The Munich International Film Festival (Filmfest München) is the largest and most important German summer film festival and second only in size and importance to the Berlinale film festival in Berlin. In 2016 it set to take place from June 23 to July 2.

The Festival is held annually since 1983. It presents feature films and feature-length documentaries. The festival is also prides itself for the role it plays in discovering talented and innovative young filmmakers. With the exception of retrospectives, tributes and homages, all of the films screened are German premieres and many are European and world premieres.

With over 200 feature films and feature-length documentaries on 18 screens, Filmfest München attracts some 70 000 movie lovers to Munich’s cinemas and some 2500 film industry professionals and amongst them a host of international film stars. The festival center is located at the Gasteig cultural center where screenings, panels, ceremonies and discussions take place and the festival offices are located. There are several participating movie theaters in the downtown area.

Free open air screenings are also part of the festival and take place every night during the festival at the square of the Gasteig festival. The open air screenings have a different theme every year, such as Cats, Masters of Disaster, Pirates, Rock ‘N’ Roll, Surfing, Dance, Las Vegas or Jazz.

American film director, screenwriter and cinematographer Tom DiCillo about the festival: “Filmfest Munich is unique in that it continually breaks down the formal barriers between filmmaker and audience.”

The programme of the festival and more details will be announced later this year and we post regular updates.