Kurzsuechtig (Kurzsuechtig – Mitteldeutsches Kurzfilmfestival)

Kurzsuechtig

Kurzsuechtig – Mitteldeutsches Kurzfilmfestival

Also known as: Kurzsuechtig Kurzfilmfestival, Mitteldeutsches Kurzfilmfestival
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Kurzsuechtig is a short film festival devoted exclusively to productions from Central Germany: Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Films of up to 30 minutes qualify when key crew members live in the region or the film was produced there. Competitions run in Animation, Documentary, Fiction and Experimental, alongside a film music and sound design competition, in which composers and sound designers score an unscored short, and an extended reality competition presented as an interactive walk-through.

The festival is run by Kurzsuechtig e.V. in Leipzig, which has organised it since 2004, and takes place every April over five days. A guest-country special, workshops and a children's programme complement the competitions, and the winning films then tour regional cinemas as the Mitteldeutsche Kurzfilmnächte. The 2027 edition takes place on 7–11 April 2027 at the Schaubühne Lindenfels and other venues in Leipzig.

Country

Germany

Focus

Animation, Documentary, Experimental

Categories

Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Short, Virtual Reality

Dates

7 April 2027 — 11 April 2027

Awards and prizes

Jury prizes and audience prizes are awarded in the Animation, Fiction and Experimental competitions; the Documentary competition has a combined jury and audience prize. Further prizes are the Jury Prize for Extended Reality, the prize of the Film Music and Sound Design competition, the Central German Cinematography Award (Mitteldeutscher Kamerapreis) and the Newcomer Prize (Nachwuchspreis).

Festival rules

Eligible are short films of up to 30 minutes in the categories Animation, Documentary, Fiction, Experimental and Children's Film, as well as Extended Reality projects. A connection to Central Germany (Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia) is required: either the filmmakers or main crew members (director, screenwriter, producer or cinematographer) live in the region, or the film was made there (post-production and/or shooting location). Crew members who lived in the region until they left it only to study may also submit, if their graduation was no more than two years ago. For the 2027 edition, films and projects produced in 2025 or later are eligible. Submissions are made through the festival's online submission portal and are free of charge. Screening copies are provided as an online link with download function.

Contacts

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