Aktuelles
Recap Final Presentation MA Digital Narratives
Students of the MA in Digital Narratives programme celebrate their graduation with impressive projects
New Technologies, New Stories: How Creatives Are Shaping the Future of Digital Storytelling
July 16: Final presentation for the ifs »Digital Narratives« master’s programme
News from alumni in July 2026
Sony Future Filmmaker Award for »Two Travelling Aunties«, cinematography by Antonia Schäfer
Fifth edition of the European Showrunner Training has started
Insights from the first in-person workshop in Cologne – with Jeppe Gjervig Gram, Marianne Wendt and Chris Chibnall
ifs success at Kinofest Lünen 2026
»Wild Wild Westphalia« Wins Short Film Award
»European Showrunner Programme« at ifs Announces New Cohort 2026
Top Series Writers from Across Europe Join Fifth Edition of Prestigious Training
ifs @ Seriencamp 2026
Many students and alumni will be participating in the 2026 Seriencamp, at the ifs Series Showcase, with projects or as panelists.
News from alumni in June 2026
The drama »I spy with my little eye« by Alisa Kolosova will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York
ifs at Cannes International Film Festival 2026
Productions of and by ifs alumni and Profs in Cannes, »Heimsuchung – Eine Jahrhundertgeschichte« among others
Alumni News in May 2026
Alumna Fiona Brands wins at the British Film Editors Awards, and her alumni projects are featured in theaters, on TV, on streaming platforms, and at festivals, among other places
»Cyclus« wins award at Filmfest Dresden
Winner of the Audience Award in the Children's and Youth Section
»The Sons of Ilir« wins at Filmfest Bremen
ifs graduation film awarded Best Fictional Film from Bremen
News from Alumni and Profs in April 2026
Alumna Fiona Brands nominated for a BAFTA Television Award – for her work as editor on the series »Slow Horses« and more
»Exploring the current significance of film in digital culture«
Dr. Peter Scheinpflug is the new Professor of Media Studies at the ifs
»Take a Look!« – Insights into Film Programmes and Careers
»Open House« on March 21, 2026, at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln
The Sam Spiegel Film and Television School and ifs have launched a joint Female Leadership Programme
The programme aims at empowering excellence for alumnae of both schools
News from ifs alumni in March 2026
»Kompagnon Fellowship« Award for »Maya with Y« by ifs alumnus and director Elmar Imanov, as well as other awards, festival screenings, and theatrical releases and more
Recap: ifs @ Berlinale 2026
Pitch, Panels, Networking
Thomas Strittmatter Preis 2026 for ifs alumni Duc-Thi Bui and Philipp Lutz
Award for the screenplay »Malibu« presented at an MFG reception during the 76th Berlinale
»Malibu« | Thomas Strittmatter Preis
ifs alumni Duc-Thi Bui (Screenplay) and Philipp Lutz (Creative Producing)
Encourage Film Talents @ Berlinale
Project »Safe Space« by the ifs students Elias Förderer und Karla Kristen wins KOLLABORATIV AWARD
“Successful experiment”: SOKO Köln episode by ifs students airs on 17 February on ZDF
Screenwriting students developed and wrote the episode »Doppeltes Kaliber«
ifs @ Berlinale 2026
Numerous alumni, students, and professors from the ifs are represented with projects at the 2026 Berlinale
Alumni News in February 2026
Highlights include the streaming premiere of »Fabian and the Murderous Wedding«, ifs alumni at the Berlinale, and funding announcements
Inside »The Pitt« – Creative Collaboration in the US Showrunner Model
with R. Scott Gemmill (»The Pitt«), Uta Briesewitz (»The Pitt«, »Stranger Things«) and Valerie Chu (»The Pitt«, »Nashville«)
ifs success at the Max Ophüls Preis Film Festival 2026
Graduation film »My Name Akim« wins audience award for best medium-length film
ifs Publishes First Comprehensive Report on Showrunning in Europe
»Showrunning in Europe – Skills, Tasks, Responsibilities«
ifs graduation film nominated at 24. Visual Effects Society Awards
»Flying from War« by Ciara Borgards in the category »Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project«
ifs @ Max Ophüls Preis Film Festival 2026
Two ifs films celebrate their premiere at the festival: »My Name Akim« in the medium-length film competition and »Splitter« in the short film competition
News from alumni in January 2026
Theatrical release of “Astrid Lindgren: Humanity Has Lost Its Mind,” numerous alumni projects at the Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival, on TV, and on streaming platforms
Peaceful holidays 2025
The ifs will be closed from 22 December 2025 to 2 January 2026.
ifs ecnounter: Edimotion with »Jurassic Park«
with Editor Gesa Jäger