Mala Emde to Receive Spotlight Award at “Berlin & Beyond” Film Festival

San Francisco will host the 30th anniversary edition of the “Berlin & Beyond” Film Festival, the largest German-language film festival in the United States, beginning March 19, 2026. The festival will open with a screening of “Köln 75” and an appearance by actor Mala Emde, who will receive the Spotlight Award for her performance in the film.

The Goethe-Institut San Francisco is presenting the festival, which will showcase feature films, documentaries, and short films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. “Köln 75” centers on Vera Brandes, who at the age of 18, organized a 1975 concert by jazz musician Keith Jarrett, now considered a landmark recording known as “The Köln Concert.” The film portrays Brandes as a determined young woman who overcame obstacles to achieve her goals.

Emde, a Frankfurt-born actress known for her roles in “Meine Tochter Anne Frank” and “Die Mittagsfrau,” will be honored with the Spotlight Award for her acting achievement. Festival organizers similarly expect director Ido Fluk to attend. Previous recipients of the Spotlight Award include Christiane Paul, Bjarne Mädel, Lars Eidinger, Frederick Lau, Julia Jentsch, Tom Schilling, and Ronald Zehrfeld.

The festival will grab place across four venues in the San Francisco Bay Area, culminating on March 23, 2026. The opening night gala will be held at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre.