Festival Dates

Sydney 25 May – 13 June
Canberra 26 May – 13 June
Brisbane 1 – 20 June
Adelaide 2 – 20 June
Perth 3 – 20 June
Byron Bay 4 – 20 June
Melbourne 17 June – 4 July

German Film Festival 2021

Palace Cinemas in collaboration with German Films is excited to again bring the best German-language cinema to you in 2021. Building on the success of 2019, this edition screens 30 feature films expanding to 18 locations and opening with Daniel Brühl’s directorial debut – ‘Next Door’.

With 25 Australian premieres and a festival line-up that includes box office hits and award-winning dramas straight from this year’s Berlinale, the festival is a fantastic celebration of German culture and filmmaking. Including productions from neighbouring Austria, the festival showcases the creativity and diversity of the region. From thrillers and historical productions to feel-good comedies, this year’s films will amuse, inspire and entertain.

Festival Trailer

Featuring original music by Murks from Hamburg, the official trailer will inspire you to discover the Festival. Watch it here now.

Melbourne - New Dates

The Festival in Melbourne now runs from
June 17 - 4 July! Click here for session times

Special Events

Opening Night

Next Door

In this darkly comic skewering of celebrity and privilege, Daniel Brühl (Good Bye Lenin!) plays a famous actor whose day gets completely railroaded by a stranger with ulterior motives.

Closing Night

Berlin Alexanderplatz

A slick modern adaptation of Alfred Döblin's influential 1929 novel of the same name, Berlin Alexanderplatz follows an undocumented immigrant from West Africa on a dark odyssey through Berlin.

Young At Heart

Grandparenting 101

Presented by Feros Care.

Heiner Lauterbach, Barbara Sukowa and Maren Kroymann star in this charming comedy as grandparents for hire who plunge their lives into chaos to escape their monotonous retirement.

Centrepiece

Fabian: Going to the Dogs

In early 1930s Berlin, a dashing idealist played by Tom Schilling finds love amidst the twilight hedonism of pre-Nazi Germany, in this adaptation of Erich Kästner's iconic novel, straight from its world premiere at the 2021 Berlinale.

Festival Sidebars

Berlin Calling

Celebrating the unique lifestyle and culture of one of the world’s most vibrant cities, this sidebar includes a documentary, drama and a wild comedy.

Focus on Fassbinder

We profile iconic German auteur Rainer Werner Fassbinder with two films: Fassbinder's Lola (celebrating its 40th anniversary and restored in 4K) and Enfant Terrible - a riveting and stylised biopic of the director.

Kino for Kids

Presented by The Goethe-Institut, Kino for Kids is a popular selection of films for our younger audience and families.

Austrian Cinema

Co-presented by the Austrian Embassy, we're showcasing the creativity from neighbouring Austria.