Randfilmfest#13

Obscure, hypnotic, notorious: The RANDFILMFEST in Kassel is a bastion of radical cinema. For its 13th edition, the unlucky number becomes the theme: Friday the 13th, black cats, cursed places. RANDFILMFEST#13 confronts superstition head-on—here, fear is not a warning, but a declaration.

From September 24 to 27, 2026, the Bali-Kinos, KiezKino, and the Kubatur will be transformed into a cinematic exclusion zone. Audiences can expect an uncompromising lineup of 19 feature films, 35 short films, workshops, performances, and talks.

Program Overview

• Opening (September 24): “Mother’s Evening” combines a live ritual (MOTHER, FOX & HOLY GHOST), the premiere of *Mother, Oh Mother* (dir. Niklas Reuse), a sound performance by GubiAnn, Eric Petzoldt’s *Suspiria* saxophone homage, and the shrill vampire grotesque *Silencio* (ESP 2025).

• Curses & Spells: Metaphysical terror ranging from *Pulse* (JP 2001) and *Malpertuis* (BE 1971) to cult shockers like *Demoni* (IT 1985).

• Artcore – The Body as a Battlefield: *Begotten* (US 1989) on 16mm, *Vase de Noces* (BE 1974), as well as the German premieres of the Japanese pink films *Re-Wind* (1988) and *Kyrie Eleison* (1993) by Hisayasu Satō.

• Mad Stop Motion: The Fascination of the Inanimate with Phil Tippett’s epic *Mad God* (US 2021).

• Guests & Special Features: Bavarian folk horror, Jan Soldat’s taboo-breaking films, a stop-motion workshop with Petra Stipetić, and guest screenings from the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival.

Closing Ceremony & Rand Awards (September 27)

The Umami Trio will provide the musical opening for the Rand Awards ceremony, with winners selected by an international jury (nominees include: Anything That Moves, Ghost In The Cell). Following that, the band BASALT will bring the festival to a close with powerful doom rock.

https://randfilmfest.de/

https://www.instagram.com/randfilmks/
https://youtu.be/a_IqM4xCwBE?si=a9ycYVol2_-xovMa