Notes on Anti-Discrimination and Awareness

The Berlin International Film Festival (IFB, Berlinale) is one of the largest public film festivals in the world, where everyone should feel comfortable and safe. This gives rise to a special responsibility to offer all visitors, guests, partners and employees an event that is as non-discriminatory and safe as possible. In order to meet this requirement, binding guidelines and measures apply at the Berlinale.

General Legal Provisions

International and German laws apply to participation in the Berlin International Film Festival (IFB, Berlinale), in particular protection against discrimination in accordance with Article 3 of the Basic Law (GG) and the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).

KBB House Rules

The Berlinale reserves the right to make use of its domiciliary rights in the event of discrimination or harassment and to deny participation in the events to those involved. See the house rules of the KBB.

Berlinale Social Media Code of Conduct

As a meeting place and platform for all film enthusiasts, the Berlinale also offers space for exchange and debate on its social media channels. The rules for respectful interaction are summarised in the Social Media Code of Conduct.

Official Incident Report - Discrimination

If you, as a festival visitor or accredited guest, would like to report incidents of harassment, discrimination or other transgressions of boundaries in connection with the Berlinale, the email address is available to you all year round.

If you have experienced discrimination as an applicant, employee or in a position similar to that of an employee, you can file a complaint via the complaints office in accordance with Article 13 Paragraph 1 of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) at: .

Your information will be treated confidentially and will serve as an official processing of the incident.

Awareness Team

During the festival and in the immediate aftermath, the Awareness Team will support every person at the festival. It provides confidential initial counseling for visitors and employees who have experienced or witnessed discrimination or harassment.
If necessary, the Awareness Team will refer people to external counseling centres.

Availability of the Awareness Team

The exact availability of the awareness teams for the next Berlinale will be announced in the run-up to the festival.

Contact Point at the Berlinale Service Center:

Thursday, February 12 - Saturday, February 21, 2026
from 12pm (noon) to 5pm
the Awareness Team will be on-site in person at Berlinale Service Center (Eichhornstraße 3, 10785 Berlin).

The team can be recognized by their pink lanyards.

By Phone and Email:

Thursday, February 12 - Saturday, February 21, 2026
from 5pm to 10pm
Sunday, February 22 and Monday, February 23, 2026
from 12pm (noon) to 7pm
the Awareness Team can be reached by phone at +49 30 2099 556 556 or by email at .

This offer is a supplement to our security concept. It does not replace the security team or a psychological emergency service, however it offers valuable additional support.

We appreciate your suggestions and feedback on the Awareness Team:
Feedback and remarks on the awareness team at Berlinale

External Counselling Initiatives:

In addition, the following counseling centres are also available to you free of charge, anonymously and confidentially outside the festival period:

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency is a contact point for people who are affected by discrimination. The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) regulates this protection. Website: www.antidiskriminierungsstelle.de

GLADT e.V. – independent, multilingual, queer

GLADT is a self-organization by and for Black, Indigenous and of Color lesbian, gay, bi+, trans, inter* and queer people in Berlin. They are active on multiple levels in combating racism, sexism, trans-, intersex- and queerphobia, ableism, and other forms of discrimination. A particular focus lies on intersectionality, meaning the overlaps and interactions between different forms of discrimination and the specific experiences that result from them. Website: www.gladt.de/

Anti-Discrimination Counselling for Age or Disability: Selbsthilfe Berlin e.V.

This counselling centre is a contact point for people who feel discriminated against because of their age or disability. Website: www.lv-selbsthilfe-berlin.de

Anti-Discrimination Network Berlin (ADNB) of the Turkish Federation in Berlin-Brandenburg (TBB)

The ADNB is a counselling centre primarily for people living in Berlin who have experienced racist and related discrimination (people of colour, Black people, Muslims, Roma*, Sintezza*, Jews, people with a migration history, refugee experience and/or others). Website: www.adnb.de

OFEK e.V. - Counselling and Intervention Centre for Anti-Semitic Violence and Discrimination

The OFEK counselling centre advises individuals, their families and relatives as well as witnesses in the event of anti-Semitic violence at school, at work, in the neighbourhood, in the personal environment, in authorities and also offers advice to institutions following ani-Semitic incidents. Website: www.ofek-beratung.de

OPRA - Psychological Counselling for Victims of Right-Wing Extremist, Racist & Anti-Semitic Violence

The Psychological Counseling Centre for Victims of Right-Wing Extremist, Racist and Anti-Semitic Violence (OPRA) has been advising victims and their relatives since 2004. It is important for OPRA to design its services confidentially and unbureaucratically so that they are accessible promptly, free of charge and with a low threshold. Website: www.opra-gewalt.de

HateAid - The Counselling Centre for Victims of Digital Violence

HateAid is the only counselling centre in Germany that exclusively supports those affected by digital violence. Website: www.hateaid.org

KiDs – Protecting children from discrimination

KiDs offers counselling and support in cases of discrimination affecting children aged 0 to 12 in Berlin.
The counselling service is aimed at children and adults who have the responsibility to protect children from discrimination - i.e. parents and guardians, caregivers, educators, teachers and other educational professionals. Website: https://kids.kinderwelten.net/de/

Themis - Trust Centre against Sexual Harassment e.V.

Themis is an independent and inter-company trust centre against sexual harassment and violence in the film, television and theatre industry. Themis offers you a protected space where you can confide in someone.
Website: www.themis-vertrauensstelle.de

The "Violence against Women" helpline

The "Violence against Women" helpline is a nationwide counselling service for women who have experienced or are still experiencing violence. Relatives, friends and professionals who come into contact with those affected are also advised there. Telephone: 116 016 Website: www.hilfetelefon.de

Sexual Abuse Help Portal The nationwide Sexual Abuse Help Portal wants to ensure that all people find the right support for them when it comes to sexual abuse. By phone: 0800 22 55 530 Website: www.hilfe-portal-missbrauch.de Schreib-Olli - Online Counselling Sexual Violence for Children and Adolescents "Schreib-Ollie" is a nationwide counselling service for children and young people who have experienced or are experiencing sexual violence. Counselling is free of charge and anonymous, and providing an email address is also voluntary. Registration is very quick and non-binding. Website: www.schreib-ollie.de

TIN Anti-Violence Counselling

The TIN* Anti-Violence Counselling service stands firmly by the side of TIN* victims of violence. Our counselors are themselves part of the TIN* spectrum. Services for victims, family members, caregivers, social networks, and professionals
Phone: +49 (030) 446 688-114,
Website: https://schwulenberatungberlin.de/angebote/tin-antigewaltberatung/