Berlin & Beyond
San Francisco’s Berlin & Beyond Film Festival
Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival continues to be the leading and largest festival of contemporary German cinema in the Americas, by both audience size and programming scope. For the past decade, the festival has been attended annually by 7,000-8,000 film-goers. Over 500 motion pictures from German-speaking countries, produced in over 30 different countries, have screened at Berlin & Beyond to over 200,000 attendees, from independent works to studio pictures to topical documentaries and shorts from the filmmakers of tomorrow.
25 Years
In the local arts community, it is a highly anticipated film event in San Francisco. Berlin & Beyond was founded in 1996, within the globally minded mission of the Goethe-Institut San Francisco, which has been promoting German culture and language since 1967. Both the institute and the film festival continuously build on the long-standing relationships and partnerships with community, civic, and business partners and sponsors – and the audience.
The festival is an annual tradition for San Francisco, and has been a gateway for the American public to experience the diversity, history and progress of German-speaking countries; while celebrating the universal spirit and vision of filmmakers from this global region.
Red Carpet International Film Festival
We have welcomed many celebrated filmmakers and screen talents, including Mario Adorf, Fatih Akin, Moritz Bleibtreu, Daniel Brühl, Doris Dörrie, Andreas Dresen, Lars Eidinger, Hannelore Elsner, Bruno Ganz, Juliane Köhler, Frederick Lau, Christiane Paul, Maria Schrader, Tom Schilling, Barbara Sukowa, Dan Stevens, Michael Verhoeven, Simon Verhoeven, Wim Wenders and Ronald Zehrfeld.
Since its inauguration in 1996, the main venue of the festival has always been the Castro Theatre, the famous movie palace which celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2017.
Our Mission
Berlin & Beyond strives to be an open public forum that highlights the diversity, progress, and trends from the current cinematic landscapes of German-speaking countries. Our diverse programming captures dynamic stories that connect global and societal conversations, timely topics, insightful ideas, inspiring entertainment, and courageous cinematic art.
Season 25
Amidst this global pandemic, Berlin & Beyond reimagined its presentation through the virtual festival, Berlin & Beyond in Focus, that took place November 19-21, 2020. Visit the In Focus website.
The 25th Anniversary Berlin & Beyond Film Festival ran May 25-June 6, 2021.
The Berlin & Beyond Autumn Showcase 2021 took place November 15-17 in three Bay Area cities.
Board of Directors
Noémie Njangiru, President
Dennis M. Sullivan, Secretary
Elena Vera Simms
Jale Yoldas
Berlin & Beyond Director
Sophoan Sorn
The Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut is comprised of 157 institutes in 98 countries. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017, the San Francisco branch has been promoting German culture and language since 1967. In addition to its presentation of the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival, its year-round cultural activities include art exhibitions, weekly film screenings, annual events with local cultural institutions and period social gatherings.
More information about the Goethe-Institut San Francisco
Educational Program – Youth 4 German Cinema
Having concluded its seventh year, Youth 4 German Cinema is an educational program organized in collaboration with the Language Program of the Goethe-institut San Francisco and the online youth portal Step Into German. The program’s goals are to increase multicultural awareness among students and educate them on the subject of international film and film criticism, as well as provide an entry point for youth to the world of German cinema. Our programming includes a youth jury, mentored talks with film experts, and the festival field trips, which welcome registered students from across Northern California to free screenings.
More information about Step Into German
Support and Get Involved
Tax-deductible donations can be made to the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Berlin & Beyond, Inc., to support the film festival.
For business sponsorship inquiries, volunteer opportunities, and membership programs and benefits, email Sophoan Sorn at berlinbeyond@gmail.com.
