On occasion of the 23rd PROVINZIALE, we invite filmmakers from all over the world, from now until 15 May 2026, to submit their productions to us. We are looking for films that respond to our programme: relationships of people and places, resource management, coming, going, staying and shaping one’s surroundings. Landscapes, regions or places have to become visible as players in human life.

A sixteen-strong selection team will review the entries, evaluate them for quality and alignment with our programme and put together a festival programme for the following international competitions:

The fourth competition is dedicated to

and will be compiled from films invited by us. Unsolicited applications for this competition are only possible with an exposé sent via email to doc.submission@provinziale.de by 15 April.

Two audience prizes (DIE ROSE and DIE DISTEL) totaling €12,000 will be awarded for each of the four competitions. DIE ROSE is the prize for the audience favourite. Here the audience honours the film that moved them the most. DIE DISTEL is the award for film criticism. Here the audience assesses the dramaturgy and camera work, the narrative style and treatment of the protagonists.

From the competition entries in all four categories, the selection team will also nominate four to eight films for the special jury prize DER STACHEL. This is awarded for the most interesting film on the topic of sustainability. The prize money of €2,000 is donated by Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development and Kreiswerke Barnim.