Berlinale Bloggers 2026: Canada
Onward to the 76th Berlinale!

From February 12 to 22, 2026, the 76th edition of the Berlinale will take place. Together with 19 other students from the Collège Maisonneuve film program and two of our professors, I will have the incredible opportunity to participate in the wide range of activities this famous festival offers! We’re all beyond excited, especially since we’ve been preparing for this moment for almost a year.

Highlights of the festival program

The festival program promises plenty of surprises. From documentaries to feature films, short films to full-length productions, retrospectives to world premieres – there will be something for every taste. We’ll have the chance to catch a few premieres, including the latest films from John Turturro (The Only Living Pickpocket in New York) and Ethan Hawke (The Weight), as well as hidden gems that might never be shown in Canada.

One of this year’s big surprises is the inclusion of a Québécois film in the official competition: Nina Roza by Geneviève Dulude-De Celles. In 2019, she won the Crystal Bear in the “Generation” section for Une Colonie. Seeing her compete this year alongside some of the best films in the world is a well-deserved recognition of her remarkable work. We’ll even have the honor of meeting her in person during a private conference at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin.

Of course, the Berlinale also means bright lights and familiar faces. We’ll see plenty of stars on the red carpet, including Elle Fanning, John Turturro, Sandra Hüller, Channing Tatum, Charli XCX, and many more. A special mention goes to Michelle Yeoh, recently seen in the excellent Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), who will receive the Honorary Golden Bear this year for her outstanding career.

Exploring Berlin: culture, history, and encounters

But our time in Berlin won’t be limited to films and celebrities. We’ll also explore the city itself and soak up its rich cultural and historical atmosphere. Beyond iconic sights like the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, and the city’s many museums, we’ll take part in some unique experiences: a tour of underground tunnels dating back to World War II (later used during the Cold War), a visit to Teufelsberg, a former U.S. listening station turned street art haven, and a day trip to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, just 35 minutes by train from Berlin.

Thanks to partnerships with SODEC, Telefilm Canada, and the Goethe-Institut, we’ll also be able to attend several networking events organized at the Canadian Embassy and the Goethe-Institut. Moreover, through Telefilm Canada, several of us will have paid internships at the European Film Market (EFM), one of the most important film markets in the world, representing Canadian cinema at the Canada Pavilion alongside professionals from across the globe.

During our stay in Berlin, we’ll also take part in a Kino competition organized by our college’s film program and chaired by filmmaker Chloé Cinq-Mars, who recently directed the acclaimed Peau à peau (2025). For this challenge, we’ll have about three weeks to write, shoot, and edit a short film of around two minutes, based on a theme chosen by Cinq-Mars herself. It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to explore Berlin from a fresh perspective, discovering unusual places and inspiring settings for our shoots.

We’re all eagerly looking forward to our time in Berlin. We can’t wait to explore the city and its surroundings, take part in the many activities organized by our partners, and, of course, experience one of the greatest film festivals in the world. Whether we’re watching stars walk the red carpet or discovering films big and small, each of us is excited for a trip that promises surprises, new adventures, and, above all, a lot of joy for young film enthusiasts who dream of one day making our mark in the film industry.