Oberhausen Short Film Festival
Oberhausen, Germany
Festival at a Glance
Event Dates
May 6 – 11, 2026 (72nd Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen)
Website
Contact Email
Submission Fee
Free
Submission Platform
Official online submission system (link published on the festival website when the call opens; usually via their own portal or FilmFreeway)
Festival Type
International Short Film Festival (one of the world’s oldest, most prestigious and influential festivals dedicated to experimental, artistic and political short films)
Suitable For
Suitable for bold, experimental, avant-garde, documentary, animation, and hybrid short films (maximum 35–40 minutes) with strong artistic innovation, social/political relevance, formal experimentation, or unconventional storytelling. Ideal for emerging and established short filmmakers seeking one of the highest levels of international prestige in the short film world, major awards (including the Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen), critical recognition, and excellent networking in the experimental and artist film circuit.
Estimated Participants
Approximately 25,000–30,000 visitors + several hundred accredited filmmakers, curators, programmers, distributors, and international press (based on recent editions).
Location
Oberhausen, Germany
Acceptance Difficulty
Easy
Moderate
Very Competitive
Festival Guide
Overview
Film Submission Details
Participators
Technical Specs
Requirements
Genres
Travel Perks
Past Winners
Success Story
Festival Overview
The Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen (Oberhausen Short Film Festival) is one of the world’s oldest, most prestigious, and influential short film festivals. Held annually in Oberhausen, Germany (72nd edition: May 6–11, 2026), it is a leading global platform for experimental, artistic, political, and radically innovative short films.
Founded in 1954, the festival made cinema history in 1962 with the legendary Oberhausen Manifesto, which launched the New German Cinema movement. Since then, it has maintained its reputation as a fearless champion of artistic freedom, formal experimentation, and critical, socio-political filmmaking.
The program features highly selective international and German competitions, special thematic programs, retrospectives, exhibitions, installations, performances, and a strong professional platform for curators, programmers, artists, and distributors. It is widely regarded as the most important meeting point for the international experimental and artist film scene.
Screenings and events take place across multiple venues in Oberhausen, including the historic Lichtburg cinema and various cultural spaces in the city.
With its uncompromising artistic standards, political edge, and unique position at the crossroads of film, video, and contemporary art, the Oberhausen Short Film Festival serves as an essential showcase for bold short filmmakers seeking critical acclaim, major international awards (including the Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen), long-term recognition, and a place in the global history of avant-garde and independent cinema.
Who Is Oberhausen Film Festival Best For?
The Oberhausen Short Film Festival (Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen) stands out as one of the world’s oldest, most radical, and most influential short film festivals, blending uncompromising artistic screenings with a strong focus on experimental, political, and formally innovative short cinema. Held annually in Oberhausen, Germany, it caters to a dedicated spectrum of participants from passionate cinephiles and experimental film lovers to international curators, programmers, artists, distributors, and filmmakers from all over the world through its highly selective competitions, thematic programs, exhibitions, installations, and professional networking events.
It shines brightest for:
– Experimental, avant-garde, and artistically radical short filmmakers (emerging and established) seeking one of the highest levels of international prestige in the short film world
– Directors and artists with bold, critical, political, or formally groundbreaking works
– Industry professionals and curators looking for new voices, artist films, and works that challenge conventions
– Cinephiles and audiences who want intellectually demanding, fearless, and boundary-pushing cinema in a serious, no-frills environment
In short, Oberhausen is the ideal festival for anyone serious about experimental, political, and artistically courageous short cinema.
✅ Good Fit If
Your film is an experimental, avant-garde, artistic, or politically radical short film (max. 35–40 minutes) with strong formal innovation, critical perspective, social/political urgency, or unconventional storytelling.
You are an emerging or established filmmaker working in the experimental, artist film, or independent short cinema scene and seeking one of the highest levels of international recognition in the field.
You aim for a world, international, or European premiere (highly valued at Oberhausen).
Your work is bold, challenging, formally rigorous, or artistically uncompromising.
You want prestige in the global experimental and artist film circuit, critical acclaim from curators and programmers, and long-term recognition in film history.
You are looking for a serious, intellectually demanding festival with a strong focus on artistic courage and political edge.
❌ Not a Good Fit If
Your film is a purely fictional narrative feature without docu
Your film is conventional narrative fiction, commercial entertainment, or genre-driven without a strong experimental or artistic component.
The film has already had a wide international release or major festival premiere in the experimental circuit.
You are looking for a red-carpet, glamorous, or mainstream audience festival.
Your project is polished commercial content, advertising, music video, or purely entertainment-oriented.
You need a large general film market or heavy sales focus (Oberhausen is more artist- and curator-driven).
entary or animation elements.
The film has already had a wide international release or premiere at a comparable major documentary/animation festival.
You are looking for a large-scale red-carpet gala festival with Hollywood stars, mainstream blockbusters, or broad entertainment programming.
Your project is commercial mainstream fiction or genre entertainment without artistic/non-fiction/animated ambition.
You need a major general film market comparable to Cannes Marché du Film or EFM (DOK Industry is excellent but specialized in doc + animation).
Who Might Not Be a Good Fit?
Filmmakers seeking commercial exposure, big audiences, or Hollywood-style networking.
Directors of straightforward narrative or genre shorts without artistic/political ambition.
Those who prefer relaxed, audience-friendly, or low-pressure festivals.
Creators looking for broad mainstream visibility rather than specialized experimental prestige.
key festival Facts
Founded:
1954
Location:
Oberhausen, Germany
Festival Type:
International Short Film Festival (one of the world’s oldest, most influential and artistically uncompromising festivals dedicated to experimental, political, avant-garde and innovative short cinema)
Frequency:
Annual (early May)
Submission Platform:
https://www.kurzfilmtage.de/en/submissionPremiere Status:
World Premiere or International Premiere strongly preferred (especially for the International Competition). Films must not have had a public screening in Germany prior to the festival. Premiere status is a very important selection criterion; prior screenings at major international festivals are accepted but may reduce chances in the main competitions.
Film Submission Details
As of February 2026, submissions for the 2026 edition (May 6–11, 2026) have closed.
Submissions for the 2027 edition (expected May 2027) typically open in autumn 2026 (usually October/November), with the final deadline in mid-January 2027 (often January 15 or 31).
Important notes:
- Submissions are completely free there is no entry or processing fee.
- Submissions are handled exclusively through the official Kurzfilmtage online submission system (the link is published on the festival website when the call opens).
- World or International Premiere is strongly preferred (especially for the International Competition).
- Only short films (maximum running time usually 35–40 minutes) are accepted.
For the most accurate deadlines, categories, and full regulations, always check directly on the official website: https://www.kurzfilmtage.de/en
Submission Notes:
The Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen accepts **only completed short films(no works-in-progress, no pitching or project deadlines for the Official Selection). The festival focuses exclusively on finished works up to a maximum of 40 minutes.
Submissions occur exclusively through the official Kurzfilmtage online submission portal (the link is published on the festival website when the call opens). There is no parallel market or project pitching during the submission period.
For the 2027 edition (expected May 2027), the submission call usually opens in autumn 2026(typically October/November), with the final deadline in mid-January 2027 (usually January 15 or 31). Exact dates will be confirmed when the portal opens on the official website.
(Note: Submissions are completely free no entry or processing fee. World or International Premiere is strongly preferred, especially for the International Competition. Films must not have had a public screening in Germany prior to the festival. English subtitles are mandatory for all non-German-language films.)
Genres & Program Sections
Short films of all genres, including experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, music videos (MuVi), children & youth films.
Career Impact & Success Stories
The Oberhausen Short Film Festival, as one of the world’s oldest and most radical international short film festivals, serves as one of the most powerful career launchpads in the global experimental, avant-garde, and artist film community. Through its highly selective competitions, the prestigious Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen, in-depth Q&As, thematic programs, and professional networking events, the festival gives selected films and filmmakers exceptional international visibility, critical acclaim, and professional opportunities that frequently lead to major career breakthroughs.
Many films that premiere or win awards at Oberhausen go on to screen at top-tier festivals including Berlinale, Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Locarno, Annecy, and Sundance. They secure international distribution and sales, attract further funding for new projects, and often become reference works in the experimental and artist film fields. The festival has a long and strong history of discovering and launching influential voices from early breakthroughs of directors like Werner Herzog, Roman Polanski, and the signers of the Oberhausen Manifesto (which sparked New German Cinema) to recent winners who quickly rose to prominence on the world stage.
Oberhausen continues to be the essential platform for bold, politically engaged, and formally innovative short films, giving filmmakers the recognition, industry connections, curatorial attention, and long-term momentum they need to build successful international careers.
Awards & Recognition :
Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen (Großer Preis der Stadt Oberhausen)
The festival’s highest honor and one of the most prestigious awards in the international short film world, given to the best film in the International Competition.
Prizes of the International Jury
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize awarded by the official international jury.
FIPRESCI Prize
Awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics to the most outstanding film in the program.
Ecumenical Jury Prize
Given by the international ecumenical jury for films with special humanistic or spiritual value.
Special Mentions
Awarded by the International Jury and other juries in the International and German Competitions.
MuVi Award
Prize for the best international music video.
German Competition Award
Prize for the best German short film.
Audience Award
Voted by the festival public.
Additional Partner Prizes
Including the ARTE Prize for Best European Short Film, the NRW Film Prize, and various special recognitions for artistic innovation, political courage, and emerging talent.
These awards are among the most respected in experimental and artist cinema and have launched the careers of many influential filmmakers over the festival’s 70+ year history.
Travel Perks :
Accommodation:
The Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen does not generally cover hotel accommodation or travel expenses for selected filmmakers as a standard perk. Hospitality support (if any) is very limited and decided on a case-by-case basis usually only for very special guests, jury members, or invited retrospectives/tributes. Most filmmakers and teams are expected to arrange their own lodging.
Travel / Flight Coverage:
Not covered. The festival does not offer flight reimbursements or travel grants as part of the standard selection package.
Accreditation:
Full festival accreditation is provided free of charge to the director, producer, and key team members of selected films. This gives access to all screenings, Q&As, masterclasses, professional events, parties, and the festival venues.
Official Invitation Letters:
Issued upon request to support visa applications for international guests.
Note: Attendance in person is strongly encouraged and expected, especially for competition films, Q&As, and award ceremonies. Once a film is selected, the festival team contacts filmmakers directly with details about accreditation and any possible (rare) hospitality arrangements. Most participants cover their own travel and stay in Oberhausen or nearby cities.
Production Date: Films must be completed after 1 January 2025.
Running Time Limits: Varies by competition (e.g., max 35 min for international competition).
German/international short films and music videos; Premiere requirements vary by competition; For MuVi: director/production in Germany, music rights authorization
Festival Contact & Information
Official Website
https://www.kurzfilmtage.de/enSubmission Platform
https://kurzfilmtage.filmchief.com/submit-film/muvi-2026Social Media