May 25 – 27, 2026

Loud, quiet, queer – and absolutely worth seeing!

The Summer Pearls are taking place for the 12th time – formerly known as "Pearls in Spring" – and, as usual, following the CSD Hannover at the Kommunales Kino Hannover!

This time, we are focusing on queer cinema in Brazil, showcasing fresh perspectives, powerful stories, and a wealth of cultural diversity on the big screen.

We will open the summer edition of the festival with the feature film THE NATURE OF INVISIBLE THINGS. At its center is a touching friendship between a girl with a transplanted heart and a trans girl. The film explores themes of closeness, trust, and the desire to be seen—and how friendships can build bridges where words often fall short.

Next up is the lesbian feature film MIT LEISER STIMME, set in Tunisia, which we discovered and fell in love with at this year's Berlinale in the competition program.

On May 26, 2026, we will dive into the multifaceted world of LGBTIQ* short films with the SOMMERPERLCHEN. Six diverse works from Germany, Lithuania, the USA, Spain, Brazil, and India tell stories that touch the heart, inspire courage, and make different life realities visible.

On the third day, we start with the Colombian-Brazilian documentary SOUL OF THE DESERT. The film follows an indigenous transgender woman on her journey through a rugged yet stunning landscape, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the struggle between tradition and personal freedom.

As a conclusion, we present the gay comedy THE BEST FRIEND. This film fits perfectly with the summer gems: vibrant and full of musical moments. It brings a fresh breeze to the screen and shows that queer cinema can also be very lighthearted. Musical fans will definitely get their money's worth here!

You can find the film descriptions in German on the subpages below.