Vienna Shorts

Vienna Shorts is an international short film festival held every May in Vienna, Austria. As the country’s largest short film festival, it brings together filmmakers and audiences for screenings, retrospectives, and special events across the city.

• Held annually in May in Vienna
• Austria’s largest short film festival
• Features international and Austrian competitions
• Venues include Top Kino and Schikaneder Kino
• Includes retrospectives and special guest programs

What it is

Vienna Shorts is Austria’s foremost festival dedicated to the art of short films. Each May, the festival transforms Vienna into a vibrant meeting place for filmmakers, artists, and film lovers from around the world. The event showcases a diverse selection of short films, ranging from narrative and documentary to animation and experimental works. For many, Vienna Shorts is a chance to discover new voices in cinema, revisit celebrated directors through retrospectives, and engage in lively discussions about the power and possibilities of short-form storytelling.

Where it comes from

The festival began in 2004 as Vienna Independent Shorts, organized by several Viennese institutions passionate about promoting short films. Its first edition featured 125 films over a week, with venues like Top Kino and the Reformed Church hosting screenings. Over the years, the festival grew in scope and reputation, introducing an international competition in 2005 and expanding its program to include retrospectives, special focuses, and collaborations with other cultural events. Since 2007, the festival has been based at the Museumsquartier’s quartier21.

How it is celebrated

Vienna Shorts offers a rich program of film screenings, competitions, and retrospectives, often featuring both Austrian and international works. Venues such as Top Kino, De France, and Schikaneder Kino become hubs for audiences to experience a wide variety of short films. The festival regularly includes special thematic focuses, guest programs curated by partner festivals, and unique events like Kino Kabaret, where filmmakers collaborate on new projects during the festival. Retrospectives highlight influential filmmakers, while music-based events and audiovisual performances add to the lively atmosphere. The festival is also known for its engaging opening nights and the presence of filmmakers, offering opportunities for conversation and exchange.

Joining in

Visitors can join Vienna Shorts by attending screenings at central Vienna cinemas like Top Kino and Schikaneder Kino. Expect a welcoming, creative environment where audiences mingle with filmmakers and artists. English-friendly programming and a mix of international and local films make the festival accessible to newcomers. Tickets are available for individual screenings or festival passes, and the city’s vibrant café culture provides the perfect backdrop for post-film discussions.

Sources and attribution

This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Vienna Shorts, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.

Read more

• Vienna Shorts on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Official websiteOfficial site
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data

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