Berlin Short Film Festival
August 8 - August 10
About the Berlin Short Film Festival
The Annual Berlin Short Film Festival showcases bold storytelling, emerging talent, and global perspectives in short filmmaking. Positioned as one of Europe’s top platforms for short-form cinema, the festival brings together creative voices from around the world and invites Berlin audiences to experience the next wave of cinematic innovation.
Held in Germany’s cultural capital, the festival celebrates the power of short films across all genres—giving independent creators the visibility they deserve while embracing experimentation, new techniques, and diverse narratives.
Award Categories
A professional jury selects winners in the following categories:
- Best Short Film
- Best Short Documentary
- Best Short Short Film
- Best Sci-Fi Short
- Best Horror Short
- Best Experimental Short
- Best Comedy Short
- Best LGBT Short
- Best Animated Short
- Best Short Feature
- Best Music Video
Eligibility & Submission Rules
- Open to all genres of short films with a total runtime of under 50 minutes
- Special attention is given to low-budget, independent, and emerging voices
- Only digital submissions are accepted; no hard copies
- Films must include English subtitles if not in English
- Submit via FilmFreeway, Click for Festivals, or Festhome
Premiere Policy
There are no premiere restrictions—films screened elsewhere are still welcome.
Festival Director
Claudine Biswas
Official Website: berlinshort.com