Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for an Accreditation?

For a detailed guide see: Accreditation procedure.

What do I do if I've forgotten my user name for the My Account?

If you have forgotten your user name, please contact the Berlinale Web Support team at .

Payment

How can I pay for my accreditation?
You can only pay online for your accreditation more information can be found here.

Can I also pay the accreditation fee when I pick up my badge at the counter?
Payment at the accreditation counter is not possible this year. The Accreditation must be paid for online in advance by January 31.

Will I receive an invoice?
After completing your payment, you will receive an invoice by e-mail. You can also download this invoice at any time via the “My Accreditation” button in “My Account”. Before making your payment, you will have the opportunity to edit the billing address. Please note that it will not be possible to make any changes to the billing address after payment.

How can I cancel my accreditation?
Refunds for Press, Student and Festival Accreditations that have already been paid for are only possible until January 31, 2022, and only if a written notice of cancellation is sent to .

A Market Badge or combined Festival Accreditation and Market Badge that has/have already been paid for cannot be cancelled completely. However, it/they can be converted into an Online Market Badge until January 31, 2022. The cost of the Online Market Badge will be offset against the fee already paid for the Market Badge. In such cases, the fee for the Online Market Badge will be the price applicable at the time that the Market Badge was requested.
It is not possible to cancel an Online Market Badge once it has been paid for.

I am unable to attend the Berlinale. Can I transfer my accreditation to a colleague?
You cannot transfer your accreditation to someone else.

Online Service

I am unable to access the online services. What should I do?
For technical reasons, it takes a few minutes after your payment has been received before you can gain access to the online services. If you are still unable to gain access after ten minutes, please contact our Web Support team:
phone: +49 30 25920-800

I am an invited guest of the Berlinale and would like to use the Berlinale Attendee List. How does this work?
If you don’t yet have an account on the Berlinale website, please create one via “My Account”. Then send an e-mail to the Web Support team () with your account name and full name stating that you are already accredited as an invited guest and would like to have access to the Berlinale Attendee List via “My Account”. The Web Support team will check your request and notify you as soon as the access rights have been activated.

Ticketing / Cinema Access

Who has access to online ticketing?
The personal login to the separate online ticket shop is only given to holders of paid-for or free-of-charge festival accreditations, student and press accreditations. Accredited participants who have only acquired a Market Badge will not be granted access to the online ticket shop.

For which screenings can I book a ticket?
For festival screenings in every section - but not for every time slot or for every venue - as well as for the public events of Berlinale Talents. In the online ticket shop, you will only be offered tickets for films to which you have access in accordance with your accreditation.

Where do I book my free tickets?
In a separate online ticket shop for accredited visitors. In order to gain personal access to the online ticket shop before the festival, you must pay the accreditation fee by January 31, 2022. Your personal login to access the separate online ticket shop for accredited visitors will be emailed to you approximately one week before the start of the Berlinale.

How many tickets can I book?
A maximum of one ticket is issued per film and time slot. There is no guarantee of tickets for a certain screening or a specific total number of tickets. All accredited tickets are issued according to availability on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I use my account to book tickets for colleagues?
No. Tickets are exclusively for your personal use and are only valid in combination with your accreditation badge.

Can I attend EFM screenings without a ticket?
Yes. You will just need to present your Market or Buyers Badge at the entrance to gain access to EFM screenings.

Are there any online screenings at the festival?
Festival and press screenings will take place physically in the cinemas.
Only the EFM offers industry visitors with an (Online) Market Badge access to the online market screenings. You can find more information at our badge types page.

During the Festival

When and where can I collect my badge?
About one week before the festival starts, you will receive an e-mail containing information about how to pick up your accreditation. The pick-up letter attached to this e-mail must be presented (digitally or in printed form) at the accreditation counter when picking up your badge, in combination with a valid ID. The badge can only be collected if it has already been paid for online in advance. 

Can I ask someone else to pick up my accreditation badge?
If the COVID-19 regulations permit, accreditations and EFM badges can be picked up by someone else, but only upon presentation of a signed letter of authorisation. You will find more detailed information about this on the collection note that will be emailed to you one week before the start of the festival.

What do I do if I have lost my accreditation badge?
Please immediately report the loss of your accreditation badge to the office that issued your accreditation. The reissue of your badge will cost €30 and may take up to 24 hours.

Practical Information and Miscellaneous

I am an invited guest of the Berlinale/member of a film crew. How can I gain access to the EFM?
Access to the exhibitors within the EFM locations (Gropius Bau & Marriott Hotel) will be restricted (February 10 & 15-17 all day | February 11-14 from 5 p.m.). To gain unrestricted access to the EFM venues, Market Screenings and the EFM online features, please order an additional Market Badge via .

What is the Berlinale doing to protect my data?
The Berlinale takes great care in handling your private data. See the Privacy Policy for all relevant information on what happens to your data. For further questions regarding data protection, please contact the data protection officer at .

Does the Berlinale provide any support for visa applications?
Please note that the processing of visas at German Embassies can currently take longer than normal due to the increased security and hygiene protocols. Participants who require a visa to travel to Germany should contact the German Embassy responsible for their place of residence as soon as possible. More information and visa application forms can be found on the German Federal Foreign Office website. From mid-December onward, the Berlinale will inform the respective German Embassy or Consulate General of your participation in the festival to facilitate your visa application.

COVID-19 Regulations

What COVID-19 measures are being taken by the Festival/EFM?
Details of the Berlinale COVID-19 regulations can be found on the information page.

Accreditation Process

How long does it take to receive a confirmation of my accreditation application?
Applications are processed as quickly as possible in the order in which we receive them. Processing can take up to two weeks, especially for accreditations received just before one of the deadlines. As soon as your application has been processed, you will receive an e-mail from the accreditation office. If you applied for an accreditation over two weeks ago and have not yet received an e-mail, please contact the accreditation office.

The accreditation office has not yet processed my application and the Early Bear or Regular rate period is shortly due to expire. Will I have to pay the higher amount?
The date on which the accreditation application is submitted determines the amount to be paid. Please note, however, that payment of the Early Bear or Regular rate must be made by January 31, 2022 at the latest since this is when the favourable rate expires.

How do I know if I’ve been granted a Buyers status
From mid-January onward, you will be able to see in the EFM Participants Guide who was granted a Buyers status. The Buyers status is not for sale but will be granted in limited number by the EFM. You are considered if you order a (Online) Market Badge and select "Acquisitions (…)" as your "Field of Activity" on the application form.

When is the application deadline for festival accreditations?
The official deadline is January 6, 2022. However, depending on availability, it may be possible for us to issue further festival accreditations after this date and the Berlinale online accreditation will remain active. Applications for festival accreditation will close three weeks before the start of the festival at the latest. We therefore strongly recommend that accreditation applications are submitted within the deadline. The COVID-19 pandemic means the festival has a restricted capacity and our supply of accreditation badges is limited and can be discontinued at any time after the deadline. In addition, we ask you to take into account the processing time (e.g. for the application assessment and - following payment - the activation of the online ticket shop for accredited visitors) if making a late application.

When is the deadline for Market Badge applications?
We are planning to make Market Badges available until the end of the EFM. However, we recommend visitors submit their accreditation application as early as possible since the number of badges available may be limited due to COVID-19-related capacity restrictions. In addition, we ask you to take into account the processing time (e.g. for the application assessment and - following payment - the activation of access to the EFM online events and information) if making a late application.
An application for an Online Market Badge can be submitted until the end of the EFM. Enquiries made in the immediate run-up to or during the EFM will be processed as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, you should expect a processing time of at least 24 hours until the full payment and activation of the EFM online content has been completed (depending on your time zone and application date).

Can I buy a Day Pass on site?
No. The EFM Day Pass has been discontinued.

I am an exhibitor at the EFM. Do I also need to submit an application for accreditation?
Yes. EFM exhibitors must also complete the accreditation process and submit an application.

As an exhibitor, do I require a Market Badge?
Yes. For more information, please contact directly.

Berlinale Co-Production Market

I would like to pitch my project at the Berlinale Co-Production Market. What should I do?
The purchase of an accreditation does not grant you full participation (including to pitching and networking events) in the Berlinale Co-Production Market. You are required to apply via a separate selection process by the respective deadline. You can find more information on the Berlinale Co-Production Market website.

I am a producer/financier looking for new projects to co-produce or co-finance at the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Which accreditation do I need?
Full participation in the Berlinale Co-Production Market (including the “Co-Pro Series Pitch” and networking events) requires a separate registration directly with the Berlinale Co-Production Market. This process takes place in November and December.
Before registering in the Berlinale Co-Production Market, please ensure you have already applied for a Market Badge and/or Festival Accreditation.

Which part of the Berlinale Co-Production Market can I access with my Market Badge or Festival Accreditation?
Market Badge holders only have access to the Berlinale Co-Production Market talks online. Full participation in the Berlinale Co-Production Market (including the “Co-Pro Series Pitch” and networking events) requires a separate registration directly with the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

Online Access to the EFM

How do I get access to the extended EFM online features?
After you have paid for a Market Badge or Online Market Badge you will gain access to the extended EFM online features via “My Account” as they are released.
If you have any further questions about the extended EFM online features, please consult the EFM website.

Networking

Is there a list of everyone participating in the Berlinale?
The Attendee List is a directory which contains all the industry professionals, members of the press and students accredited for the festival.
The EFM Participants Guide (only accessible to Market Badge or Online Market Badge holders) offers a comprehensive overview and contains all the contact details of the EFM exhibitors, buyers and other EFM participants.

Why can’t I view the complete EFM Participants Guide, including contact details?
The full version of the Guide, including contact details, is only available if you are registered for the EFM with a Market Badge or an Online Market Badge and have completed your payment. You also need to be logged into “My Account” to access the Guide.

Cinema Access with Student Accreditation

Can I access all festival screenings with my Student Accreditation?
The Student Accreditation allows access to festival screenings of each section, though not at all times or at every venue. This excludes, for example,  Competition screenings in the Berlinale Palast. One week prior to the festival, the Berlinale will inform you by e-mail about the detailed access regulations of your accreditation. Please note that access to the festival screenings is only possible via a pre-booked online ticket.

How do I book a ticket?
Further information can be found at Online Ticket Info.