Now celebrating its 15th year, the Berlin Short Film Festival aims to be one of Europe's leading film festivals for international film-makers. It is a unique platform for new talent and a celebration of cinematic creativity and innovation.

The Festival attracts a broad selection of shorts by film-makers working in every genre and format, and offers film fans an extraordinary chance to glimpse the future of cinema.

The 2026 Berlin Short Film Festival will show dozens of short films at the Babylon cinema in downtown Berlin. Screenings and networking events provide ample opportunities for selected film-makers to showcase their achievements, learn from their fellows and build contacts for future collaborations. The Festival also benefits from the vibrant Berlin film-making community and the cinema's proximity to the media hub of the metropolis.

The festival is open to any film in any genre under 50 minutes in length, and especially prioritises low-budget films of independent spirit and exciting new talent.

Awards & Prizes

Berlin Short will recognise the year's best shorts working in their genres:
- Best Short Film
- Best Documentary Short
- Best Sci-Fi Short
- Best Horror Short
- Best LGBT Short
- Best Experimental Short
- Best Student Short
- Best Short Feature
- Best Animated Short
- Best Short Short
- Best Music Video

Rules & Terms

All films in all genres under 50 minutes will be considered. We consider a short short to be under 5 minutes. Filmmakers certify they have the rights to music used in their films. Please upload a digital screener to FilmFreeway or email a private Vimeo link to info@berlinshort.com.

73 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Leander Kämpf

    We want to say thank you to the whole team that our film "niezgoda" was chosen to be screen at the 2026 edition.
    We enjoyed a lot to be at this beautiful theatre and to get the chance to show it to the Berlin audience.
    Unfortunately we both got sick so we couldn't attend the networking event but I think it's great that the festival organizes this. We are excited to submit more and to join the next edition, even if it's just as witnesses of beautiful short movies.

    March 2026
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  • Harini Rajasekhar

    It was such a special experience to watch my short film 'stickin' around' be screened at the iconic, legendary Babylon Kino. I'm so grateful to BSFF for championing indie filmmakers and giving us a space to showcase our work on the big screen! Thankyou. :)

    February 2026
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  • Nicolò Grasso

    It was a pleasure and an honor to have my film NEVER MY LOVE be screened at this festival in the iconic Babylon Kino of Berlin, and to have also won Best Horror Short. Wish there were more opportunities for Q&As and networking, it would be nice to feel a bigger festival experience, though it was still a memorable screening.

    February 2026
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  • Film Asylum

    Great Festival For True Filmmakers!

    February 2026
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  • Vera Leisibach

    I had the opportunity to take part in the Berlin Short Film Festival, which took place at the legendary Babylon Cinema in Berlin. With an audience of around 250 people, it was a truly significant moment for me as an independent artist. I genuinely enjoyed being part of the festival and am very grateful for the opportunity.

    Overall, I was extremely happy with the experience: the communication was excellent, the organization was smooth, and everything was handled very professionally.

    The only point I would like to mention is that the festival uses Twitter/X for promotion, which I personally do not support. I believe there are other social media platforms that could serve as strong and more suitable alternatives for promotion.

    February 2026
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