The Berlinale has announced an exciting lineup for its 2026 edition, emphasizing a significant expansion of television and episodic content at the European Film Market (EFM). The festival will also feature a diverse Forum and Forum Expanded program that highlights political, documentary, and experimental works. Running from February 15 to 18, the Berlinale Series Market will serve as the cornerstone for serial content, showcasing a range of international productions.
This year’s EFM will present a total of 17 scripted series and three docuseries. Notable titles include the Brazilian drama Emergency 53, which chronicles the challenges faced by a mobile emergency service unit. The selection also features the Iberian period romance The Marquise, set against the backdrop of love, art, and revolution in 18th-century Europe, and the Bosnian mystery series Kovar, which follows the disappearance of a busload of travelers in the Komar mountains.
Morocco, named the Country in Focus for the 2026 EFM, will have a dedicated showcase within the Berlinale Series Market. This will provide insights into upcoming Moroccan series projects and the country’s cash rebate system, fostering international collaboration.
The festival’s renewed emphasis on episodic content will be reflected in the Berlinale Special Series, where six new series will be screened. The showcase Up Next: Germany will highlight new German projects, including the science fiction narrative The Dark Ones, which revolves around an alien invasion, and the docuseries Clangold, exploring the infamous heist of a massive gold coin from Berlin’s Bode Museum in 2017.
Additionally, the Berlinale Co-Production Market’s Co-Pro Series strand will feature 10 international projects seeking co-production partners and funding. Among these are the Spanish heist series Robbery, Beating and Death, the Dutch project Jomanda!, Romania’s post-World War I drama Angelmaker, and Hedgehogs in the Haze, directed by Danis Tanović from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Forum Highlights Diverse Cinematic Voices
Beyond the television focus, the Forum section will present a compelling lineup of avant-garde cinema, showcasing debut features from countries such as Brazil, Colombia, China, India, Japan, and Germany. This selection includes politically charged fiction and extensive documentary projects addressing themes of colonial history, war, racism, and social change.
Among the long-form documentary projects featured is Black Lions — Roman Wolves, a nearly ten-hour work by filmmaker Haile Gerima. The Forum will also include an array of Asian horror features, such as AnyMart from Japan, directed by Yusuke Iwasaki, and Ghost in the Cell, an Indonesian horror-comedy by Joko Anwar. Another notable entry is the Belgian art project Joy Boy: A Tribute To Julius Eastman, which honors the iconic African American composer through the work of a transnational artist collective.
The full lineup for the 2026 Berlin Film Festival will be announced on January 20, 2026, promising an engaging exploration of contemporary cinema. As the festival approaches, anticipation builds for what is set to be a remarkable celebration of both established and emerging talent in the film industry.