INTERFILM International Short Film Festival Berlin (INTERFILM Internationales Kurzfilmfestival Berlin)

INTERFILM International Short Film Festival Berlin

INTERFILM Internationales Kurzfilmfestival Berlin

Also known as: interfilm Berlin, International Short Film Festival Berlin
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INTERFILM International Short Film Festival Berlin grew out of the squatted houses of Kreuzberg, where it was founded in 1982. Organised by interfilm Berlin, which also distributes short films, the festival describes itself as an audience festival focused on narrative film. Since 2020 a curatorial board has shaped its programmes, which take up political and social themes such as postcolonial legacies, global injustice and sexual and gender self-determination.

Winners of Best Live Action and Best Animation in the International Competition qualify for the Academy Awards. The festival also holds German, documentary and environmental film competitions, the late-night eject programme of offbeat films and the InterForum industry programme; its sister festival KUKI is devoted to young audiences.

Country

Germany

Categories

Short

Dates

10 November 2026 — 15 November 2026

Awards and prizes

International Competition: Berlin-Brandenburg Short Award – Best Film; Best Live Action; Best Animation; Best Sound Design. German Competition: Best German Film, 1st and 2nd Prize; Audience Award (the festival's nominee for the European Short Film Audience Award). Documentary Competition: Best Documentary Film, 1st and 2nd Prize; ZEIT Akademie Audience Award for Best Documentary. Environmental Film Competition (Green Film): Best Environmental Film. eject – The Long Night of Offbeat Film: Audience Award for the Weirdest & Most Wonderful Film. Script Pitch Competition: Best Script Pitch.

Festival rules

For the 42nd edition in 2026, submitted films generally run up to 20 minutes and date from January 2024 onwards; the organisers may also include longer films. Entries are submitted through Shortfilmdepot and considered for all festival categories, including the partner festival KUKI. All films containing dialogue require English subtitles. The screening copy must be ProRes 422 with 5.1 sound, or stereo if necessary, and must match the preview copy in content. MP4 and H.264 files are not accepted as screening copies. Entries require film stills and a contact email address. A film cannot be withdrawn after the application is submitted. Submitters must obtain permission from all relevant rights holders and production participants. The festival may use limited promotional excerpts and retain preview files in its archive. Submitted films may be made available to accredited audiences at festival viewing stations and in an online film library for up to 30 days from the festival's start. Attending filmmakers must represent their films at screenings. Subsequent festival-highlight screenings require agreement with rights holders.

Contacts

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