Berlin Film Festival 2024: A Frustratingly Empathetic Review

A light dusting of snow fell on Berlin’s Berlinale Palast this Monday, February 16, 2026, as the 76th Berlin International Film Festival continued. The festival, which began February 12th and runs through February 22nd, is drawing crowds despite the cold conditions, with a program featuring 22 films in competition and a total of 19 works in the Berlinale Special section, including six documentaries and six series.

The Berlinale’s atmosphere, described as energetic and stylish, concentrates activity around cinemas and festival hubs, leaving other parts of the city relatively calm. Ticket sales open three days before each screening at 10:00, creating a predictable rhythm for attendees. This year’s festival includes large-format “Star Portraits” displayed at the Berlinale Palast, signed by the actors before their gala premieres.

Founded in 1951 during the Cold War, the festival originally aimed to serve as a “showcase of the free world” in a divided Berlin. Over the decades, it has evolved into a politically engaged event, reflecting the city’s history and its position as a cultural crossroads. The current program showcases filmmakers from around the world, working at the top of their craft, according to festival organizers.

Today’s press conferences and red carpets featured presentations for films including Wo Men Bu Shi Mo Sheng Ren by Anthony Chen, Die Blutgräfin by Ulrike Ottinger, At the Sea by Kornél Mundruczó, and Nina Roza by Geneviève Dulude-de Celles. The festival’s photo diary, funded by principal partners, is documenting the event.

The Berlinale offers a variety of curated collections based on genre, interest, and format, inviting audiences to discover the program from different perspectives. A selection of film posters from this year’s program is also on display. Trailers and film excerpts are available online.