ifs alumni Duc-Thi Bui and Philipp Lutz are the winners of the 2026 Thomas Strittmatter Preis. They were honoured for their screenplay for the drama »Malibu«. The award, worth €20,000, is one of the most lucrative screenplay awards in Germany. It is sponsored by MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg.

»Malibu« tells the story of 17-year-olds Jonas and David, who meet while battling cancer – a story about closeness, friendship, and love, told with great sensitivity and cinematic power. The jury, chaired by Laila Stieler, praised the screenplay as “outstanding” and particularly commended the authors' attitude toward their characters as well as the lightness and magic of the narrative.
The award was presented during a festive MFG reception at the Baden-Württemberg State Representation by Arne Braun, State Secretary in the MWK Baden-Württemberg, and MFG Managing Director Carl Bergengruen. Actress Anne Ratte-Polle provided a special moment of the evening with a dramatic reading from the screenplay.

The feature film »Vier minus drei« (Dir. Adrian Goiginger), for which ifs alumnus Senad Halibasic wrote the screenplay, celebrated its world premiere in the Panorama section. Also on the team: alumni Simon Blasi (Editing, among others) and Mustafa Shirin (Set Dresser). 
The feature film »Staatsschutz« by Faraz Shariat also had its world premiere in the same series. 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) had 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« (photo; Dir: Padraic McKinley) (as DI Digital Intermediate Supervisor), as well as Cora Pratz (Production Design) and Maximilian Leo (Producer), which had its European premiere in the Special Gala series. Alumna Cora Pratz was a guest speaker on the panel »Controlled Chaos: The Production Design Process« in the Berlinale Talents Talk series.
The novel adaptation »Liebhaberinnen« (Dir. Koxi) had its world premiere in the Forum section. Alumnus Jascha Viehl was part of the team as Mixing Sound Engineer.
 

The exclusive preview series Berlinale Series Market Selects featured the series »All Heroes are Bastards« (funded by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Screenplay: ifs alumna Lena Tusche, among others) and »Cold Haven« (Producer: ifs alumnus Pedro Lopes).
In the Co-Pro Series, ifs alumnus Jóhann Ævar Grímsson presented his series »In My Secret Life«.
The Up Next: Germany showcase presented selected series projects from Germany, including »Die Düsteren« by ifs professors Jan Martin Scharf and Arne Nolting. »Clangold« (working title) was also presented, with ifs graduate Tabea Hannappel involved in the documentary series as a junior editor. ifs alumnus Lucas Seeberger is part of the team as editor on »4 Blocks Zero«.

At this year's Screenwriters' Lounge of the German Screenwriters' Association (DDV), ifs alumna Nadine Gottmann participated in the panel »Anatomie eines Twists – Wie Mystery-Serien Spannung bauen«, moderated by ifs alumnus Marvin Meiendresch. ifs alumna Lea Albring moderated a panel on the topic »Neue Geschlechterbilder: Wütende FLINTA*-Figuren on the Rise«. ifs professor Jan Martin Scharf was a guest speaker on the panel »Schreib-Teams: Gemeinsam zum Erfolg«  – together with his co-author Arne Nolting.

The ifs was a founding participant in the first Berlinale Film School Summit. This new initiative, part of the European Film Market, 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. The ifs sent seven participants to the summit.
Throughout the EFM, all participants gained exclusive insights into the Berlinale and its departments. The programme culminated in a concentrated full-day Summit Day on 17 February, which promoted direct exchange with up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world. Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle welcomed the participants at the start of the day. The programme included a master class with Peter Carlton (Warp Films, producer of »Adolescence«), a panel discussion on »From Film School to Festival: Presenting Your Graduate Film in a Major Festival« with the makers of »Baby Star« and a case study on »In die Sonne schauen«.

On 17 February, the »ENCOURAGE Film Talents« initiative invited young filmmakers and industry professionals to a get-together at the Center for Art and Urbanistics, featuring pitches and panels, accompanied by screenings on 16 February at the Babylon Berlin cinema. 
At the get-together on 17 February, ifs students Elias Förderer and Karla Kristen pitched their documentary project »Safe Space« – and were awarded the KOLLABORATIV AWARD for it. The award goes to two teams that work collaboratively on material development. »Dogwhistle« was selected alongside »Safe Space«. The award consists of a workshop worth €3,500, in which the filmmakers are taught tools and methods for team-based material development. Congratulations! 
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 had previously premiered at the Max Ophüls Preis Film Festival.

Graduates of the ifs once again took the opportunity to exchange ideas at the traditional alumni get-together on 16 February, together with the Mediengründerzentrum NRW.
 

The European Showrunner Programme of the ifs once again invited alumni and showrunners to an intensive discussion at a »European Showrunner Network« dinner on 14 February. 

The networking event »Series Mixer« on 17 February brought together students and alumni from five European series programmes, including the ifs' Master's programme Serial Storytelling.