Oberhausen International Short Film Festival

About

Oberhausen is not only the oldest short film festival in the world, it is also one of the most important, alongside Tampere and Clermont-Ferrand. The competition provides a good overview of "serious", avant-garde short film productions (Hamburg, on the other hand, offers the more entertaining films). The festival focuses on innovative, artistic short films, paying special attention to new technical development. Oberhausen hosts the biggest short film market in Germany, attracting the major buyers. All films entered for selection as well as all films of the entry platform reelport.com will be available on video terminals.

The winner of the short film competition automatically qualifies for the OSCAR competition for the Best Short Film.

Program

• International Competition,
• National Competition,
• NRW Competition,
• International Children´s and Youth Film Competition (5-16 years),
• Music Videos from Germany,
• Open Screening,
• Special Programs (certain subjects or genres),
• Film Market.

Awards

International Competition:

• the Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen (7,000 €)
• the Principal Prize (3,000 €)

Two prizes in the Children’s Film Competition and one prize in the Youth Film Competition (1,000 € each). 

The Ecumenical Jury will award a prize (1,500 €). In addition, the Ecumenical Jury will make recommendations on purchases from the International Children’s and Youth Film Competition.

Zonta Prize to a female filmmaker in the International or German Competition (1,000 €). 

The Jury of the FIPRESCI will award a prize.

Prize of the WDR Westart Audience Jury (750 €).

Rules

International Competition Rules:

• Open to films and videos of 35 minutes maximum running time that must have been completed after 1 January 2023
• International productions may not have been shown at any other festival in Germany.

German competition:

• Open to films and videos of 45 minutes maximum running time,  completed after 1 January 2023
• A German festival premiere is not required for participation in the German Competition.

NRW Productions:

• Open to films and videos of 45 minutes maximum running time, produced in NRW (seat of production, please check under "Production details, Produced or co-produced in NRW".
• Films must have been completed after 1 January 2023.
• A German festival premiere is not required for participation in the NRW Competition.

Children and Youth film productions:

• Open to films and videos of 35 minutes maximum running time (international productions) and 45 minutes maxium running time (German productions), completed after 1 January 2023
• A German festival premiere is not required for participation in the Children's and Youth Film Competition.

MuVi Award

• Open to music videos whose director and/or production company reside in Germany, maximum running time 15 minutes, completed after 1 January 2023

Documents and Other Requisite Items

• Fill out online entry form 
• Provide a link to online screener

Subtitles language: English

Premiere Requirements

No premiere requirement

Jury and Organizers

• Director: Dr. Lars Henrik Gass
• Program Directors: Hilke Doering (International Competition), Carsten Spicher (National Competition)