Berlin Film Festival 2026 Adds Charli XCX, Ethan Hawke, Isabelle Huppert Films

The newly revealed lineup includes films spanning horror, science fiction, drama and music-focused narratives. Among the highlights in the Berlinale Specials section are the international premiere of The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, directed by Noah Segan and starring John Turturro and Steve Buscemi. The section will also feature European premieres, including The Weight, directed by Padraic McKinley and starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, and Gore Verbinski's sci-fi comedy Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, starring Sam Rockwell, Juno Temple, and Zazie Beetz, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Panorama section will showcase several films driven by feminist perspectives. These include Sami choreographer Elle Sofe Sara's debut film, Arru, Iranian activist and filmmaker Mahnaz Mohammadi's drama, Roya, and Olive Nwosu's debut feature, Lady. Pop music star Charli XCX also makes a notable appearance in Aidan Zamiri's The Moment, described as a mockumentary that blends themes of self-empowerment with a meta-commentary on the music industry, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Veteran South Korean filmmaker Hong Sangsoo will return to the Berlinale with Geunyeoga doraon nal, which offers a reflective take on the acting profession.

One of the most anticipated additions is The Blood Countess, a horror-mystery thriller starring French cinema icon Isabelle Huppert as a 16th-century vampire. Directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger, the film revisits the legend of Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory. The cast also includes Birgit Minichmayr, Lars Eidinger, Thomas Schubert and Andre Jung. The screenplay is co-written by Ottinger and Nobel Prize-winning author Elfriede Jelinek.

The Berlin Film Festival is expected to announce its complete lineup on January 20, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

- ANI