Fresh ideas, new faces and great emotions: In January 2026, the Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival will once again make Saarbrücken the meeting place for young German-language film.
In January 2026, Saarbrücken will once again be transformed into the center of young German-language film: the Max Ophüls Preis film festival will open its cinemas and stages for the 47th time. As the most important festival for up-and-coming filmmakers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg, it offers young directors a stage to present their first to third works to a large audience.
The upcoming edition will once again present the tried and tested four competitions - feature films, documentaries, medium-length and short films - and award the renowned Max Ophüls Prize to the best entries. In addition, visitors can look forward to a varied supporting program: panel discussions, workshop talks, panels with filmmakers, concerts and encounters that have made the festival a lively meeting place for audiences and the industry for decades.
The festival sees itself not only as a platform for new cinematic voices, but also as a place for social debate. Many films take up current topics, shed light on personal and political stories and invite an open dialog. In January, Saarbrücken will once again become a showcase for creative experiments, cinematic innovations and courageous young artists who are shaping the cinema of tomorrow with their works.
January 19 to 25, 2026
