Competition Lineup: Major Players and Newcomers on the Scene

The Competition section remains the heart of the Berlinale — politically charged, formally ambitious, and resolutely international. These films often define the tone of the festival and fuel its most passionate debates.

Alain Gomis’ Dao marks a return to Berlinale Competition for the director, who previously won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize for Félicité. Adapted from his own novel, the film unfolds around a Parisian wedding overshadowed by grief, as the sudden death of a family member in Guinea-Bissau exposes emotional fractures and unresolved histories.

Veteran Berlinale presence Angela Schanelec competes this year with My Wife Cries. Known for her austere, elliptical style, Schanelec’s latest film observes a marriage at a breaking point, using restrained performances and fragmented storytelling to explore emotional distance, intimacy, and silence.

Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton returns to Berlin with Wolfram, a character-driven drama that follows an isolated protagonist navigating identity, memory, and belonging. While Thornton has yet to receive a Berlinale award, his work carries strong international pedigree, including major recognition at Cannes.

After a well-received Panorama outing in 2023, İlker Çatak steps into Competition with Yellow Letters, a politically charged drama centered on artists confronting censorship and state pressure. The film examines the personal cost of resistance and the fragile space between creative freedom and survival.

Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó brings At the Sea to Competition, starring Hollywood starlet Amy Adams in a melancholic portrait of a woman struggling with alcoholism whileattempting to rebuild trust with her family. The film leans into Mundruczó’s signature emotional intensity and intimate character focus.

For documentary-leaning audiences, Everybody Digs Bill Evans by Grant Gee offers a layered portrait of legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans. Drawing on archival material and personal accounts, the film traces Evans’ artistic brilliance alongside his battles with addiction, grief, and the pressures of fame. More experimental in form, Yo (Love Is a Rebellious Bird), documents a decade-long artistic and personal project, following its subject’s evolving identity and creative process over ten years, blurring the boundaries between documentary, performance, andself-portraiture.

Beyond Competition: Galas, Panorama & Sleeper Hits

Outside the main Competition is where Berlinale often loosens its tie. Special Gala premieres bring star power and buzz, pairing high-profile casts with films designed to travel well beyond the festival circuit.

This year’s opening film, No Good Men, sets the tone with a glossy, crowd-pleasing premiere. The Blood Countess (Die Blutgräfin) stars Isabelle Huppert in a darkly stylized reimagining of a historical figure, blending horror, myth, and psychological drama. Meanwhile, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York brings a lighter touch, following a small-time thief navigating friendship, loyalty, and survival in contemporary New York, led by John Turturro and Steve Buscemi.

Then there’s Panorama — the section locals and critics quietly love the most. Known for bold storytelling, queer cinema, and urgent social themes, Panorama is often where Berlinale’s sleeper hits are hiding. Highlights include Only Rebels Win, a politically charged drama about resistance and love under pressure; A Russian Winter, an intimate portrait of displacement and emotional survival; Shanghai Daughter, which explores generational identity and cultural inheritance; Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest, a poetic reflection on migration and belonging; and If I Were Alive…, a quietly devastating film that blends memory, imagination, and personal history.

Tickets, Screenings & Survival Tips

The first wave of tickets will be available from Monday, February 9th, at 10 a.m., and are released on a rolling basis. Tickets are released shortly before screenings and sell fast, so flexibility is key. Have backups, embrace daytime shows, and don’t sleep on smaller venues — some of the best festival moments happen far from the main red carpets.

Berlinale marks a brief time in which cinema is woven into everyday life. For one intense week, Berlin becomes a place to watch the world — and itself — reflected back on screen. Stay informed of Berlinale’s program and screenings to see your top choice films. See you in the queue!