Overview

• Festival organizers announced on July 9 that Rainer Kaufmann’s comedy Petra geht baden will launch the event on August 20 in Ludwigshafen
• Festival director Michael Kötz praised Kaufmann’s direction and the standout performances of Ulrike Kriener and Rolf Lassgärd in the opening film
• Edgar Reitz will be honored with a lifetime achievement award during a gala showing of his latest film Leibniz – Chronik eines verschollenen Bildes
• Actor Rainer Bock has been named recipient of the 2025 acting prize in recognition of his versatile contributions to German cinema
• The festival runs from August 20 to September 7 on the Rheininsel with open-air and tent cinemas showcasing dozens of German productions and last year’s attendance topping 125,000