14.02.2026 – 21.02.2026

HESSEN TALENTS 2026

HESSEN TALENTS will promote the exchange and networking of young filmmakers during the Berlin International Film Festival from February 14 to 21.

Twelve Hessian graduation and semester films form the inter-university short film program 2026, showcasing the production diversity of the four film-making universities of the hFMA network in Darmstadt, Kassel, Offenbach and Wiesbaden. The program is selected by the expert audience of the Hessian University Film Day and by the professors of the participating universities.

The films of the HESSEN TALENTS 2026

G QUETIAPINE (5:50 min) by Siyan Liu, Kunsthochschule Kassel
BUTTERFLY-BASIN (13:28 min) by Evgenii Muzalevski, HfG Offenbach
DIE LEUTE GUCKEN SCHON (23:00 min) by Jakob Müller Bouhlou, Lukas Hauf & Marie Strüb, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
HEADBANGER (4:40 min) by Eva Bagus, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
HIC! (1:29 min) by Minkyung Kim, Kunsthochschule Kassel
HOW BLUE THE SKY IS (14:30 min) by Juejun Chen, Kunsthochschule Kassel
JUST A PERFECT DAY IN MY LIFE (5:00 min) by Methas Chantawongs, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
OFTEN MANCHMAL (19:40 min) by Zuleikha Murtazaieva & Balduin Pfeffer, Offenbach University of Art and Design
SPACE WITHOUT TIME (3:29 min) by Alessandra Coronato, Kunsthochschule Kassel
SALAM BERESOON (20:28 min) by Roya Ghanavati & Theresa Philine Kramer, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Wiesbaden
SICK HOME (3:56 min) by Malik Aghazy Rahaji, Kunsthochschule Kassel
Bonus film - winner of the Hessian University Film Award:MAGIC GULYÁS (9:00 min) by Áron Farkas, Kunsthochschule Kassel

Interviews with the HESSEN TALENTS 2026 are available here.

Screening dates at a glance:

February 17, 2026, 2 pm
HESSEN TALENTS 2026 Short Film Program
European Film Market (EFM)
CinemaxX 13, Potsdamer Str. 5, 10785 Berlin

February 19, 2026, 3 pm
HESSEN TALENTS 2026 Short Film Program
fsk Kino, Segitzdamm 2, 10969 Berlin

HESSEN TALENTS Open Classes 2026
From February 14 to 21, 2026, the Open Classes with international filmmakers and the daily meetings will take place at the Aquarium of narrativ e.V. in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Participants will take part in an intensively supervised excursion to the Berlinale. In addition to meetings with filmmakers from various program sections, they will visit the European Film Market (EFM) as well as film screenings and industry events. In daily exchange sessions, they reflect on artistic, economic and cultural aspects of the film industry.

You can find the program (workshops and open classes) here.

About HESSEN TALENTS
HESSEN TALENTS is a project of the Hessian Film and Media Academy (hFMA). The hFMA networks 13 Hessian universities, universities of applied sciences and art colleges with the aim of strengthening the quality of teaching, research and production in higher semesters and connecting students with the media industry.

The project manager of HESSEN TALENTS 2026 is Borjana Gaković.

HESSEN TALENTS 2026:

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