Holidays (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Holidays is a German drama about Fridolin, an 11-year-old boy who eagerly visits his father during school breaks while confronting the difficulties caused by Jan’s serious drinking problem. Written and directed by Sven Gielnik, the film focuses on a complicated father-son relationship.

Holidays centers on the bond between an 11-year-old boy and his father, whose time together is limited to school holidays. For Fridolin, those visits are highly anticipated moments filled with his father’s adventurous ideas and attention.

That relationship is complicated by Jan’s serious drinking problem. Written and directed by Sven Gielnik, this 2026 German drama examines a family situation shaped by distance, separation and the challenge of maintaining a connection under difficult circumstances.

Holidays movie details

Story without spoilers

Fridolin lives with his mother far from his father, Jan, and sees him only during the holidays. Those visits matter deeply to Frido, who regards Jan as an exciting and unusually attentive father. Jan’s drinking problem, however, creates a serious strain within their relationship and shapes the circumstances surrounding their time together.

The film’s central focus is the father-son connection between Frido and Jan. It also places their relationship within the broader situation of divorced parents, giving the story a family-drama framework without revealing how their circumstances develop.

What to expect

Holidays is presented as a grounded family drama built around a father-son relationship. Its premise combines the excitement of a child looking forward to time with a parent and the more difficult reality of alcohol dependency. The story also reflects the complications of divorced parents and a family divided by distance.

With a 1-hour-45-minute runtime, the film has room to explore Frido and Jan’s limited holiday visits while keeping their relationship at the center. The German-language setting and dramatic premise suggest an intimate, character-focused film rather than a broad adventure, though the supplied details do not indicate its precise tone or ending.

Cast and creative team

Max Riemelt plays Jan, while Milo Eisenblätter portrays Frido. Eva Bay appears as Bianca, Timo Weisschnur plays Gilbert, Joel Basman portrays Mr. Käsemodell, Lale Yavaş plays Jenny and Thomas Fiebig appears as a lifeguard. Ella Morgen is also part of the cast, with no character listed in the supplied information.

Sven Gielnik is both the director and writer of Holidays, making him the credited creative lead behind the film’s story and direction.

• Max Riemelt as Jan
• Milo Eisenblätter as Frido
• Eva Bay as Bianca
• Ella Morgen
• Timo Weisschnur as Gilbert
• Joel Basman as Mr. Käsemodell
• Lale Yavaş as Jenny
• Thomas Fiebig as Lifeguard

Release and production context

Holidays is a 2026 German drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It is listed with a release date of October 23, 2026, and its spoken language is German. The production companies are SWR, Montavia Filmproduktion and WDR.

Production companies: SWR, Montavia Filmproduktion, WDR

Movies Dock view

Holidays sets its story around a child’s strong affection for his father and the painful complications created by Jan’s drinking problem. Its clear family focus, German setting and defined father-son premise make it a drama centered on relationships rather than spectacle.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb