Bremen & Surroundings

The section Bremen & Surroundings presents films from Bremen and the surrounding region. After all, Bremen does not have a film festival simply because it’s great to have one. (Although, of course, that too.) Each year, the competition program demonstrates the many ways in which the region is involved in the production of a wide variety of films — from first short films to major theatrical releases. International productions are shot here, documentaries explore topics related to the region and its history, or the film teams themselves have a local connection.

This year’s Bremen & Surroundings program stretches from the Arctic to Albania and Israel, bringing together experimental short films, inclusive dance films, and award-winning animations. The genres range from gangster comedy to absolutist costume drama to music video. Several filmmakers artistically explore questions of home, identity, and acceptance.

The ”Senator for Culture” is once again donating the price moneys of 5.500€ in total.

Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte, President
of the Senate and Senator for Culture

Prize money – donated by the Senator for Culture

Best Fiction Film Bremen (>20 minutes): endowed with EUR 2,000, donated by the Senator for Culture
Best Documentary Film Bremen (>20 minutes): endowed with EUR 2,000
Best Short Film Bremen (<20 minutes): endowed with EUR 1,500

Can We Do This?

Liberated Space

Free At Heart

Salt and Water

Der Frosch und das Wasser

Shakespeare500

Life Is Now – The Real Life Guys

Nominated Short Films 2026

Kurzfilme Bremen und Umzu #1

Home is, where the heart is

Kurzfilme Bremen und Umzu #2

My surroundings and me

Kurzfilme Bremen und Umzu #3

Life is unfair

Bad Luck

Our Jury 2025

Malte Can

Born in Achim in 1983 and grew up in Bremen. Studied German and Turkology in Hamburg and Istanbul. Subsequently studied production at the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy (VGF scholarship at UCLA, Los Angeles).
He then worked as a producer for H&V Entertainment and as a producer for Geißendörfer Pictures GmbH. Film selection includes “Souls – a Sky Original” (2 awards in Cannes Series 2022) and the feature film “Der Fuchs” (Silberne Lola Best Feature Film 2024 and Best Leading Actor, as well as Romy – Best Feature Film Austria).
Working as a producer for Wiedemann & Berg Television since 2023.

Peter Roloff

Peter Roloff studied social and business communication at the Berlin University of the Arts, is a filmmaker and producer and runs maxim film Produktion in Bremen and Berlin with a current focus on long documentaries.

Susanne Hensdiek

Susanne Hensdiek came to the camera via an editorial career in radio and newspapers. From 1997, she worked at Television Aktuell in Bremen, where she later became head camerawoman and editor. She has been working as a freelance filmmaker, editor and camerawoman since 2005. In 2023, her documentary “Die Bergmanns” won the audience award for the best Bremen film at the Filmfest Bremen.