Saxony-Anhalt Film Art Days start: Glamor without the red carpet!

Saxony-Anhalt Film Art Days start: Glamor without the red carpet!

The Saxony-Anhalt Film Art Days are celebrating their brilliant return this year from November 11th to 16th, 2025. Festival director Frank Salender emphasizes how important regional film production is for the cultural landscape. Among the numerous contributions, the opening film “Heart of Ice” (FR/DE 2025) by Lucile Hadžihalilovic stands out, which will take the audience on a unique cinematic path.

Overall, the festival offers an exciting premiere in Saxony-Anhalt with “Sehnsucht in Sangerhausen”, a film that was already shown on the big screen in Locarno. This work, which is running in competition, is not only a highlight of the festival, but also reflects the creative potential of the region. Another cinematic treat will be shown on Friday in the Magdeburg studio cinema, where the film's Saxony-Anhalt premiere is scheduled. The organizers are particularly proud of the commitment of Saskia Rosendahl, who will receive the jury's honorary award for her performances and will be honored with a short film series.

Culture and exchange

The Filmkunsttage are not only a place for viewing, but also for exchange. On Thursday in the Puschkino Halle there will be the opportunity to talk to award winners. This is where the familial charm of the festival comes into its own, with no red carpet but still a touch of glamour. “In recent years we have been able to gain a loyal audience who appreciate our efforts,” says Salender proudly.

The event promotes contact between filmmakers, audiences and the regional film industry and presents a total of six competition films from over 220 German-language premieres from last year. The selection criteria for the competition films are demanding: they should be valuable, innovative and particularly appealing to the audience. A striking example of this is “Ninja Motherf*cking Destruction”, whose long production time shows how much commitment goes into each work.

Changes in the film industry

Another topic that will be discussed at the Filmkunsttage this year is the role of artificial intelligence in film production. Frank Salender predicts that the filmmaking craft will change significantly - similar to what it once did with the introduction of printing. “The Film Art Days are an examination of the present,” he explains, underlining the relevance of the festival today.

The award is also given for secondary trades to emphasize the teamwork in the film. This year the prize in the costume design category goes to Marie-Luise Wolf, who designed the costumes for “Sehnsucht in Sangerhausen”. The festival team is clearly in a good mood and is planning attractive catering options so that the audience is treated not only to the film but also to good food.

The event finds strong support through the support of fellow campaigners, partners, sponsors and funding bodies in the state, under the patronage of Rainer Robra, the head of the State Chancellery and Minister of Culture of Saxony-Anhalt. The Film Art Days have been an integral part of the regional cultural scene for over ten years now and show that the love of film is very important here.

For all cinephiles and fans of special cinema, there are many reasons to visit the Filmkunsttage, celebrate regional talent and take part in exciting discussions. A highlight that shouldn't be missed!

Further information can be found on the official website Film Art Days and at MDR.