Internationales Filmfest Ilsenburg (1)

Festival start: 24 September 2026      Festival end: 27 September 2026

1st International Film Festival Ilsenburg (I.F.I.) 2026

A “new little Locarno” in the Harz Mountains –
new international cinema in a medieval Romanesque setting

The 1st I.F.I. 2026 is more than a film festival – it marks the birth of a new cultural beacon in the Harz Mountains and Saxony-Anhalt.

In the atmospheric architecture of the monastery and castle high above the town of Ilsenburg, we will be presenting new international and national cinema from September 24 to 27, 2026, framed by one of Germany's most famous hiking and nature areas, the Harz National Park – and at the most beautiful time of year: the “golden autumn.”

Ilsenburg is an established and popular health resort and attracts thousands of tourists from all over Europe every year due to its particularly mild climate. As the ideal starting point for a hike up the highest mountain in northern Germany, the town is also known as the “Gateway to the Brocken.”
As Saxony-Anhalt's youngest and only location-based international film festival, from 2026 we will offer filmmakers from all over the world a setting that is probably unique in the world: the almost 1000-year-old UNESCO-worthy Romanesque castle and monastery complex with fantastic views of the surrounding Harz Mountains.

In official cooperations with the `City of Ilsenburg`, the ´Ilsenburg Monastery Foundation`, the `Friends and Supporters of Ilsenburg Monastery Association` and sponsors from business and industry the first I.F.I. will show latest film productions, including world-, German-, and European premieres. International feature films, short films, and documentaries will be screened in five different competition categories before the I.F.I. Awards will be presented for the first time in various categories: the main prize, the IFI2026 for the best international feature film.

Throughout the I.F.I. days, after selected screenings, industry professionals—invited directors, actors, and producers—will engage in a close intellectual exchange with the audience in the form of Q&A events or exclusive film talks. A film-related accompanying program of seminars and workshops with filmmakers and a (film) music program will round off the first I.F.I.

Screening Fee Shorts: 15€
Screening Fee Features: 35€

`I F I 2 0 2 6 `- Award
Grand prize for the best feature film (international)

´B R O C K E N B L I C K 2 0 2 6 `- Award
For innovative feature-length productions by young filmmakers (national)

`I L S E S T E I N 2 0 2 6 `-Award
Vote for the most popular film among viewers
(national & international)

`W E T T E R L E U C H T E N 2026`-Award
Competition for the best short film (international)
Topics: Nature, weather, mountains, and animals

`B E R G S T R A S S E 2 0 2 6`- Award
Competition for the best documentary film
(international

`Out of competition`:
`M Y H E A R T : H A R Z !`- Award

Local Children's & Youth Award for children and young people aged 10-14
Shoot your own short film with your smartphone (max. 5 min)!
We are looking for the best young director
in the Harz region!
...let your imagination run wild!

Show us `your` Harz, your area,
your people, your story!
Content requirements:
The Harz region should also play a role
in your film in some way
and you should film in widescreen format
(i.e., not portrait but landscape,
because we want to show your film on a cinema screen)
...but otherwise you can do whatever you want (!)

(Without depictions of violence
and discrimination, of course.)

For all competitions:

We prefer first and second films by directors.
The production year of the works (final cut) should be 2025 or 2026.

For logistical reasons, we cannot accept physical submissions by mail (DVD, USB stick, etc.).
Submissions are only possible via internet filmfestival platforms or directly via the Email adress which is mentioned on the `I.F.I.`-Homepage.

By submitting their entries, production companies/filmmakers expressly agree to the use of the submitted material for promotional purposes for the I.F.I. 2026 (including excerpts in the form of a festival trailer) for all media, including social media.

All submissions must be undertitled in english language
(also submissions in original german language)

The `Mein Herz: Harz!`-Award submissions don`t need subtitles.

The deadline for submissions in all competitions except `the `Mein Herz: Harz`-Award is July 15, 2026.

The deadline for the `Mein Herz: Harz!`-Award is 08/01 /2026.


In the event of an award nomination in one of the I.F.I. 2026 competitions, the DCP format is expected on a hard drive for screening at the I.F.I. This must arrive at the I.F.I. by September 1, 2026, as insured mail or by courier. The return/return of the other medium will take place no later than 2 months after the end of the festival.

If the DCP has not arrived at the specified I.F.I. postal address by the specified date, the nomination will unfortunately be invalid for organizational reasons and another production must then be nominated.

A processing fee will be charged for submitted films.