Fish Film Festival 2026 in Rostock: 700 applications expected!

Fish Film Festival 2026 in Rostock: 700 applications expected!

The Fish Film Festival in Rostock, a highlight for film art in the region, will take place from April 23rd to 26th, 2026. In recent years, this festival has established itself as an important platform for young artists and attracts interested filmmakers from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany and northern Europe. As the Baltic Sea newspaper reported that the organizers expect around 700 submissions for the upcoming competitions.

From now on, young directors can submit their works. The deadline for entries is January 15, 2026. The festival includes four categories: The “Young Film” is aimed at filmmakers up to 26 years old from Germany, while the “Offshorts – Young Baltic Cinema” category is intended for young talent from the Nordic countries. Another exciting highlight is the “Popfish” competition for music videos, which musicians, bands and filmmakers with a connection to the region can enter. In addition, a media competence prize will be awarded to projects from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania that deal with topics such as media education and digital participation.

A diverse supporting program

The festival not only offers competitions, but also an extensive supporting program. In addition to film screenings, workshops and discussions are planned that will promote dialogue between filmmakers and the audience. Prize money worth a total of over 10,000 euros will be awarded, which makes the festival even more attractive. An impressive 738 films and projects were submitted to the last edition, underlining the high level of participation and interest in the festival.

Fortunately, there were also outstanding performances in the last round. Two 13-year-old young directors from Wismar impressed with their short film “December 7th, 2024” and won the “Young Film” competition. This shows that the festival is an important breeding ground for the creative minds of tomorrow.

Additional information and resources

If you would like to take a closer look at the topic of film festivals, the Film Festival Alliance exciting resources. There, interested parties can take part in a “hands-on primer” that provides insights into the business strategies of film festivals and helps them develop their own festival strategy. Led by Barbara Twist, the two-hour event will be relevant to both experienced filmmakers and newcomers.

For anyone who would like to take part in the Fish Film Festival, the submission details are available in a functional and clear manner on the festival website ( www.fish-festival.de ) ready.

So stay tuned and take the chance to become part of this inspiring event!