From May 26 to 31, 2026, the 23rd edition of the Vienna Shorts Short Film Festival will take place, an event that has long since gained recognition far beyond Austria’s borders. Between 250 and 350 short films from around the world will be screened. This is no small niche program, but a springboard for a major career: The festival is officially eligible for the Oscars, the BAFTAs, and the European Film Awards.
Between the Gartenbaukino and the Museumsquartier
The festival directors, led by Max Bergmann and Karin Ginzel, are screening films in the city’s most beautiful venues. The productions will be shown at locations including the magnificent Gartenbaukino, the Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus, and the Metro Kinokulturhaus.
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Tickets typically cost around 10 euros per screening, though frequent viewers can usually purchase passes that pay for themselves after just four visits. Those who can’t make it to the theater in person can turn to the streaming platform “THIS IS SHORT, ” which brings the festival experience right into your living room.
The Courage to Be Unconventional and a Political Stance
The featured works, which may be no longer than 30 minutes, cover everything from fictional narratives and animations to experimental documentaries and music videos. The filmmakers are not interested in merely providing pleasant background entertainment.
The program is an engagement with the present. The films take a stand on social and political issues, challenge our viewing habits, and offer space for genuine discoveries beyond the algorithmic uniformity. The result is a space for solidarity and exchange that extends far beyond the end credits.
Whether established names or young talents from the local scene—the quality is extremely high thanks to the strict selection criteria of the four competitions. Grab your friends and treat yourselves to a dose of top-notch cinema that shows just how much power can be found in brevity.
🎥 VIENNA SHORTS – International Short Film Festival
📍 Museumsplatz 1/5/2, 1070 Vienna (as well as various partner cinemas)
🎟️ Single tickets approx. €10, festival passes available (online and on-site)
📅 May 26–31, 2026
