Since the early days of cinema, historical figures and events have been a central theme. Countless films tell the (hi)stories of kings, artists, politicians, scientists, and historical events. In doing so, filmmakers have sometimes stuck more closely to the facts than others. The films are thus also a mirror of the respective social and political systems and reflect the contemporary view of history. cinefest 2026 explores this phenomenon, compares films from different eras, and examines what they tell us about the people portrayed, but above all about the time in which they were made.
The planning list includes such diverse figures as King Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn, imperial und royal Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary (Mayerling affair), dancer Lola Montez, Imperial Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, composers Franz Schubert and Ludwig van Beethoven, and rocket scientist Wernher von Braun or Reinhard Heydrich, whose lives have each been covered in several feature films (biopics).