“filmreif” is back for its 21st edition! This time, the theme is “quirky.”

12- to 16-year-olds from Wiesbaden are invited to experience eight exciting days during which they’ll develop a shared idea from individual concepts and then film it themselves. A film professional will be on hand to guide the young filmmakers throughout the entire process.

Just how quirky can it get?

Creative preparation is required even before the project begins: Participants are asked to submit a film idea based on the theme “quirky.” The film idea can be sent to the Media Center as continuous text, in bullet points, as a comic, or as a storyboard: filmreifmdz-wide

At the start of the workshop, a filmmaker will help the participants develop a shared concept from their individual ideas. This concept will then be filmed, always with the assistance of two professionals. The young filmmakers are responsible for everything: from makeup and costumes to acting, operating the camera, and sound.

The film and other projects from the Media Center will be presented to the participants’ families and school classes on September 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. on the big screen at the Caligari FilmBühne. Participants should therefore be aware that the resulting short film will be shown to the public. 

Have you ever experienced something so unusual that you had to look twice? Situations that are completely out of the ordinary—strange, crazy, or just different? Maybe you know people with quirky quirks, or maybe you’ve done something yourself that no one would have expected. And what about movies and books that transport us to quirky worlds—full of surprising twists and crazy ideas?

We encounter quirky things in everyday life, too: an unexpected coincidence, a perspective that turns everything upside down, or behavior that’s new to you. Even online, we find content that seems so quirky that we ask ourselves, “How does that work?”

“Bizarre” can mean even more: Sometimes something seems unusual simply because it isn’t standing straight or is filmed from an unusual angle. Think, for example, of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Or when the camera is tilted slightly during a film shot and suddenly everything looks a bit off-kilter, so that you automatically look more closely.

What does that mean for you? A quirky story, an unusual perspective, a character who breaks the mold? There are no limits to your imagination—we can’t wait to see your ideas!

• Wed., July 8 – Fri., July 10, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Mon., July 13 – Fri., July 17, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Venue: Studio of the Medienzentrum Wiesbaden e.V., Hochstättenstraße 6–10, 65183 Wiesbaden

Each child may participate in “filmreif” a maximum of two times. All participants must submit a film idea, which must be turned in no later than when the participation card is downloaded. The film idea can be sent to the Media Center at filmreifmdz-wide as continuous text, in bullet points, or as a comic. Filming and photography will take place during this event. Parents and participants must consent to being filmed or photographed.

The City of Wiesbaden’s summer vacation program is offered by the Office for Social Work, wi&you: “Schöne Ferien,” and organized by Medienzentrum Wiesbaden e.V.

The City of Wiesbaden’s Easter vacation program is offered by the Office of Social Work, wi&you: “Schöne Ferien,” and organized by Medienzentrum Wiesbaden e. V.