The paths of major blockbusters are carefully planned: a worldwide theatrical release, multi-million-euro campaigns, and posters appearing in countless cities. At the same time, some films become sensations in their countries of origin but rarely make it beyond their borders. These are exactly the kinds of films that Box Office Around the World (07.–16.08.2026) brings to the Schlüterhof courtyard of the Humboldt Forum. Because even far away from the dream factory, films are being made that inspire millions of people. This is the case in Thailand, where audiences queue around the block for a film about a dog; in Nigeria, where a family comedy sparks weeks of conversation; and in Argentina, where a documentary moves an entire nation. Box Office Around the World brings these perspectives to the Schlüterhof courtyard of the Humboldt Forum. There, visitors can enjoy snacks and drinks under the open sky while watching films from Argentina, Brazil, India, Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam. Films that have broken box-office records in their home countries, sparked public debates, or achieved cult status. The experience becomes more special when, before each screening, guests from the respective communities share why a particular film has become so significant back home.

The program features some true discoveries. For example, Gohan, a Thai audience favorite about a dog whose life is intertwined with several human lives, appears to make audiences laugh and cry in equal measure. Or Batwara, which will be screened at the Humboldt Forum at the same time as its world premiere, and tells the story of the consequences of the Partition of India from the perspective of one family. Anyone who loves documentary cinema should make a note of Nuestra Tierra, which follows the years-long fight for justice after the murder of a member of the Chuschagasta community and is currently receiving significant attention in Argentina. And then there is Velhos Bandidos, a Brazilian heist comedy in which two retirees plan a bank robbery. Fortunately, the summer’s greatest coup does not require a getaway car — only a deck chair at Box Office Around the World.

Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: Frank Sperling, still from “Gohan”

Humboldt Forum, Schlüterhof, Schlossplatz, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map
Box Office Around the World 07.–16.08.2026

@humboldtforum

There are those unsettling moments after receiving bad news: the underground train arrives on time, the sun suddenly comes out, the traffic light turns green. Even though everything has just shifted, the world simply carries on. It’s this feeling that forms the starting point of Sandra Wollner’s new film Everytime. The story begins with the sudden disappearance of the young Jessie. Left behind are her mother, Ella, her little sister, Melli, and Lux, whom everyone blames. Rather than telling a classic story of grief, Wollner is interested in what happens afterwards: future dreams that will never come true and the search for answers that no one can provide. Berlin and Tenerife become settings for a reality that increasingly slips away from familiar rules. Anyone who has seen The Trouble with Being Born will know Wollner’s talent for creating moments of unease. With Everytime, she pushes this approach even further. Cinematographer Gregory Oke (Aftersun) captures crystal-clear, dreamlike images: sunlight that is both warming and harsh, and richly layered perspectives. It’s hardly surprising that the film won the top prize in the “Un Certain Regard” section at Cannes. For anyone who would like to see the film before its official cinema release, there is an opportunity on 31.07.2026. The Hasenheide Open-Air Cinema will screen Everytime as an open-air preview in its original version with English subtitles. The film starts at 21:15hr. If you only spend one summer evening at the cinema under the open sky, this should be the one.

Text: Leo Sandmann / Credits: Everytime, The Barricades Panama Film, Gregory Oke

Everytime by Sandra Wollner. You can find all screening dates here.