October 22 – October 31, 2026

Autumn Festival 2026

For the anniversary, we have two special highlights in our program. First, we are excited to once again present the QueerScope Debut Film Award. Nearly 30 independent queer film festivals have come together to select the best queer debut feature film: TRIAL OF HEIN by Kai Stänicke – a highly multifaceted film that was shot in locations including Norderney and Sylt. Additionally, we have a premiere at the PERLEN: We have organized an exclusive special event: Queer Up! Comedy in the cinema hall! Look forward to a varied comedy evening featuring well-known comedians who tackle social issues with humor, self-irony, and queer perspectives on life.

In addition to our four regular short film series, we have curated three additional programs for you in 2026: Political Short Films ("Pearlitics"), German-language Short Films ("Perl-O-Ton"), and Animated Short Films ("Pearlimation")! In previous years, many of our short film programs were sold out, resulting in waiting lists and sometimes disappointed faces. Our tip: Even if an event is listed as sold out, it's worth coming to the cinema. Reserved tickets are often not picked up before the film begins – at that point, we can still offer remaining tickets.

In conclusion, we would like to say one thing above all: Thank you. Thank you for allowing the PERLEN to exist for 30 years now. This is not something to be taken for granted — especially at a time when funding for LGBTIQA+ projects is being cut, queer individuals are increasingly experiencing assaults, and their rights are being questioned and restricted at the political level. Thank you to our loyal audience, who accompany us year after year, remain curious, and always find their way to the cinema.

A special thanks goes to Koki and the Cultural Office of Hanover, as well as to all the former festival team members who have built, developed, and enriched the PERLEN over the years.

Please note: The following subpages and the program booklet are only available in German. If you have questions about the content of the program, please do not hesitate to reach out via the contact form.

SHORT FILM DAY 2026

At the PERLEN short film evening "Queere Winterperlen - Kurzfilme für den kürzesten Tag des Jahres" ("Queer Winter Pearls – Short Films for the Shortest Day of the Year") taking place on December 20, 2026, at 6:30 PM, the focus once again will be on stories that move us – on the screen and beyond. Queer lives have always been in motion: people find their own paths, relationships change, identities evolve, and societies undergo transformation. Sometimes these changes are quiet and personal; at other times, they are loud, brave, and impossible to overlook. This year's KURZFILMTAG motto ("In Motion") couldn't be more fitting.

Films consist of moving images, but they also set thoughts and emotions in motion. They open up new perspectives, foster understanding, and invite viewers to look beyond their own viewpoint. With the "Queere Winterperlen," we aim to create space for exactly this: for stories that touch, surprise, and inspire. Join us for a shared cinema evening where we pause, laugh together, reflect, engage in conversation – and experience how much movement can be packed into just a few minutes of short film.

Where? At the Kommunales Kino Hannover!

You can find all information about this special event at this link:

Queer Winter Pearls 2026