The Hamburg Film Forum “Kinohafen” is an international film forum held annually in Hamburg. It focuses on showcasing films from the post-Soviet countries and the former post-communist block. Since its founding in 2010, it has aimed to provide a platform for independent filmmakers to present their works while creating a space for international cultural exchange. The festival is organized in collaboration with various cultural institutions and organizations, promoting diversity, dialogue, and artistic excellence.

Awards & Prizes

Participants gain access to:
Professional development: An online program focusing on co-production opportunities and integration into the European film industry.
Networking opportunities: A platform to showcase your work to industry professionals and audiences.
Educational seminars: Topics include grant applications, promotion strategies, and studying film in Germany.
Awards: Winners will receive an official certificate, granted either by our esteemed jury or by the audience through the Audience Choice Award.

Introducing the Jury Members of the Hamburg Film Forum Kinohafen Short:

Frank Müller
Producer at the company “Dopelplusultra,” also engaged in film and documentary production.

Antoine Cattin
Swiss and Russian director and cinematographer specializing in documentary films. He worked as an assistant to Sergei Loznitsa and co-directed several documentaries with Pavel Kostomarov, including “Peaceful Life” and “Mother” (nominated for the European Film Academy Award).
He also collaborated with Alexander Rastorguev, Pavel Kostomarov, and Alexei Pivovarov on the online projects “The Term” and “Reality”. Antoine is a recipient of multiple awards at international festivals and has taught documentary filmmaking at ECAL (École cantonale d’art de Lausanne) and the School of Arts and Creative Industries (SHIKI), an independent online educational project.

Erika Wotrich
Director of the Hamburg Center for Cinematographic Studies, CineGraph.

Professor Dr. Thomas Weber
Founder and co-shareholder of the publishing house AVINUS.
Since 2011, he has been a professor of media studies with a focus on film and television at the University of Hamburg. Recently, he was appointed Executive Director of the Institute of Media and Communication at the University of Hamburg.

Rules & Terms

The Hamburg Film Forum Kinohafen organizes the annual Kinohafen Short Film Competition, a platform dedicated to showcasing the works of independent filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers from the European Union, Norway, the UK, Switzerland, and the post-Soviet region. The competition aims to highlight diverse voices and foster international cultural exchange through short films.

Eligibility:
Open to filmmakers and creators:
Immigrants from post-Soviet countries residing in the EU, Norway, the UK, or Switzerland.
Independent filmmakers residing in post-Soviet countries or countries from the post-communist block.

Submission Guidelines:
Film types: Fiction, animation, experimental and documentary short films are accepted.
Runtime: Maximum duration of 35 minutes.
Production year: Films must have been produced in or after 2022.
Subtitles: All films must include English or German subtitles.
For submission please enter the country Crimea belongs to.

Submission Period:
Submissions are open from December 1th, 2024, and close on February 8th, 2025.