WCF Day 2026: Redefining the notion of World Cinema

The annual WCF Day at the Berlinale is the World Cinema Fund’s public think-tank. Organized in collaboration with Berlinale Talents, the WCF Day is designed as a space to reflect on today´s world through the lenses of cinema and the artistic and cultural trends in the WCF-eligible regions. Through panels and discussions, the WCF day explores production and funding strategies, but also offers unique perspectives from filmmakers in these countries.

This year, the WCF Day will take place on Tuesday, February 17th and will be set at the Berlinale Talents' new venue, Berlin’s Radialsystem.

February 17, 2026
Radialsystem, Holzmarktstraße 33, 10243 Berlin

11:15 – 12:30 Director’s Talk: Alain Gomis: past, present, future
Conversation with French-Senegalese WCF director Alain Gomis (DAO - Berlinale Competition)
Moderated by Yanis Gaye (Producer, Head of Studies for Locarno Open Doors )

13:30 – 13:45 Introduction & Keynote
Words of Welcome by Lutz Nitsche (Officer to the Executive Board of the Federal Cultural Foundation) and Keynote Speech by Sata Cissokho (New Head of the WCF): What does “World Cinema” mean today?
A reflection on the evolving perception of the films coming from the WCF countries

13:45 – 14:45 Talk 1
Region in Focus: South East Asia
New currents of South East Asian cinema – Producers pushing the boundaries
With WCF producers Cattleya Paosrijaroen (Thailand), Meiske Taurisia (Indonesia), Jeremy Chua (Singapore), Daniel Mattes (Cambodia) and Foo Fei Ling (Malaysia)
Moderated by Lorna Tee (Producer, Festival curator)

15:00 – 16:00 Talk 2
International potential for local stories
Visibility and sales perspectives for films coming from the WCF regions
A conversation with international sales agents Martin Gondre (Best Friends Forever, Belgium), Olivier Barbier (Lucky Number, France), and other guests TBC

To request an invitation please contact .

The World Cinema Fund is an initiative of the German Federal Cultural Foundation and the Berlin International Film Festival.
The special WCF Europe programme was launched with the support of the European Union's Creative Europe MEDIA programme.