The festival celebrates 25 years of international indie cinema in Karlsruhe.
In celebration of its anniversary, the INDEPENDENT DAYS festival presents a curated selection of independent film productions at the Filmtheater SCHAUBURG and other venues across the city. A total of 156 films from 34 countries will be screened.
In addition to traditional film screenings, this year’s INDEPENDENT DAYS festival places a special emphasis on media art and innovative forms of storytelling. This is particularly reflected in the UNESCO City of Media Arts Film Award, which honours media art film works. The XR-Area, in the foyer of the Badische Landesbibliothek (13th-18th April 2026, 10-18:00), showcases immersive projects from the fields of Virtual Reality, Extended Reality, and interactive storytelling.
A special hightlight is the award gala, which will take place on Saturday evening, will present twelve awards, with a total prize value of €13,000.
Alongside screenings of international short films, medium-length films, and feature films, this year’s festival also includes an extensive supporting programme. Visitors can look forward to the XR-Area, Speed Dating for Filmmakers, the CineMeet networking event, as well as various workshops and talks. The programme, which brings together film art, new technologies, and industry formats, offers an important opportunity for networking in Karlsruhe, while giving the public the chance to explore current trends in international independent cinema and innovative media art formats.
The full programme and all information on ticket options can be found here.
