There are certain moments in Berlin’s cultural calendar that people begin looking forward to long before they arrive, and Lakeside Film Festival is one of them. Now in its 12th year, the festival has become a summer institution, not through grand ambitions or glossy spectacle, but by cultivating something far more difficult to create: a sense of belonging. Every July, Berliners pack their tents, gather their friends and make the short journey out to a secluded lakeside site in Brandenburg somewhere close to the Polish
border, trading the city’s heat and bustle for a few days of cinema, music, swimming, conversation and community. Although there are plenty of different aspects to Lakeside, at its heart, it’s a film festival, and a remarkably adventurous one at that. The programme consistently balances acclaimed international features with documentaries, shorts and experimental works that might otherwise fall under the radar. The programming is versatile, curious and generous, creating space for established filmmakers and emerging voices alike. It’s the kind of festival you map out
your schedule for in advance, only to abandon your careful plans after hearing someone enthusiastically recommend a particular screening. Nestled among trees beside the lake, the site feels wonderfully removed from everyday life. But to simply describe Lakeside as a film festival would be to miss what makes it special. The days at the lake unfold according to a rhythm that feels increasingly rare in contemporary life. Mornings begin slowly by the water, afternoons drift between live music, DJ sets, swims and chance encounters and
as evening falls, conversations spill across communal tables before giving way to the screenings that continue long into the night. One of Lakeside’s great strengths is its ability to bring together different creative worlds. Alongside the cinematic programme, festival-goers can discover outstanding local bands and some of Berlin’s most exciting DJs, transforming the weekend into a celebration of culture. At last year’s edition, a friend of mine, Berlin’s The Burrell Connection, played a slamming DJ set. The moment he dropped a remix of Basement Jaxx’s
‘Where’s Your Head At’, he noticed someone in the crowd was his doppelgänger, so he invited him up on stage. To say the crowd went off is an understatement. This is the kind of lore you can expect at Lakeside. The festival’s setting plays no small part. Nestled among trees beside the lake, the site feels wonderfully removed from everyday life, while remaining close enough to Berlin to be accessible. There’s something almost utopian about watching films under open skies, then walking a few minutes
to the water’s edge. In a city where cultural life often feels fragmented across countless venues and neighbourhoods, Lakeside offers a rare opportunity to gather in one place and share an experience together. Perhaps that’s why so many people return year after year. Old friendships are renewed almost instantly, while new ones seem remarkably easy to make. Few events manage to foster such a genuine sense of community. Twelve years on, Lakeside Film Festival continues to show that the most memorable cultural experiences are not
always the biggest or loudest. Sometimes they’re the ones that create space for discovery, connection and a temporary escape from everyday routines. Lakeside Film Festival is on July 3-5 at Schlaubetal Nature Park
Lakeside Film Festival, Berlin, Brandenburg, Schlaubetal Nature Park, film festival, July 3-5, cinema, documentaries, shorts, experimental films, live music, DJs, swimming