Berlinale 2025: Guide to Tickets, Programme, and Venues
The Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival is one of the most anticipated events in the global film industry, attracting filmmakers, critics, and cinephiles from around the world. Berlinale 2025 promises another exciting edition filled with powerful storytelling, prestigious awards, and a vibrant cultural experience. If you’re planning to attend, knowing how to get tickets, understanding the programming, and familiarizing yourself with the festival’s venues will help you make the most of your experience. This guide covers all the essential details to ensure a smooth and enjoyable festival visit.
Between all the different venues and events, the programme can be pretty confusing. That’s why we’ve summarized the most important info here regarding tickets, venues and categories.
Key Information at a Glance
- Event Dates: February 13–23, 2025
- Ticket Sales Start: February 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM CET
- Where to Buy Tickets: Online via Berlinale’s official website and at select in-person locations
- Main Venues: Berlinale Palast, Zoo Palast, Kino International, and more
- Official Website: www.berlinale.de
Tickets and Prices
Berlinale tickets go fast, but you can grab yours online starting at 10:00 AM, three days before each screening. If a show sells out, keep checking—last-minute tickets often pop up, especially right before it starts.
Each person can purchase up to two tickets per screening (or up to five for Generation films) through the Berlinale website, which redirects to Eventim. The opening gala and screening won’t have direct ticket sales but will be shown live in seven cinemas across Germany, with tickets available through each venue’s box office.
The Berlinale makes it easy to access top-tier cinema with tickets priced between €9 and €15, and discounts for qualifying groups. For the best chance of scoring a ticket, be sure to queue early in the online shop before 10:00.
Berlinale 2025 Programming
The Berlinale’s diverse programming offers something for everyone, from industry professionals to casual moviegoers. Here’s what you can expect:
1. Competition & Special Screenings
The Competition section is the heart of Berlinale, featuring high-profile films vying for the Golden and Silver Bears. Expect world premieres and big-name directors making their mark.
Other key sections include:
- Berlinale Special & Gala Screenings – Showcasing international star-studded productions.
- Encounters – Celebrating daring and innovative filmmaking.
2. Generation: Films for Younger Audiences
For family-friendly films, the Generation Kplus and 14plus categories offer exciting and thought-provoking movies for younger viewers and teenagers.
3. Panorama: A Focus on Global Cinema
If you’re into diverse, thought-provoking films, Panorama is the section to watch. It showcases groundbreaking international cinema, often with strong social and political themes.
4. Berlinale Shorts: Bold & Experimental Films
For fans of experimental storytelling, presenting a collection of bold, artistic, and often unconventional short films.
5. Forum & Forum Expanded: Pushing Boundaries
This section is where cinematic innovation thrives, featuring avant-garde and experimental works pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling.
The event features a diverse program across 10 sections, each offering a unique cinematic experience. Key sections include Competition, where the prestigious Golden Bear is awarded to the best film; Forum & Forum Expanded, showcasing bold, experimental works; and Panorama, a blend of art-house and crowd-pleasing films, with the audience voting for the winner. Highlights this year include James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, and Bong Joon Ho’s much-anticipated Mickey 17. Full details of the program will be available from February 4th.
Berlinale 2025 Venues: Where to Watch
Berlinale screenings and events take place across multiple venues in Berlin. Here are the key locations:
1. Berlinale Palast
- The main venue for premieres and the festival’s Opening & Awards Ceremony.
- Located at Potsdamer Platz.
2. Zoo Palast
- A historic cinema hosting Competition screenings and special presentations.
- Located in Charlottenburg.
3. Kino International
- Known for screening Panorama films and special gala events.
- Situated in East Berlin, Karl-Marx-Allee.
4. Friedrichstadt-Palast
- Hosts Berlinale Special screenings and high-profile events.
5. Other Venues
- CinemaxX (Potsdamer Platz) – Hosting multiple sections.
- Haus der Berliner Festspiele – Home to the Forum section.
- Cubix (Alexanderplatz) – Additional screenings from multiple categories.
15 cinemas will be part of the venues for the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The Berlinale Palast with the Competition and Berlinale Special Gala films, the Red Carpet and the fan area will stay the heart of the festival. As already announced on November 26, 2024, the Stage Bluemax Theater at Marlene-Dietrich-Platz will become, amongst others, a premiere screening venue for the newly created Perspectives first feature competition. In order to celebrate one of the most beloved winter-events in all of Berlin, there will once again be an extensive cinema network all over the city.
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