27.05.2025 – 01.06.2025
Polarisation and conflict are unfortunately characteristic of our time. A development that is definitely a cause for concern. But especially in difficult times, the motto should be: move closer together. And as close as possible. As an alternative to a society that is polarised towards conflict and confrontation, this year’s VIENNA SHORTS international short film festival is paying more attention to care and community. Based on Sophie K. Rosa’s book ‘Radical Intimacy’, the motto of this year’s festival edition is Move Closer! Radical Intimacy. Intimacy is understood as a political space – and relationships and solidarity as acts of resistance.
Over six festival days, more than 300 films will once again be screened in almost 70 carefully curated programmes. Around a third of these will be competing in four competitions for around € 30,000 in prize money and qualification for the Oscars® and the European Film Awards.
The MuseumsQuartier Wien will once again serve as the festival centre, where the Milieukino (a truck converted into a mini cinema) will be used as well as an open-air screen and, for the first time, the cinema of the Museum of Modern Art (mumok). Other venues include the Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus, the METRO Kinokulturhaus, the Film Museum and the Gartenbaukino. The portraits are dedicated to the Austrian director Kurdwin Ayub (AT) and the American artist Christopher Harris (US). Ayub, who recently won four prizes in Locarno for her second feature film ‘Mond’ and is a guest at the Vienna Festival this year with her first theatre work ‘Weiße Witwe’, has already proven with her autobiographical short films how much she likes to subvert conventions and break expectations. The festival, in co-operation with the Festwochen, the distributor sixpackfilm and the Austrian Film Museum, is dedicating a personal exhibition to her impressive work.
Ayub’s short films Armageddon, Boomerang, LOLOLOL and Alive – Anthea will be screened alongside Familienurlaub.
Harris, in turn, is one of a select group of Black film artists at the forefront of 21st century moving image art. He has dedicated his practice to 16-millimetre film, caring for Black culture and visuality in a variety of forms. The portrait programme at the Film Museum ranges from the early masterpiece still/here, Harris’ graduation film from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, to the latest film Speaking in Tongues: Take One, a free adaptation of the novel Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed.
The festival also emphasises togetherness on other levels. Under the motto ‘A festival for everyone’, access is to be made easier for everyone, regardless of age, origin, background or income. ‘Based on your personal situation, you can decide for yourself how much you can and want to pay,’ VIENNA SHORTS asks for an honest self-assessment. In addition to the competition and the focus on radical intimacy, there is once again a wide-ranging programme at this year’s festival: the children’s and youth cinema is aimed at the young, the Current Comments at those interested in politics and the Late Night at genre-savvy night owls. In addition, the MuseumsQuartier will host a short film meeting of the European Film Academy and dance and celebrate together with the Wiener Festwochen.
Vienna Shorts 2025
27.05.2025 – 01.06.2025
various locations
www.viennashorts.com
