In 2026, the festival will present 24 national and international documentaries, feature films and animated films, including several German premieres. The films will address topics including the rights of nature, civic engagement, circular construction, agriculture, and the increasingly tangible and visible consequences of global warming.
In keeping with one of the festival’s trademarks, the films at GREEN VISIONS POTSDAM will once again be accompanied by experts and scientists selected in collaboration with proWissen Potsdam e.V. Prominent scientists have also been secured for the neighbourhood cinema series. For instance, climate researcher Prof. Dr Stefan Rahmstorf (Potsdam Institute for Climate Research) will be at the Haus der Begegnung Waldstadt on 29 May (“Nature – The History of Our Planet”), and Prof. Dr Manfred Rolfes (Applied Human Geography / Regional Studies, University of Potsdam) will speak to the Potsdam audience on 31 May at the Stadtteilladen Bornstedt (“Milagro – The War in the Bean Field”). More Kiez-Kino screenings with free admission are also taking place at the Dorfkirche Groß Glienicke, at oskar. DAS BEGEGNUNGSZENTRUM IN DER GARTENSTADT and the Bürgerhaus am Schlaatz.
The following guests are expected to take part in talks, lectures and discussions:
Noosha Aubel (Mayor of the State Capital Potsdam), Christine Ax (Network for the Rights of Nature e. V.), Prof. Dr Michael Braungart (sustainability pioneer, Cradle to Cradle NGO), Dominik Campanella (Concular GmbH), Prof. Dr Bernhard Diekmann (Head of the Potsdam Research Centre at the Alfred Wegener Institute, expert in Earth history and climate change), Assoc. Prof. Riccarda Flemmer (University of Tübingen), Dr Monika Griefahn (Cradle to Cradle NGO), Jasmin Henning (Biosphäre Potsdam), Nina Kreßin (GLS Bank), Prof. Dr Mark Lawrence (Scientific Director at the RIFS Research Institute for Sustainability | at the GFZ), Lena Luig (Heinrich Böll Foundation), Prof. Dr Dirk Messner (President of the Federal Environment Agency), Verena Mohaupt (Alfred Wegener Institute – AWI Potsdam), Reiner Nagel (Chairman of the Board of the Federal Foundation for Building Culture), Søren Pihlmann, Denmark (Pihlmann Architects, “Make Materials Matter”), Prof. Dr Stefan Rahmstorf (Head of the Department of Earth System Analysis at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research), Prof. Dr Manfred Rolfes (Applied Human Geography / Regional Studies, University of Potsdam), Bernd Rubelt (Deputy Mayor for Urban Development, Construction, Economy and the Environment, Potsdam), Prof. Dr Judith Schicks (Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Head of Section and Head of the ‘Solid-Fluid Interactions’ research group at the GFZ), Emmanuel Schlichter (Rights of Nature e. V.), Marie Schwarz (Federal Foundation for Building Culture), Elisabeth Stern, Board Member, KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz (“Trop Chaud”), Michael Walther (extreme sportsman and climate activist, “Time to Act”), Thomas Willemeit (founding partner of GRAFT Architects) and Prof. em. Dr Stefan Zundel (BTU Cottbus Senftenberg).
The festival is delighted to welcome these cultural and film professionals:
James Dawson, UK (director of ‘Derek vs Derek’), Tatjana Mischke, Germany (director of ‘Ein Haus aus Müll’), Ed Sayers, UK (director of ‘Super Nature’), Till Schauder, Germany (director of ‘Time to Act’), Phil Schreyer, Germany (director of ‘Time to Act’), Christian Spurling, Ireland (director of ‘ReRooted’), Marta Sniezek, Poland/Ireland (animation, cinematography for “ReRooted”), Valentin Thurn, Germany (director of ‘Ein Haus aus Müll’), Marc-Christoph Wagner, Germany/Denmark (director of ‘Make Materials Matter’) and Benjamin Weiss, Switzerland (director of ‘Trop Chaud’).
The discussions will be moderated by journalist Julia Vismann (including rbb radioeins), Dr Monika Griefahn (Cradle to Cradle NGO), Barbara Unmüßig (Rechte der Natur e. V.), Dr Simone Leinkauf and Annette Weiß (proWissen Potsdam e.V.), Birgit Heidsiek (Green Consultant), Korina Isabella Gutsche (speaker, lecturer and consultant on sustainability and changing values), Helena Sattler (actress, presenter), Lisa J. Nawrocki (Focal Point UNESCO Creative City of Film) and Prof. Dieter Kosslick, Festival Director.