73rd International Short Film Festival Oberhausen
The 73rd International Short Film Festival Oberhausen is announced for 27 April–2 May 2027 in Oberhausen, Germany. The festival is organised by Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen gGmbH. The official save-the-date identifies the city but does not name individual screening venues; check the organiser’s later programme information before making venue-specific plans.
Why Oberhausen International Short Film Festival matters
The festival focuses on short-form cinema and calls for works with their own visual language, new perspectives and forms. Its five competition sections create space for international productions, German productions, productions from North Rhine-Westphalia, children’s and youth films, and music videos. For audiences, this offers a concentrated way to encounter different approaches to the moving image; for filmmakers, the competitions provide a setting in which eligible work can be presented and considered under the published rules.
Who should visit Oberhausen International Short Film Festival?
Filmmakers and moving-image artists
Useful if you are developing or presenting short work and want to follow how other filmmakers approach form, perspective and storytelling. The 2027 call is open across five competition sections; check the official regulations for eligibility, formats and submission requirements.
Film programmers, curators, distributors and critics
The festival’s international short-film focus makes it relevant to professionals who follow new work and compare different modes of cinematic expression. Use the eventual programme to identify screenings and discussions most relevant to your curatorial, distribution or editorial interests; specific 2027 programme details have not been published in the current save-the-date announcement.
Cinema audiences, students and researchers
Visitors interested in short-form cinema can use the festival to explore varied approaches within a compact format. Students and researchers may find the competition categories useful for tracing differences among international, German, regional, youth-focused and music-video work.
What can you explore at Oberhausen International Short Film Festival?
- International productions: entries for the international competition.
- German productions: work submitted to the German competition.
- North Rhine-Westphalia productions: a regional competition section.
- Children’s and youth films: productions for younger audiences.
- Music videos: a dedicated competition section with its own submission deadline.
The organiser says it is looking for works with distinctive visual languages, new perspectives and forms. The selected films, screening schedule, guests and supporting programme for 2027 should be checked when the festival publishes its full programme.
How to prepare for Oberhausen International Short Film Festival
- Set your purpose. Decide whether you are attending to discover new short films, research a particular form, follow work from a region, or assess how a film communicates with its audience.
- Wait for the screening schedule. Use the official programme when it becomes available to prioritise screenings and allow time between venues. Specific 2027 screening locations are not identified in the current announcement.
- Build a focused viewing list. Group films by competition or subject, then leave room to explore work outside your usual interests.
- For submissions, read the rules first. The call lists 18 January 2027 as the film-submission deadline and 22 February 2027 for music videos. Confirm eligibility and all technical requirements in the organiser’s current regulations.
- Keep notes after each screening. Record the film, its approach, what stayed with you and any question you would like to discuss. This makes later comparison more useful for programming, study or creative development.
Making the most of the festival
Short-film programmes can move quickly between styles and subjects. Rather than trying to see everything, choose a few clear priorities: a competition strand, an unfamiliar form or a question about editing, sound, image-making or audience response. After each screening, note a specific detail and why it worked. If the final programme includes discussions or other events, check their descriptions and schedule before building them into your plan.
After Oberhausen International Short Film Festival
Turn your viewing notes into follow-up. Filmmakers can identify techniques or approaches to explore in their own work; programmers and critics can record titles and themes for further consideration; students can compare how different films use limited running time to establish a point of view. Keep conclusions tied to the films you actually saw rather than treating one selection as representative of all short cinema.
Oberhausen International Short Film Festival 2027 at a glance
| Item | Information |
|---|
| Event | 73rd International Short Film Festival Oberhausen |
| Dates | 27 April–2 May 2027 |
| City and country | Oberhausen, Germany |
| Individual screening venues | Not identified in the official save-the-date |
| Organiser | Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen gGmbH |
| Main focus | Short films, new visual languages and varied moving-image forms |
| Competition sections | International, German, North Rhine-Westphalia, children’s and youth films, and music videos |
| Programme status | Dates and call for entries announced; the full screening programme is to be checked with the organiser |
Is Oberhausen International Short Film Festival worth visiting?
It is most relevant to people who want to engage closely with short-form cinema: filmmakers seeking a view of current approaches, film professionals following new work, and audiences who enjoy a varied programme. The value of a visit will depend on the published film selection and on choosing screenings that match your interests. Review the schedule and venue details once released rather than planning around assumptions.
A festival visit with a purpose
What do you want to notice, question or discover through short films? Arrive with a focus, stay open to unfamiliar forms, and leave time to reflect. Watch. Compare. Discuss. Discover.
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