• ifs graduates Duc-Thi Bui and Philipp Lutz nominated for the Thomas Strittmatter Prize with their screenplay »Malibu«
• ifs is a founding participant of the first Berlinale Film School Summit
• ifs students present projects at ENCOURAGE Film Talents

Numerous graduates of the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln will be represented with their projects in various sections at the 76th Berlinale (12 to 22 February, 2026). 

In the Panorama Section, the feature film »Vier minus drei« (Dir. Adrian Goiginger) will celebrate its world premiere, with the screenplay written by ifs alumnus Senad Halibasic. Also on the team: alumni Simon Blasi (editing, among other things) and Mustafa Shirin (Set Dresser). The feature film »Staatsschutz« by Faraz Shariat will also have its world premiere in the same section. The team included ifs professor Rolf Mütze (Visual Effects Executive Producer) and ifs alumni Matthias Backmann (Compositing Supervisor), Jan Pfitzner (DI Digital Intermediate Supervisor), and Justus Maus (Compositing Artist). 
The documentary film »Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest« (Dir. Viv Li) will have its world premiere in the Panorama Dokumente section, with alumnus Christoph Bargfrede responsible for editing. Alumnus Jan Pfitzner was also involved in the feature film »The Weight« (Dir. Padraic McKinley) (as DI Digital Intermediate Supervisor), as were Cora Pratz (Production Design) and Maximilian Leo (Producer), which is having its European premiere in the Special Gala series. The novel adaptation »Liebhaberinnen« (Dir. Koxi) will have its world premiere in the Forum section. Alumnus Jascha Viel was part of the team as Sound Mixer.

As part of the Berlinale Series Market, the exclusive preview series Berlinale Series Market Selects will feature the series »All Heroes are Bastards« (Screenplay: including ifs alumna Lena Tusche) and »Cold Haven« (Producer: ifs alumnus Pedro Lopes).
The series »In My Secret Life« (Creator/Writer: ifs alumnus Jóhann Ævar Grímsson) will be presented in the Co-Pro Series series.
The Up Next: Germany showcase at the Berlinale Series Market presents selected series projects from Germany. ifs professor Jan Martin Scharf wrote the screenplay for »Die Düsteren« together with Arne Nolting. ifs alumnus Lucas Seeberger is part of the team as editor for »4 Blocks Zero«.
Alumna Cora Pratz is a guest speaker on the panel »Controlled Chaos: The Production Design Process« in the Berlinale Talents Talk series.

As part of the Berlinale, the Thomas Strittmatter Prize for outstanding screenwriting will be awarded on 18 February. Among the three nominated projects is »Malibu« by ifs alumni Duc-Thi Bui and Philipp Lutz. The nomination alone comes with prize money of €2,500. The prize is awarded by MFG Filmförderung and is endowed with €20,000.
On 15 February, when the German Film Critics' Award is presented, it will be time to keep our fingers crossed for projects involving alumni: »Raumteiler« (Editing: alumnus Patrick Hanemann, nomination for Best Feature Film Debut), »Grüße vom Mars« (Editing: alumna Nicole Kortlüke, nomination for Best Children's Film), »September 5« (VFX Executive Producer: ifs professor Rolf Mütze, Compositing Artist: alumnus Matthias Backmann, nomination for Best Feature Film).
ifs alumni also have a chance to win an award on 20 February, when the German Academy for Television presents its DAfFNE Award for outstanding individual achievements in German television in Berlin. In the VFX & ANIMATION category, ifs professor Rolf Mütze and ifs alumni Timo Stampa and Matthias Backmann are nominated alongside Johanna Bischopink, Mareike Keller, and Christian Laskawi for »Ich bin Dagobert«.

In addition, the ifs is a founding participant in the first Berlinale Film School Summit, a new initiative within the European Film Market that brings together outstanding students of directing and production from leading international film schools. The aim is to promote a new generation of filmmakers who think globally, collaborate across borders, and actively shape the future of cinema. Throughout the EFM, participants will gain exclusive insights into the Berlinale and its departments. The programme culminates in a concentrated Summit Day on 17 February, which promotes direct exchange with up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world. The ifs is sending seven participants.

The ENCOURAGE Film Talents initiative invites young filmmakers and industry professionals to a get-together at the Center for Art and Urbanistics on 17 February, featuring pitch sessions and panel discussions, accompanied by screenings at Babylon Berlin on 16 February. Here, ifs students Elias Förderer and Karla Kristen will pitch their documentary project »Safe Space«. The screening programme on 16 February will feature the ifs graduation film »Splitter« (Director/Screenplay: Marie Pauline Bagh, Creative Producing: Pauline Schläger, Production: Julius Nerlich, Philip Malewicz, DoP: Jakob Dombrowski, Editing/Sound Design: Hannah Burgmann, Set Design: Franziska Schellhorn), which just premiered at the Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival.

At this year's Screenwriters' Lounge of the German Screenwriters' Association (DDV), ifs alumna Nadine Gottmann will be participating in the panel »Anatomy of a Twist – How Mystery Series Build Suspense«, moderated by ifs alumnus Marvin Meiendresch. ifs alumna Lea Albring will moderate a panel on the topic »New Gender Images: Angry FLINTA* Characters on the Rise«. ifs professor Jan Martin Scharf will be a guest speaker on the panel »Writing Teams: Working Together for Success« – together with his co-author Arne Nolting.

Graduates of the ifs will once again have the opportunity to exchange ideas at the traditional alumni meeting on 16 February. The ifs European Showrunner Programme is also inviting alumni and showrunners to an intensive discussion at a »European Showrunner Network« dinner on 14 February. 
The »Series Mixer« event on 17 February brings together students and alumni from five European series programs, including the ifs' master's programme MA Serial Storytelling.
 

Created on 09.02.2026