Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

How can I receive accreditation as a member of the press at the Berlinale?
An application for Press Accreditation can be submitted online under Press Accreditation. The precise steps can be found under Accreditation Procecure.

What is the deadline for submitting a Press Accreditation application?
The deadline is January 8, 2026 and the accreditation must be paid in advance online by January 30, 2026 (payments on-site are not possible).

How long does it to take to receive confirmation of my accreditation application?
Applications are processed as quickly as possible in the order in which they are received. This may take up to 10 working days. If you submitted your application more than two weeks ago and have not received an email, please contact the Press Office.

I do not have all the required documents for my accreditation application. Can I submit them later?
The application cannot be submitted without uploading the required documents. Members of the press have until January 8, 2026 at the latest to submit an application with all the required documents.

I am both a film professional and a journalist. Can I apply for both accreditations?
No, only one form of accreditation can be issued. To verify which type of accreditation corresponds best to your professional profile, please check the respective pages for Professionals & EFM or Press.

Can I apply for accreditations for different occupational fields (e.g. Journalist and Photographer)?
No, multiple accreditation for different occupational fields is not possible. Please select the Press Accreditation that corresponds to your main field of work during the Berlinale in the Webshop.

What are my access options?
Information can be found under Access Information.

Where and when can I collect my accreditation badge?
Starting one week before the festival, accredited visitors will receive an email via the email address linked to their Berlinale account. This email will include personalised details about where to collect their pass and the opening hours of the accreditation counter.

Is there an embargo regulation for world premieres?
Yes, reviews of films that celebrate their world premieres at the Berlinale may only be published after the beginning of the first public screening (start of the screening + 30 minutes). This also applies to social media channels.
The start time of the event is not always the same as the start time of the film screening. Therefore, there may be a separate embargo notice for some films.

Payment

How can I pay for my Press Accreditation?
You may pay for your accreditation only online by using a credit card (Mastercard, VISA, American Express) or PayPal. You will find the link to the online payment procedure in your Berlinale Account overview by clicking on "Order Confirmations / Accepted Applications / Payment".

Can I also pay the accreditation fee when I pick up my badge at the counter?
Payment at the accreditation counter is not possible. The Press Accreditation must be paid for online in advance by January 30, 2026.

What happens if I have not paid the accreditation fee by January 30, 2026?
Late payments may lead to delays in collecting the accreditation badge and in gaining access to the Online Ticket Shop for accredited visitors.

Will I receive an invoice?
After completing your payment, you will receive an invoice by email. The invoice is also available for download via the 'Invoices' button in your account overview. If you wish to change your billing address, you may submit a request. To do so, click on the pencil icon at the end of the row for the relevant invoice in your invoice list. You will be notified once your request has been processed.

How can I cancel my accreditation?
Press Accreditations that have already been paid for may be cancelled and reimbursed until January 23, 2026 upon sending a written notice of cancellation to .

Why does PayPal show that my payment is going to KBB GmbH?
The Berlinale is a division of Kulturveranstaltungen des Bundes in Berlin GmbH (Cultural Events of the Federal Government in Berlin Ltd), KBB for short. Payments are therefore made to the KBB GmbH account. Nonetheless, the PayPal address for the Berlinale is still paypal@berlinale.de.

Can people with a disability receive a discount on accreditation?
Yes, individuals with a disability can apply for a 20% discount if valid proof is provided. To redeem the discount or if you need assistance with the accreditation process, please contact us directly at or by phone at +49 30 25920 196. Members of the press should reach out to for support.

Access Information

Does my Press Accreditation grant me access to film screenings?
Under access information, you can find out whether your accreditation type grants access to film screenings.

Will there be press screenings?
Once the Berlinale programme has been published, you will find the dates of the press screenings on the Berlinale website.

How can I get tickets for press screenings?
If you have a Press Accreditation that grants access to film screenings, you can book tickets for press screenings in the online ticket shop for accredited visitors. Tickets are made available on a first come, first served basis and are intended exclusively for the personal use of accredited visitors. They are only valid in combination with the accreditation badge, which must be presented at the cinema entrance. Only one ticket can be booked per screening / event and (90 minute) time slot. There is no guarantee that you will be able to book a ticket for a specific film screening, or that a specific number of tickets will be available.

I have a Press Accreditation that grants access to film screenings. Can I also book tickets for public film screenings?
Yes. You can book tickets for public film screenings online. Press ticket allocations are available for films in all sections.

Will there be online press screenings?
No. Press screenings and public screenings will only take place in cinemas. There will be no online screenings.

Can I attend the Press Conferences with my accreditation badge?
Yes. Admission subject to availability of seats.

My application for Press Accreditation was accepted, but I don’t have access to the Berlinale online services (such as the Attendee List or bookings in the Berlinale Hotels). What can I do?
After your application for Press Accreditation has been accepted, it may take a few minutes for the online services to be activated due to technical reasons. If access is still not possible after about ten minutes, please contact the / phone +49 30 25920-800.

How can I gain access to press materials?
For information on the availability of press materials and their download periods, please navigate to the menu item "Press Material" within the press area on the Berlinale website.

Ticketing / Cinema Access

Where do I book my free tickets?
In a separate online ticket shop for accredited visitors.

How do I get access to the online ticket shop for accredited visitors?
You will be informed by email about the activation of your personal login for the online ticket shop approximately one week before the start of the Berlinale. Activation will only take place once the fee for the respective accreditation has been paid. Accreditation fees should be paid by January 30, 2026 at the latest to avoid delays in activating the login. The email address used to log in to the Berlinale account also grants you access to the online ticket shop for accredited visitors. For the first login, a new password must be generated via the “Set / Forgot Password” function. An email will be sent containing the link “Set / Change Password.” Using this link, a password can be created and the login process continued. If you logged in with the same email address during the last festival, you can reuse the password you used at that time.

Can I change the email address for the login to the online ticket shop for accredited visitors?
Until the end of January, changing the email address for the login for the Berlinale account also allows you to adjust the login for the online ticket shop. After the login for accredited visitors is activated in the online ticket shop – at the beginning of February – the email address used can only be changed under “My Profile” in the online ticket shop. This email address also serves as the delivery address for booked tickets.

For which screenings can I book a ticket?
You can book tickets for festival screenings in every section – but not for every time slot nor 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 according to your accreditation.

How many tickets can I book?
A maximum of one ticket is issued per screening / event and (90 minute) time slot. It is not possible to guarantee tickets for a specific screening or event, nor for a specific number of tickets. All accredited tickets are issued according to availability on a first-come, first-served basis.

How can I cancel my ticket? 
Accredited visitors may not let tickets go unused. Tickets that have already been booked, but cannot be used, must be cancelled in the online ticket shop for accredited visitors no later than 120 minutes before the screening / event begins (30 minutes for press screenings).

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.

Are there any online screenings at the festival?
No, festival and press screenings will only take place physically in the Berlinale cinemas.

During the Festival

When and where can I collect my badge?
This depends on the type of accreditation. About one week before the start of the festival, you will receive an email with the necessary information for collecting your accreditation badge. The badge can only be collected if it has already been paid for online in advance. 

Can I collect a badge for another person?
You can collect a badge for another person by showing their personalised badge pick-up letter at the accreditation counter.

Are group collections possible for members of the same company?
Group collection for members of the same company is possible for groups of at least ten people. Please contact your designated accreditation office for further information.

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.

I have experienced/witnessed abusive or discriminatory behaviour at the Berlinale, what can I do?
During and shortly after the Berlinale, additional Awareness Teams are available to offer preliminary advice to any visitors or employees who observe, experience or are affected by discrimination in connection with the festival. The availability of the Awareness Teams for the next Berlinale will be announced in the run-up to the festival.

The Awareness Teams are there to listen, understand and advise people in a supportive, confidential and initially strictly anonymous manner. At the request of the person seeking advice, the Awareness Team will inform the Berlinale and will consult it about possible measures to be taken. The implementation of these measures is the responsibility of the Berlinale. The Berlinale is grateful for your active collaboration and encourages all witnesses and those affected to contact our Awareness Teams should such incidents occur.

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?
A festival accreditation grants limited access to the stands in the EFM locations (Gropius Bau and Marriott Hotel) as follows: February 12 all day; February 13–16 from 5 pm; February 17 and 18 all day. To gain unrestricted access to the EFM venues, Market Screenings, Industry Sessions and the EFM online features, please order an additional Market Badge (which you will have to pay for) via .

I was invited as a guest of the EFM. How can I also take part in the festival?
To get access to tickets for public festival screenings, you can either order a festival accreditation (which you will need to pay for) via  or alternatively try to purchase tickets via the Berlinale's public ticket sale.

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?
Participants who require a visa to enter Germany can tick the “Visa Required” box at the beginning of the application form and enter all necessary information. As soon as your accreditation application is accepted, you can download an official “Confirmation of Accreditation” certificate from the "Attendance Data / Documents / Visa” page of your account. Starting from December, the Berlinale will inform the relevant German embassy or consulate of your festival participation to facilitate your visa application.
Embassies and consulates have specific deadlines for making appointments and for visa processing. Please book an appointment as early as possible with the relevant German embassy / consulate (or via an external service provider). Please check their websites to find out which documents are required for a Schengen visa and submit them together with the Berlinale’s official “Confirmation of Accreditation”. A valid passport is required in all cases.

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.

Will my contact details be published in the Attendee List or the EFM Participants Guide?
Yes. In the accreditation form, you can voluntarily provide an email address and phone number for publication. Your contact details will be listed in the Attendee List and – if you have a Market Badge or Online Market Badge – also in the EFM Participants Guide to facilitate professional networking.

Can I update or add my contact details for the Attendee List or the EFM Participants Guide after submitting my accreditation application?
Starting in January 2026, you will be able to specify in your Berlinale account which data should be displayed in the Attendee List and, if applicable, in the EFM Participants Guide

Why can’t I view the complete EFM Participants Guide, including contact details?
The full version of the EFM Participants 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. Make sure that you are also logged into your Berlinale Account.