All about the thematic focus of this year’s Berlin Critics’ Week
Argue Against, Argue Again – The Limits and Potentials of Debate Culture
All about the thematic focus of this year’s Berlin Critics’ Week
The thematic focus program for Berlin Critics’ Week 2026 has been finalized. A total of four events around the topic of debate culture will take place, including a workshop on media representation of the Middle East conflict. (Applications can be submitted until January 31.) Our online magazine, which was guest-edited this year by Amina Aziz and will be launched shortly, also feature in-depth articles on the subject. Tickets for the opening event and the complementary film evening are available on the Akademie der Künste and Hackesche Höfe Kino websites.
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. Film festivals and the film world more broadly need critical intervention in order to raise questions of representation and power and to present the aesthetic possibilities of cinema in all their diversity. We advocate for public, controversial reflection and discussion that has an impact on the world and seeks to change it. In doing so, Critics’ Week also wants to invite voices from beyond cinema to join the debate: in our events around the thematic focus, representatives from fields including activism, civil society, and politics will meet with festival organizers, filmmakers, and critics to argue about cinema and the world.
On February 9, starting at 7 p.m., we will spend an evening exploring the idea of a culture of debate as part of our opening event at the Akademie der Künste Berlin. Once again, we are collaborating with the Film and Media Art section of the Akademie der Künste. A short keynote by Heinz Emigholz (filmmaker, member of the Akademie der Künste) will be followed by a discussion on the idea of a culture of debate between Heidi Salaverría (philosopher, professor of art theory and artistic practice) and Hengameh Yaghoobifarah (writer, editor), moderated by Amina Aziz (freelance journalist). Afterwards, we will bring filmmakers and critics together with seasoned rhetoric professionals to use the best arguments to shed light on conflicting perspectives on the concept of criticism itself. On stage, Frédéric Jaeger (filmmaker, co-founder and former artistic director of Critics’ Week), Cem Kaya (filmmaker) and Canan Turan (independent film scholar, script consultant, curator) will meet Dario Werner (German Debating Championships runner-up) and Susanna Wirthgen (German Debating Championships 2025 finalist, political scientist and economist). The direction, dramaturgy, and moderation of the performance will be handled by actor, artist, and debate format developer Martin Muth, accompanied by music by Stephan Wortmann.
On February 13 at 8 p.m., we will present a film program followed by a discussion at Hackesche Höfe Kino. The program will feature the comprehensive essay film Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989, the latest work by Swedish director Göran Hugo Olsson. The post-screening discussion with the director will address his process and the reception of the film since its release a year and a half ago.
Inspired by Olsson’s essay film, we are offering a workshop on media representation of the Middle East conflict on February 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Sinema Transtopia. The workshop will provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion of the director’s archival work, while also applying the questions raised in the film to current reporting and particularly the German media landscape. Participants will analyze and discuss the content and aesthetic characteristics of recent TV reports on the Middle East conflict. The workshop will also feature a moderated discussion with Göran Hugo Olsson and television producer Lars Säfström (SVT), as well as a presentation by Daniel Bax (author, journalist, editor) on recent developments in Middle East reporting and another on journalistic practice (speaker TBC). The workshop will be moderated by Irit Neidhardt (freelance author, curator, speaker, producer). NB: The number of participants is limited, so a short application is required to participate—details can be found on our website. Applications close January 31.
Finally, also on February 14, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Sinema Transtopia, we will present a panel discussion under the title Agree to Disagree?, in which Ruth Beckermann (filmmaker), Peter Bradshaw (film critic, editor), Emilie Bujès (festival director, Vision du Réel), and Radu Jude (filmmaker) will address the meaning of controversies in film culture. What role do critics, the media, curators, and artists themselves play when a film causes a major stir? What can we learn from controversies about cinema and art—and about audiences and the public?
We are also once again dedicating our online magazine to the thematic focus, examining conflict and debate as drivers of personal and socio-political negotiations. Our guest editor Amina Aziz has gathered various voices and approaches to this issue: Zain Assaad Salam analyzes the “Gen Z protests” in Nepal; Nelli Tügel asks how a left-wing critique of the system and the defense of the status quo can coexist; Magda Albrecht reports on her rock band’s resistance to budget cuts; Tung Le examines why conflict can be productive, using Michelle Yeoh and Jackie Chan as examples; and Dan Thy Nguyen sheds light on the discursive regression in debates within the German cultural industry. Plus: T.J. Bohlen imagines an argument between Klaus Kinski, Fritz Lang, Fassbinder, and co. about AI and cinema, Nadin Mai explores the revolutionary potential of “slow cinema,” and Enrico Ippolito reflects on different cultures of debate in his intimate short story “Streit!”
All the thematic focus events at a glance:
February 9, 7 p.m.
Akademie der Künste, Pariser Platz 4, 10117 Berlin
Opening Event
Doors: 6.30 p.m., in German and English
Tickets available on the Akademie der Künste website
Keynote by Heinz Emigholz (filmmaker, member of the Akademie der Künste)
Discussion between Heidi Salaverría (philosopher, professor of art theory and artistic practice) and Hengameh Yaghoobifarah (writer, editor)
Moderation: Amina Aziz (freelance journalist)
Break
Debate performance, staged and moderated by Martin Muth (debate format developer, moderator, artist), with music by Stephan Wortmann
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).
Reception
February 13, 8 p.m.
Hackesche Höfe Kino, Rosenthaler Str. 40–41, 10178 Berlin
Film program with discussion
Tickets available on the Hackesche Höfe Kino website
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
Guest: Göran Hugo Olsson
February 14, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Sinema Transtopia, Lindower Str. 20/22, Haus C, 13347 Berlin
Workshop on the media representation of the Middle East conflict
See application details on our website
Discussion with filmmaker Göran Hugo Olsson and television producer Lars Säfström
Keynote presentations by Daniel Bax (author, journalist, editor) and others TBC
Moderation: Irit Neidhardt (freelance author, curator, speaker, producer)
February 14, 3:30 p.m.
Sinema Transtopia, Lindower Str. 20/22, Haus C, 13347 Berlin
Panel Discussion: Agree to Disagree? – The Meaning of Controversies in Film Culture
Admission is free of charge
Guests: Ruth Beckermann (filmmaker), Peter Bradshaw (film critic, editor), Emilie Bujès (festival director, Vision du Réel), and Radu Jude (filmmaker)
Critics’ Week 2026 will take place from February 9 to 17. 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 Leben BRD (1990) © Harun Farocki GbR