Berlin Festival 2026 Drops Star-Studded Independent Film Lineup
Twenty-two independent films featuring A-list stars like Channing Tatum and Amy Adams will compete at Berlin's prestigious festival this February, with organizers boldly claiming every cinema lover will find something to adore.
Festival organizers have announced the complete roster for Berlin's 2026 film celebration, scheduled to run February 12-22. The event maintains its reputation for championing artistic cinema over mainstream Hollywood spectacle.
This year's selection includes 22 competing films featuring major talent. Channing Tatum stars alongside Gemma Chan in "Josephine," directed by Beth de Araújo. The drama follows parents pursuing justice after their daughter witnesses a crime.
Major Stars in Independent Productions
"Rosebush Pruning" brings together Callum Turner, Riley Keough, and Elle Fanning in a satirical family drama. The cast also includes Pamela Anderson, Jamie Bell, and Lukas Gage as relatives grappling with secrets surrounding their mother's death.
Director Tricia Tuttle leads the festival's programming team. She expressed confidence in the diverse selection spanning multiple genres. "We are so confident in the charms of these 22 films that we say defiantly: If you don't find something here to love, you don't love cinema!" Tuttle announced.
Golden Bear Contenders
"At the Sea" emerges as a potential Golden Bear winner. Kornél Mundruczó directs Amy Adams and Dan Levy in this story about a former dancer confronting trauma after rehabilitation.
Sandra Hüller, the Oscar-nominated "Anatomy of a Fall" star, returns with "Michael." Markus Schleinzer's transgender period drama takes place in 17th-century Europe.
The festival deliberately excludes major studio releases this year. Every competing film comes from independent production companies, reinforcing Berlin's commitment to artistic filmmaking over commercial blockbusters.