The International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg is one of the oldest filmfestivals in the world - and the second oldest in Germany. For nearly 60 years it has been a forum for the art of cinema, for films with a personal signature - the author film.

During the history of the festival, debut features of now famous directors such as Jim Jarmusch (1980), Thomas Vinterberg (1997), Bryan Singer (1993), Atom Egoyan (1984), François Truffaut (1959), Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1969), Wim Wenders (1969), Krzyszof Kieslowski (1975), Lars von Trier (1984), Matias Bize (2003) or Ramin Bahrani (2005) were first introduced to an international public.

There are competitive and non-competitive programm. Subsequent to each screenings there are public panel discussions with the film's representatives.

The Cutting Edge Talent Camp supports outstanding projects and talented filmmakers from Germany in their first steps towards international networking, recognition and production.

International Newcomer Award
Best Script Award
FIPRESCI Award
Ecumenical Award
Award of the Student Jury
Audience Award

The minimum length of submitted films is 61 minutes.
Films submitted especially for competition are not allowed to have been screened publicly in German cinemas or broadcast on German television before the Festival. Furthermore, the films are not allowed to have participated in the official program of Berlinale, Cannes, Venice Competition and Locarno Competition nor at any other German festival.

Documents and Other Requisite Items

Submit either a DVD or an Online Screener (i.e. Vimeo-Link) for the selection process, along with the completed entry form and the required materials

A dialogue list in English or German must accompany the DVD submitted for entry.