The Leipzig Film Art Fair, the most important German industry gathering for cinema operators, distributors and arthouse industry professionals, will present the diversity of German and international cinema from 22 to 26 September 2025.
At the Leipzig Film Art Fair 2025, UCM.ONE will present three new cinema films that are about to be released: the coming-of-age comedy “Nulpen” (English title: “Slackers”) by Sorina Gajewski, the documentary “Wolken über Lützerath” (English title: “Clouds over Lützerath”) by Lukas Reiter and the thriller “Darlings” by Lea de Boor and Steffen Maurer.
Nulpen (Slackers) by Sorina Gajewski (2025)
Ramona and Nico are fresh out of school and are drifting through the Berlin summer. After a prank, they have to flee – reluctantly into a politically charged world. In search of a released bird and their little brother, they struggle to be friends, believe in themselves and stumble unexpectedly into other hopeful life stories. NULPEN shows young people learning to navigate between the urge for freedom and the pressure of social responsibility. In a world full of uncertainties – characterised by the climate crisis and growing resignation – their longing for lightness becomes palpable.
Feature film, coming-of-age comedy
Germany, 2025 | Length: 75 min | Written & directed by Sorina Gajewski
Director of photography: Hannes Schulze | Music: Demian Martin | Editor: Lucas Castillo | Raffaello Lupperger
Performers Bella Lochmann, Pola Geiger, Rio Kirchner and many more
Production: German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB) | Sabrina Holzapfel
Cinema release: 19 March 2026
Distribution label: DARLING BERLIN
More information about the film: Nulpen
Further information in the online catalogue of the Filmkunstmesse Leipzig 2025
Wolken über Lützerath (Clouds over Lützerath) by Lukas Reiter (2025)
In Lützerath, Blinker, Ronni and Kathrin Henneberger, member of the Green Party in the Bundestag, are fighting for the 1.5 degree limit. They are fighting in different ways to preserve the village in the Rhenish lignite mining region. They all suffer a serious setback when the coalition of traffic lights agrees to the coal compromise with RWE, which sacrifices the village to the company. After the eviction, images of destruction, memories of resistance and wounds that are only slowly healing remain. WOLKEN ÜBER LÜTZERATH documents an internationally recognised symbol of the global climate justice movement and impressively shows why the fight for the village of Lützerath was much more than a local conflict.
Documentary
Germany, 2025 | Length: 110 min | Director: Lukas Reiter | Writer & Director: Lukas Reiter, Christoph Hans
Cinematography: Lukas Reiter | Music: Demian Martin | Editor: Christoph Hans
Production: Filmakademie Baden Würtemberg | Transparentfilm
Cinema release: 21 January 2026
Distribution label: NONFY Dokumentaries
More information about the film: Wolken über Lützerath
Further information in the online catalogue of the Filmkunstmesse Leipzig 2025
Darlings by Steffen Maurer & Lea de Boor (2024)
Lena, a young, open-minded primary school teacher from Berlin, accompanies her partner Ole and his brother Lasse to the village of his childhood and youth. What initially seems like a welcome break from everyday life soon becomes an existential test: in the emotionally barren company of his old friends, Ole changes and reveals sides that not only shake up their relationship, but also become increasingly dangerous for Lena.
DARLINGS shows how patriarchal behaviour and violence affect and destroy intimate relationships. The thriller thus opens up an important feminist perspective on power relations in partnerships and explores possible ways of breaking out of them.
Feature film, thriller
Germany, 2024 | Length: 76 min | Written & directed by Leo de Boor & Steffen Maurer
Director of photography: Manuel Ruge | Music: Robert Zimmermann | Editor: Jessica Rudolph
Performers: Thea Rasche, Paul Boche, Tom Böttcher, Felix Maria Zeppenfeld, Ina Lene Dinse, Matthias Gärtner, Malte Thomsen
Production: filmarche Berlin | Ultimaratiofilm
Cinema release: 4 December 2025
Distribution label: DARLING BERLIN
More information about the film: Darlings
Further information in the online catalogue of the Filmkunstmesse Leipzig 2025
The Leipzig Film Art Fair (22.-26. September 2025)
The Leipzig Film Art Fair has been a permanent meeting place for the arthouse industry for 25 years. From 22 to 26 September 2025, it will bring together cinema operators, distributors and experts from all over Europe. During this week, films will be presented and discussed long before their national release and considered in terms of their potential. At the same time, the fair offers space to reflect on developments and perspectives in cinema in seminars and workshops.
At the heart of the programme are the film screenings for trade visitors in the Passage cinemas and CineStar Leipzig. The programme is supplemented by specialist events at various locations in Leipzig that address current market issues – from dealing with new audience habits to marketing strategies for high-quality cinema, as well as the opportunity to view films in the online catalogue.
Personal dialogue is also an important part of the event. Meetings and discussions will be held at the fringe events, which will carry on the work in the cinemas and distributors. In the evenings, the fair opens up to the city: Leipzig audiences also have the opportunity to see selected films for the first time in the Passage cinemas and the traditional Schauburg theatre.
The Filmkunstmesse is organised by AG Kino – Gilde deutscher Filmkunsttheater e.V., the Association of Art House Cinemas in Germany. It is supported by MDM, FFA, BKM, the City of Leipzig, the media partners Blickpunkt:Film, THE SPOT and Letterboxd as well as the local partners Passage Kinos, Schauburg and CineStar Leipzig.
Further information: Filmkunstmesse Leipzig 2025
