The TreeFilmFestival is unique: the first festival dedicated entirely to trees. The venue is not a cinema, but the Parliament of Trees against War and Violence, created by art activist Ben Wagin. Directly on the former "death strip" near the Reichstag, history meets the present.
Documentary films and art projects about nature, habitats and change will be shown - projected onto the Berlin Wall in the open air. The festival was curated by filmmaker and cameraman Uwe Bohrer, who has been filming trees and environmental issues since the 1970s and has accompanied Ben Wagin for decades.
Program
Saturday, April 25, 2026
from 18:30: Music
MFA Kera with her charismatic voice, supported by Mike Russells on blues guitar and Reinhard Katemann on keyboards have been Ben Wagin's musical companions for decades. The special guest from Madagascar is Embokazomdga with music and dance.
from 19:45: Film program
Ben Superstar, Uwe Bohrer (3:30 min.)It has become quiet around Ben Wagin, the tree sponsor and action artist. Experience briefly what it was like back then when the press, radio and television tried to get a good picture of him and his actions.
gemetzel in Gatow, Jugendfilmclub Wild Movies e.V. (23 min.)West Berlin at the end of the 1970s. The forest in the flight path of the British military airport is to be cleared. A controversial measure by the British protecting power. The film documents the protests.
Schlachtfeld Tegeler Forst, Manfred Jelinski (45 min.)A film about the construction of the highway through Tegeler Forst: The film accompanies the citizens' initiative, residents and helpers in their attempt to prevent the division of Berlin's largest contiguous piece of forest. A contemporary document from West Berlin in the early 1980s.
Sunday, April 26, 2026
from 19:45: Film program
Ben Superstar, Uwe Bohrer (3:30 min)Things have gone quiet around Ben Wagin, the tree sponsor and action artist. Experience briefly what it was like when the press, radio and television tried to get a good picture of him and his actions.
An apple tree, Hansueli Holzer (4:30 min.)The story of an apple tree
on the art of woodcutting, Hansueli Holzer (5 min.)Woodcutting is a way of painting a picture.
The rice: Ben Wagin and Dafne B, Uwe Boher (7 min.)Inspired by a mountain of shredded wood, a journey begins in the birthplace of Ben Wagin. An action by Ben Wagin and Dafne B, recorded on film by Uwe Bohrer.
Weeds, Agnes Maagaard (12 min.)A poetic children's story and a spontaneous act of protest.
Von Natur aus Freunden, Kuesti Fraun and Alexander Busse (1 min.)Synopsis: Because people need air and trees need love.
My Valley of Draughts, Neringa Naujokaite (10 min.)A journey into the past, interwoven with the memories of two people.
A literary introduction to the tree (4 min.)Hermann Treusch presents his own and other works.
Weltbaum Eins - Zwei - Trias, Uwe Bohrer (12 min.)A film about the three world trees by Ben Wagin
Lessons in the forest, Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald (10 min.)How do teachers implement school lessons in the forest? An information film by the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald, Landesverband Bayern e.V.
An event organized by the Baumpatenverein e.V. with the support of the Berlin Wall FoundationTranslated with DeepL
Meeting point: Parliament of Trees, Schiffbauerdamm (next to house number 40, Federal Press Conference), 10117 Berlin