Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival

What the Max Ophüls Festival is

The Max Ophüls Festival in Saarbrücken is the leading festival for emerging German-language filmmakers. It is named after director Max Ophüls, who was born in Saarbrücken. The planner lists the 2027 edition from Monday 25 January to Sunday 31 January, a full week of screenings, and the event data describes it as smaller and more personal than the Berlinale.

The planner lists this edition as confirmed. Many audience members attend for the Q&A sessions, which give access to young directors and actors in a more relaxed setting than at larger festivals.

Dates and how they are set

The festival is held in late January, usually over seven days starting on a Monday. In 2027 it runs from 25 to 31 January. The organisers publish the dates well ahead, which allows the planner to treat them as confirmed with the official source linked from the entry.

Individual film screenings, competition categories and special events are announced later, normally with a programme release a few weeks before the festival opens. Ticket sales for individual screenings start after that, so the programme and the box office are the next steps to watch.

Character, sights and food

The festival is built around competitions for young filmmakers, with feature films, documentaries and shorts shown at cinemas in the city. Audiences meet the people behind the films after screenings, and the mood is more of a gathering of film students and enthusiasts than of red carpets.

Between screenings, Saarbrücken offers a baroque centre with the Ludwigskirche, the castle and the Saar riverside, which are best seen in daylight. Local food includes Lyoner and Schwenker in a pub, and cafes around the St. Johanner Markt are practical for a quick meal between films. In January you will want warm clothes, as the weather can be cold and wet.

Getting there and where to stay

Saarbrücken Hauptbahnhof is within walking distance of the old town and has regional and long-distance services to Frankfurt, Mannheim and Paris. The cinemas are in the city, so you do not need a car. Parking is available but limited close to the centre.

Hotels in Saarbrücken are generally less strained in winter than during summer events, though festival week can raise prices in central locations. Book early if you want to be near the cinemas, and compare options a few stops out on the tram or regional train.

Planning around holidays and bridge days in 2027

The festival starts on a Monday and ends on a Sunday, so the working days inside it are Monday 25 to Friday 29 January. Attending the full week would use five vacation days. A weekend visit on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January needs none, and a long weekend from Friday 29 January costs one day.

Saarland has no public holiday in January after New Year's Day, which falls on Friday 1 January 2027. Epiphany on 6 January is not a holiday there. The next ones are Good Friday on 26 March and Easter Monday on 29 March 2027, well after the festival, so there is no bridge day to use. Evening screenings let you see films after work with no leave at all, which is a useful option for people with limited vacation.

Winter school holidays are not normally in this part of January in Saarland, but check the state calendar if you travel with children. The compact festival week suits a mix: two or three evening screenings after work and one full day on Saturday.

Tips and who it suits

The festival suits film students, cinema fans and anyone curious about new German-language talent. It is less suitable if you want big stars and international premieres.

Check the programme when it is published, choose screenings that include a Q&A, buy tickets early for popular slots and wear warm clothes. Confirm times and venues with the organiser before you travel.