Press
Welcome to the ifs press area!
Press releases
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.
»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
“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
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 @ 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
Dr. Melanie Andernach is the new professor of Creative Producing at the ifs
With this appointment, the ifs gains a nationally and internationally award-winning and experienced producer as its new professor.
New appointments to professorships at the ifs
Julia Daschner is the new professor of Cinematography, Jan Martin Scharf is the new professor of Serial Storytelling
Graduation film awarded FIRST STEPS 2025 prize
Animated film »Fake News« wins in the Short Steps category
How to entertain: »Masterclass Entertainment« 2025 at the ifs
Part-time professional training on non-fictional entertainment
Boosting the Next Generation:
Panel on Diversity in the Film Industry – Success and future prospects of University Cooperation at FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
Master's pitch of the ifs series talents at the Seriencamp 2025
Final presentation of the Master's Programme »Serial Storytelling«
European Showrunner Programme at ifs Announces New Cohort
Top Series Writers from Across Europe Join Fourth Edition of Prestigious Training
ifs celebrates 25th anniversary & graduation of the 10th year of the BA Film programme
Greetings from the state of NRW, the city of Cologne and the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW
»1st Female Gaze - CineOne & sPOTTlight Young Talent Award for Image Creators in NRW« goes to ifs graduate Zoé Dumas
IFFF Dortmund + Cologne Young Talent Award presented for the first time for the image design of the ifs graduation film ‘El Mártir’
Part-time Master's programme »Entertainment Producing« starts again at the ifs
Sustainable support and scholarship providers from the industry. Application phase runs until 15 April 2025, online information event on 1 April
STREAM, the network of 10 European training institutions, signs a common charter of values and objectives for series
Ensuring the future of European series through cooperation
World premieres, nominations and panels: alumni, professors and students of the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln at the Berlinale 2025
Including the world premiere of »The Kiss of the Grasshopper«, alumnus Duc-Thi Bui nominated for the German Screenplay Award
KI. Medien – neue Weiterbildungsreihe zu KI in den audiovisuellen Medien
On 27 March, the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln launches the new further education series ‘KI. Medien’.
ifs @ The Max Ophüls Film Festival 2025
ifs Film »quicksand« celebrates premiere in short film competition
ifs film honoured at the Poitiers Film Festival
»El Mártir« wins the Grand Prix du jury
German Young Screenwriter Award for ifs student Robert Deçani
»Ithaka« awarded at the up-and-coming screenplay festival in Hanover
The future of digital storytelling
Final presentation of the Master's programme »Digital Narratives« 2024
New German Cinema Award at the Munich Film Festival for ifs graduation film
»O Chale«: Atika Jumaih Bashiru awarded for Best Acting Performance
European Showrunner Training at ifs announces Participants
Top writers from accross Europe to take part in Round 3
How to entertain: »Masterclass Entertainment« at the ifs
Professional training in non-fictional entertainment
»Passion for film?« – Insights into film study programmes and workshops
»Open House« on 09 March 2024 at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln
»Building bridges between science, film practice and mediation«
Bettina Henzler is the new Professor of Film Studies at the ifs
ifs graduation film awarded gold prize at the Hof Film Festival
Director Pauline Schläger receives the award for »Dann lieber sterben«
Series trends and the showrunner model, young talents and current projects 2023
The ifs at the Film Festival Cologne 2023
ifs graduation film honored with FIRST STEPS Award 2023 film prize
Graduation film »Bloom« wins young talent award in the Short Steps category
Bloom
FIRST STEPS Award 2023 – Short Steps
Humour in demand – »Masterclass Comedy« at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln
Practical writing training for non-fictional comedy and entertainment formats starts on 06.11.
ifs graduation films nominated three times for FIRST STEPS award award
»El Mártir«, »Bloom« and DoP Zoé Dumas are nominated
»If you are seen, you belong«
Promoting diversity in film: Workshop »Work and Connect« with About Me videos
ifs @ Max Ophüls Preis film festival 2024
Two ifs films premiere in the competition of the 45th Max Ophüls Preis film festival
Professional training in acting at the ifs starts again
Actors can now apply for the acting workout and casting workshop in autumn
Master’s Pitch of the ifs serial talents
Final presentation of the master’s programme »Serial Storytelling« for the first time at the Seriencamp
Launch of Massive Open Online Course »Diversity in Film and Media«
14 modules on gender theory, queer studies, disability representation, decolonizing film studies etc.
Sebastian Soukup is new professor for production design at the ifs
The renowned production designer is currently nominated for the German Film Award in the Category Best Production Design ("Der vermessene Mensch")