2026 Leichhardt Film Awards: Young Film Talents Honored at “Weltspiegel”

Creativity, teamwork, and memorable cinematic moments: Today, the Leichhardt Film Awards from the Ludwig-Leichhardt-Gymnasium in Cottbus were presented for the second time in the main auditorium of the Weltspiegel movie theater.

The event was organized by the school’s film club, which once again put together the awards ceremony with great dedication. As a partner of the Ludwig-Leichhardt-Gymnasium, the FilmFestival Cottbus is delighted to support and nurture young film talent from the region. Marthe Gärtner (PR & Marketing) represented the FilmFestival Cottbus on the jury and, together with the other jury members, evaluated the submitted productions.

Students were honored in various categories, including Best Leading Role, Best Concept, and Best Editing. The grand prize for Best Film went to the production by the class of 2026, which impressed the jury with its cinematic execution.

Now in its second year, the Leichhardt Film Awards have already established themselves as a special platform for up-and-coming filmmakers. They impressively demonstrate just how much creativity, narrative flair, and technical skill can already be found in schools. For the FilmFestival Cottbus, the collaboration with the Ludwig-Leichhardt-Gymnasium is an important contribution to promoting film culture in Lusatia and supporting young filmmakers.

We warmly congratulate all the award winners and everyone involved, and look forward to many more exciting film projects from Cottbus!