About the Film Festival
VIENNA SHORTS is the international short film festival in Vienna, and it's your stage! From May 25 to May 30, 2027, we'll celebrate the diversity of short film in cinemas all around Vienna. We present about 350 films under 30 minutes and offer a vibrant platform for exchange, featuring Q&As, talks, industry & talent days, panels, concerts, and much more.
We see ourselves as a political and fair festival and place great value on a responsible, transparent approach to all involved parties and on ecological sustainability.
Submit your short film now in one of our four competition categories or to a non-competitive section! We can't wait to watch your films.
VIENNA SHORTS is a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® (Oscars), the European Film Awards (EFA), the British BAFTA Awards and the Austrian Film Awards and awards prize money of approximately EUR 30,000 annually. Prizes are awarded by independent juries.
Subject ：
Video Format ：AVI MPEG4 DCP MOV
For VIENNA SHORTS 2027, films of all genres and formats can be submitted, provided they have not been submitted to the festival before. A resubmission is only possible if the film has been substantially altered.
All films must have English subtitles available. This also applies to films with German or English dialog.
Working or rough versions of films are accepted for submission, but the picture editing process should be completed at the time of submission (picture-lock).
The regular submission deadline for the 24th festival edition is January 5, 2027, for all submissions. There is an extended deadline exclusively for the competition categories (II.A) which ends on January 31, 2027. No films will be accepted after this date.
A. COMPETITIONS
Films of all genres and formats up to a length of 30 minutes and with a completion date after January 1, 2026, can be submitted for the four competitions of VIENNA SHORTS 2027.
Films can be submitted in four competition categories:
– Fiction & Documentary is devoted to international short fiction and short documentary films,
– Animation Avantgarde to international animation and experimental film
– The Austrian Competition is dedicated to national productions
– The Austrian Music Video Award is given to the best national music video.
Categories and fees
Fiction & Documentary – International Competition
Video length ：0 - 30
Fiction & Documentary shows powerful and fascinating films that explore the world in unusual and challenging ways. We want to invite our audience to take a first-rate cinephile journey around the world and to discover the present and future of cinema together. Films with a completion date of January 1, 2026 or later can be submitted.
Animation Avantgarde – International Competition
Video length ：0 - 30
Since 2010, Animation Avantgarde has been pursuing the idea of placing experimental works and animated films in dialog with each other, thereby focusing on works that avoid the beaten path. We seek formal and narrative innovation and aspire to achieve the greatest possible diversity in terms of content and technology. Films with a completion date of January 1, 2026 or later can be submitted.
Non-competitive Section – Films for Young People
Video length ：0 - 30
We're looking for films that are suitable for young people aged 13 to 21 (including specific age groups within this range). Films submitted to any competitive section will automatically be considered for all other festival categories. There is no need for a separate submission.
Non-competitive Section – Films for Kids
Video length ：0 - 30
We're looking for films that are suitable for kids aged 3 to 12 (including specific age groups within this range). Films submitted to any competitive section will automatically be considered for all other festival categories. There is no need for a separate submission.
Non-competitive Section – International Music Videos
Video length ：0 - 30
We are looking for music videos and films that experiment with image and sound. Submissions of all genres and formats are welcome. Films can be up to 30 minutes long and must have been completed after January 1, 2025.
Live Event
