The year 2025 has arrived, the year in which Chemnitz – together with 38 local communities in the region – will serve as the European Capital of Culture. On 18 January, the city officially kicked off the celebratory year under the motto ‘C the Unseen’. Culture enthusiasts can now look forward to over 150 projects and 1000 planned events in the entire Chemnitz region.
Also taking part is the Int’l Film Festival for Children & Young Audiences SCHLiNGEL, which will be celebrating its 30th edition this year. Since its modest launch in 1996, SCHLiNGEL has not only become a permanent feature in the region’s calendar of events, but has also grown into one of the largest film festivals for young audiences in Europe.
From 27 September – 4 October 2025, the SCHLiNGEL film festival invites film professionals to come and celebrate the anniversary edition. “I am delighted that our 30th anniversary happens to coincide with such a unique cultural event. Chemnitz is finally – well deservedly – moving more into the public eye. We are looking forward to celebrating 30 years of international film culture with a festival in the middle of a region that is celebrating culture as an indispensable part of society for an entire year,“ says SCHLiNGEL director Michael Harbauer.
As always, guests can look forward to a diverse film programme. In addition, a number of highlights are planned. Together with ECFA, a conference is planned that will focus on European children’s film, a topic that will take centre stage from a film industry perspective.
The anniversary character of the upcoming edition will also be highlighted in the jury section, with the European Children’s Jury meeting for the 23rd time. In 2025 even more children from different parts of the continent are to be given the opportunity to work together intensively in the spirit of European cooperation and to award a prize to the film that best represents their perspective.
Copyright picture: Theater Chemnitz/Nasser Hashemi