Our 2026 Festival

Overview of Dates

  • 27th and 29th March 2026: Workshops (registration opens 20 February, exact times TBA)
  • 28 March 2026 at 10 a.m. - Festival opening and reception
  • 28 March 2026 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Regular screenings incl. tattoo walk-in
  • 28 March 2026 at 7 p.m. - Awards ceremony with the jury present
  • 28 March 2026 from 8 to 10 p.m. - Drinks and informal closing
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    Workshops

    Curious about working in front of and behind the camera, how to develop a script or plan a shoot? Maybe you already have some film experience but no idea how to market your work? The Underdog Film Festival in Wolfsburg offers interested parties the chance to take a practical look behind the scenes of the modern creative industry in several free workshops. Workshops will take place at the Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences - Faculty for Automotive Design in central Wolfsburg.

    Registrations for the free taster courses are possible as of 20th February 2026 via cedarwolf(at)wooden-o.de. Please note that spots are limited!

    Camera Acting für Beginners (27th March 2026 - 12 noon till 3pm)

    Is acting easy? If the actors in your favourite film or series give off thi impression, then they are usually masters of their craft. In this short taster workshop, interested parties can find out what lies behind a convincing embodiment of the characters.

    We'll start with the basics of acting itself before moving on to the differences between stage and film and, of course, we will be taking a practical approach. So you should definitely bring comfortable clothing.

    Please note that this course will be conducted in German, unless requested otherwise.

    Utilising Professional Media Technology (27th March 2026 - 4 pm till 9pm and 29th March – 10am till 6pm)

    On the one hand, this introductory basic course focuses on the handling of equipment, from camera to sound, lighting to data processing. On the other hand, we will also take a closer look at how content for different formats and platforms must be planned from the outset and ultimately realised, if the widest possible audience is to be reached.

    Please note that this course will be conducted in English only.

    Screenwriting for Beginners (29th March 2026 - from 10am till 2pm)

    Anyone can write. Or at least enough people offer courses on how to write scripts these days. And everyone tells aspiring writers something different. To avoid offering another course that mainly tells creative people things that definitely don't replace a degree, our course is aimed at authors who would like to bring their finished book(s) ‘to market’. This is because marketing one's own product is often disregarded and many first-time authors are afraid of possible pitfalls that will rob them of their material and leave them empty-handed.

    Of course, we will cover a few basic things about film script development, including the differences between fictional and documentary script development, but our workshop is primarily about the role of screenwriters in the structure of developing new projects. After all, writing for film and television is a collaborative process that requires critical faculties as well as creativity and resilience.

    Please note that this course will be conducted in German, unless requested otherwise.

    An Introduction to Film Production (29th March 2026 - from 2pm till 6pm)

    This introductory basic course focusses on the one hand on organising a shoot, where we talk about the individual departments and how set hierarchies are put together, but also how professional shooting schedules are created, how a calculation is determined, where and how you can apply for funding and what you need for this. On the other hand, we also look at how you can ultimately market your film, i.e. earn money with your work. Is this even possible and if so, when do you start and how do you go about it?

    Please note that this course will be conducted in German, unless requested otherwise.

    Participants will also receive useful addresses and information on other offers in Lower Saxony to find their footing in the professional film industry.

      Screenings & Competitions (28th March)

      This year, the screenings will be kept deliberately compact. There will be one programme for adult audiences and a separate programme for children.

      The festival opens at 10 a.m. in the foyer, which will also host the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. with members of the jury in attendance. Afterwards, everyone is welcome to stay for drinks until 10 p.m., creating a relaxed setting for conversation and winding down together.

      Tattoos & Piercing

      Culture Shocks has been organizing various events in Wolfsburg for many years. The Underdog Film Festival was the first step in the direction of "film-related events". And since films are the perfect distraction from the more painful side of image creation, this year's festival will once again offer the opportunity to watch the film programme while getting tattooed in the more private Peep Show variants. You also get to discuss the film programme with your personal artist who is, after all, a specialist when it comes to imagery.

      And since some people asked about pericing last time, there are also a few piercing slots, but it's a bit difficult with films, as it takes a lot less time than getting a tattoo done.