As Berlinale Generation celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2027, the Berlinale is opening a new chapter for its pioneering programme for young audiences.
From 2027, the section’s signature awards, the Crystal Bears, will be presented at the Berlinale’s main Awards Ceremony in the Berlinale Palast. A refreshed programme structure will create new opportunities to reach children, teenagers and families more deeply across the whole Festival, while also delivering a stronger impact for filmmakers and distributors.
Sebastian Markt, Section Head of Generation, said, “Since its inauguration in 1978, Generation has championed the belief that young audiences deserve ambitious cinema. Children and teenagers aren’t simply the audiences of tomorrow. They are audiences now, engaging with films through their own curiosity, intelligence and perspectives.”
Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle added, “As Generation turns 50, we celebrate that legacy while making it even more visible across the Berlinale. Bringing the Crystal Bears to the Berlinale Palast puts our young juries and the filmmakers they honour on the Festival’s biggest stage. With new additions to the successful programme, our ambition is both cultural and practical: Many of us fell in love with cinema when we were young, and we want Generation to inspire that same lifelong connection while helping exceptional films reach more audiences around the world.”
Refreshed Generation Programming
At the heart of Generation will remain its competitive programme for the Crystal Bears, comprising twelve to fourteen international feature-length films. The awards will continue to be decided by young audiences themselves: a Generation Kplus Jury of children and a Generation 14plus Jury of teenagers. For the first time, the Crystal Bears will be presented at the Berlinale’s main Awards Ceremony in the Berlinale Palast on February 19, 2027.
A new non-competitive strand, Generation Premieres, will present four to six films with broad appeal to audiences. Presented in major venues across the Festival, these premieres are designed to introduce new and larger audiences of different age groups to the cinema and festival experience.
Connecting Films, Audiences and Industry
Expanding Berlinale’s role as a central hub for the children’s and youth film industry, Generation will also connect more closely with Berlinale Pro’s industry activities, particularly the European Film Market (EFM). This will create greater opportunities for filmmakers working in children’s and youth cinema to meet with the international industry and to support wider theatrical distribution of their films.
Follow Us