September 2025: Notable Cinematic Happenings of the Month

In the heart of Europe, Berlin is gearing up for an extraordinary cinematic season, with a diverse lineup of film festivals set to captivate audiences from September to October. Here's a rundown of the exciting events on the horizon.

filmPOLSKA

Kicking off the festivities is filmPOLSKA, a festival that shines a spotlight on regional cinema, with a focus on debut or second feature films. This year's competition programme includes Glorious Summer by Helena Ganjalyan and Bartosz Szpak, Flowers of Ukraine by Adelina Borets, and Letters from Wolf Street by Arjun Talwar. The Panorama programme will showcase the best of contemporary Polish cinema, and the festival will also feature a concert focusing on Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz, as well as works by Frederic Chopin and Karol Szymanowski.

Fantasy Filmfest

For those with a penchant for the fantastical, the Fantasy Filmfest returns with a variety of genres, including contemporary erotic thrillers, neo-folk horror, and gangster epics. One highlight is Bone Lake, an erotic thriller about a couple's stay at a remote lakeside estate that is disrupted by the arrival of an enigmatic pair. The festival, established in 1987, is renowned for its premieres of cult classics, with past highlights including Freeway (1996), Cure (1997), Donnie Darko (2001), Wild Things (1998), and The Blair Witch Project (1999).

Festival of Animation

Animation enthusiasts will be thrilled to learn that the Festival of Animation returns for its 8th edition, showcasing 131 animated works from 33 countries from September 26-28. The festival will traverse 2D, 3D, stop-motion, hand-drawn, and mixed media, with everything from narrative film to experimental. This year, the festival will feature a special focus on Japanese animation. However, no specific information about artists or directors attending the premiere in Berlin is available at this time.

Kurdish Film Festival

The Kurdish Film Festival, now in its 15th year, will take place at Babylon, Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 30, Mitte from September 25-October 1. The festival promises to showcase a diverse range of films that reflect the rich cultural heritage and contemporary issues of the Kurdish community.

Queer Film Festival

The Queer Film Festival screens some of the year's boldest, funniest, and most beautiful queer cinema. Special guests like Jan Eilhardt and Marcio Reolon & Filipe Matzembacher will be in attendance, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.

The Festival of Animation's Special Anniversary Screening

In celebration of the International Animated Film Association's 65th anniversary, the Festival of Animation will host a special anniversary screening. Details about the screening are yet to be announced.

Idiocinecratic

For those interested in overlooked, rarely seen, and forgotten films, Idiocinecratic is a brand-new screening series that sets its sights on such cinematic gems. The series will feature Sarah Jacobson's Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore (1996) and Martha Coolidge's Not a Pretty Picture (1976).

The Hump! Film Festival

The world's best erotic film festival, The Hump! Film Festival, will feature 22 spicy adult short films and take place at Babylon Kreuzberg, Dresdener Str. 126, Kreuzberg on September 23-24.

The Silent Film Live Festival

Rounding off the list is The Silent Film Live Festival, a 10-day event that celebrates the magic of Berlin's pre-Marvel and pre-dialogue cinema. The festival features films scored live by an in-house organist.

Lastly, the Festival of Animation will have six competitions: International, German, New Talent, Commissioned Films, Pink Panda (for children from preschool to secondary school), and feature films.

Get ready, Berlin! This autumn promises to be a cinematic extravaganza not to be missed.