Berlin Short Awards is a bi-monthly IMDb qualified online short awards event. We are happy to welcome filmmakers from all genres, particularly low or no-budget ones, and all countries, especially from those traditionally underrepresented in the global film industry. Our main goal is to showcase their brilliant projects in Berlin's beautiful city for a diverse audience of cinephiles. Berlin, as a city dates to the 13th century. Reminders of the city's turbulent 20th-century history can be seen in the parts of city. The city's also known for its art scene and modern landmarks like the gold-coloured, swoop-roofed Berliner Philharmonic, built in 1963. We encourage you to submit your work to this online event.
The selected projects are privately judged by a random team of invited experts from academia and the film industry worldwide, against a high standard of merit. From the official selection pool, which has a very competitive acceptance rate, Berlin Shorts Award chose the nominees and award winners of the month. All the Winners will receive the Official Laurels and the winning-category certificate and could request an online screening .

Awards & Prizes

Best German short film
Best international short film
Best first time short filmmaker
Best student short
Best documentary short
Best animation short
Best experimental short
Best horror short
Best comedy short
Best sci-fi short
Best micro short
Best erotic short
Best thriller short
Best music video
Best web series
Best lgbtq short
Best women empowerment short
Best black matter lives short
Best human rights film
Best female director
Best male director
Best producer
Best original screenwriting
Best unproduced script
Best cinematography
Best editing
Best sound design
Best original score
Best make up
Best costume design
Best production design
Best actor
Best actress
Best ensemble

Rules & Terms

Rules:

– In order to submit a film, you must own the rights or have permission from the owner.
– Any Foreign film that is not in English must have English or German subtitles.
– All fees are non-refundable.
– Not all the submissions are selected for the official competition. Our Judges are free to make their own choices and no answers will be given about not selected films.
– Filmmakers can submit the film in multiple categories in order to become a multi-award film. Still, the decision about the selection is strictly determined by our judges’ team and no selection is guaranteed.
– Submitting your movie, you authorize Berlin short festival to use, distribute and share the film poster, trailer, synopsis and movie stills in our social media.
– Films can be available online and still be entered in the competition for our festival.
– Films must have been completed within the past 4 years.
– Shorts must be less than 50 minutes.
-We do not require premiere status.
376 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Chiara Basile Fasolo

    Thank you to the festival for including “Double Code” among the Semi-Finalists.
    I’m honored to be part of this selection.
    Your recognition is extremely valuable.

    April 2026
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  • Jennifer Booth

    Honored to receive Semi-Finalist recognition from the Berlin Shorts Award for, Notes for Tomorrow. So grateful to be a part of such a beautiful global celebration of film.
    Thank you to our amazing cast and crew- this one is for all of us!
    Jenn Booth

    April 2026
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  • Sandra Reed

    Great response, networking and exposure!

    March 2026
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  • Mira Kim

    This award is a deep honor, and I am sincerely grateful to the festival and the jury.
    Even from far away in Korea, I felt warmly welcomed and truly seen.
    My film carries memories of a childhood shaped by the scars of war and poverty.
    What helped us endure was not wealth, but the love of family and the kindness of neighbors.
    Thank you for letting this story live again on an international stage.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Mark Keil

    Aloha! I’m so grateful for being selected as a semifinalist here for my biopic screenplay on Michael Hutchence of the band INXS, ‘Suicide Brunette.’ I hope a production company would like to purchase the script now & make this into reality! Mahalo!

    March 2026
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