of Worry Time, written by Emma Paetz and directed by Tom Brennan. This will be followed by our first debate in the STEILVORLAGE format, in which film critic Eileen Jones, a member of this year’s selection committee, will join the filmmakers on stage.
Debate guests: Tom Brennan, Eileen Jones, Emma Paetz
FICTION CONTRACT
D: Carolyn Lazard, C: Lorren Williams, Morenike Jegede, Adrielle El-Dyson Otoo, Lindsay Dallemand, Chinyere Ogbonna, DOP: Alex Ashe, USA 2025, 9 Min., English Original – European Premiere
WORRY TIME
D: Tom Brennan, C: Emma Paetz, Stefanie Martini, Ben Aldridge, Afsaneh Dehrouyeh, Douggie McMeekin, DOP: Rob O’Kelly, GBR 2025, 89 Min., English Original – World Premiere
WED Feb 11
8 p.m.
World premiere of Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s Turgaud, followed by a debate in the HALBWISSEN format: The moderator of the discussion will be unfamiliar with both the film and the invited guests, and must therefore approach the film with even greater caution.
Debate guests include: Tolganay Talgat
In the presence of: Adilkhan Yerzhanov
TURGAUD
D: Adilkhan Yerzhanov, C: Berik Aitzhanov, Anna Starchenko, Dias Baituov, Kuantay Abdimadi, Sharip Serik, K: Yerkinbek Ptyraliyev, KAZ 2025, 123 Min., Kazakh/Russian Original with English Subtitles – World Premiere
THU Feb 12
8 p.m.
Film program with the world premiere of Farina Mietchen’s documentary short Hinterlegte Nummern and the Brazilian film One Minute Is an Eternity for Those Who Are Suffering by Fábio Rogério and Wesley Pereira de Castro. The subsequent debate takes the form of a RUDELKRITIK, in which three film and cultural critics will discuss the two films shown.
Debate guests include: Vera Klocke
In the presence of: Farina Mietchen, Fábio Rogério
HINTERLEGTE NUMMERN
D: Farina Mietchen, DOP: Lukas Grubba, GER 2025, 20 Min., German Original with English Subtitles – World Premiere
ONE MINUTE IS AN ETERNITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING (UM MINUTO É UMA ETERNIDADE PARA QUEM ESTÁ SOFRENDO)
D: Fábio Rogério, Wesley Pereira de Castro, C: Wesley Pereira de Castro, Rosane Pereira de Castro, BRA 2025, 62 Min., Brazilian Original with English Subtitles – German Premiere
FRI Feb 13
8 p.m.
The film program for our thematic focus: Göran Hugo Olsson’s monumental archive film Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958–1989 will be followed by a discussion with the director.
Debate guest: Göran Hugo Olsson
ISRAEL PALESTINE ON SWEDISH TV 1958–1989 (ISRAEL PALESTINA PÅ SVENSK TV 1958-1989)
D: Göran Hugo Olsson, SWE 2024, 206 Min., Swedish Original with English Subtitles
SAT Feb 14
10 a.m.
Location: Sinema Transtopia, Lindower Str. 20/22, Haus C, 13347 Berlin
Inspired by Olsson’s film about media coverage of the Middle East conflict on Swedish television, we are offering a workshop on this topic, in which we will also examine the German media landscape. Find the registration information on our website.
Guests include: Göran Hugo Olsson, Lars Säfström
SAT Feb 14
3.30 p.m.
Location: Sinema Transtopia, Lindower Str. 20/22, Haus C, 13347 Berlin
Within our thematic focus, we will also discuss how controversies arise and unfold within film culture. What can be learned from controversies about cinema and art—and about audiences and the public?
Guests: Ruth Beckermann, Peter Bradshaw, Emilie Bujès, Radu Jude
SAT Feb 14
8 p.m.
Film program featuring Mag Mag, the directorial debut of Japanese comedian Yuriyan Retriever, and Gabriel Abrantes’ animated short Arguments in Favor of Love, followed by a debate in the REAKTIONSZEIT format: Here, the filmmakers in attendance must first listen to our guests and audience discuss their work before they can contribute.
Debate guests include: Florian Höhr, Yuriyan Retriever
MAG MAG (禍禍女)
D: Yuriyan Retriever, C: Sara Minami, Maeda Oshiro, Aoi Yamada, Atsuko Hirata, Junsei Motojima, DOP: Hideki Shima, JPN 2025, 112 Min., Japanese Original with English Subtitles
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF LOVE
D: Gabriel Abrantes, C: Jack Haven, Inês Castel-Branco, POR 2025, 9 Min., English Original
SUN Feb 15
8 p.m.
Film program featuring Dorian Jespers’ Loynes and the new film by Portuguese filmmaker Teresa Villaverde, Justa. The debate will take place in the BRÜCKENSCHLAG format, in which the evening’s directors will encounter guests who are not from the film industry nor the world of film criticism.
Debate guests include: Edna Bonhomme, Dorian Jespers, Teresa Villaverde
LOYNES
D: Dorian Jespers, C: Elaine Collins, Vincenç Altaió, Johan Opstaele, Sheila Breen Rickerby, Margaret O’Kell, DOP: Arnaud Alberola, BEL/FRA/MKD/GBR 2025, 25 Min.
JUSTA
D: Teresa Villaverde, C: Betty Faria, Madalena Cunha, Filomena Cautela, Ricardo Vidal, Alexandre Batista, DOP: Acácio de Almeida, POR/FRA 2025, 108 Min., Portuguese Original with English Subtitles – German Premiere
MON Feb 16
8 p.m.
Film program featuring Maria Petschnig’s Beautiful and Neat Room and Hugs & Kisses by Marc Richter, also known as Neue Deutsche Kunst. For the debate in the PUBLIKUMSJOKER format, a member of the audience will be invited onto the stage to discuss the films of the evening.
Debate guests include: Maria Petschnig, Marc Richter
BEAUTIFUL AND NEAT ROOM
D: Maria Petschnig, C: Charlotte Aubin, Ari Brand, Adam Ratcliffe, Marc Bracich, DOP: Jamal Solomon, AUT/USA 2025, 118 Min., English Original – German Premiere
HUGS & KISSES
D: Neue Deutsche Kunst/Marc Richter, GER 2025, 11 Min., no dialogue
TUE Feb 17
8 p.m.
Film program featuring Dane Komljen’s Desire Lines and Margaux Fournier’s If You Don’t Like It, Look Away. On our closing night, we will repeat the STEILVORLAGE format of the opening night. Selection committee member Lucía Salas will join the filmmakers and a guest on stage for the discussion.
Debate guests: Margaux Fournier, Dane Komljen, Martha Mechow, Lucía Salas
DESIRE LINES (LINIJE ŽELJE)
D: Dane Komljen, C: Ivan Čuić, Branka Katić, Petja Golec Horvat, Rok Juričić, Nadim Hendawi, DOP: Ivan Marković, Jenny Lou Ziegel, SRB/BIH/NED/CRO/GER 2025, 107 Min., Serbo Croatian Original with English Subtitles – German Premiere
IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, LOOK AWAY (AU BAIN DES DAMES)
D: Margaux Fournier, DOP: Théo Vincent Suzzoni, FRA 2025, 30 Min., French Original with English Subtitles – German Premiere
Critics’ Week 2026 will take place from February 9 to 17, 2026. The film program starts on Tuesday, February 10 at Hackesche Höfe Kino.
Program overview for Critics’ Week 2026
Press kit: Download
Press contact: Gloria Reményi, presse@wochederkritik.de
Film still from Arguments in Favor of Love (R: Gabriel Abrantes) © Portugal Film