The 45th Uppsala Short Film Festival will take place 19-25 October 2026. Founded in 1982, the festival has since become Sweden’s main arena for short film and one of the most important short film festivals in Europe. Every year the festival screens more than 300 short films in different sections exploring the diversity and richness of the short film – from new film to retrospective programmes, from fiction film, documentaries and experimental film to animations, and welcoming hybridity beyond these categories. Films are submitted to either of the three competetive sections, awarding prize money amounting to more than 20 000 EUR. Submitted films also make up the base for out of competition programmes, including recurring programmes on Fantastic Film, queer films, comedies and really short shorts (max 3 min).

Uppsala Short Film Festival is recognised by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which means that winning the international or national competition at the festival may qualify a film for Oscar consideration. The festival is also recognised by the European Film Academy and BAFTA. Screening at the festival qualifies Swedish short films for Guldbagge nominations.

Taking place in the university city of Uppsala, in the city’s classic cinema district, the Uppsala Short Film Festival is a meeting place for audience and film industry. During the seven days of the festival, 300 short films are screened in three cinemas. Among the cinemas are Slottsbiografen, where the famous Swedish director Ingmar Bergman discovered cinema as a child. Buyers, distributors and festival representatives have access to a video library during the festival. The festival offers filmmakers many opportunities to meet their audience, including Q&A's at the screenings. All selected filmmakers are invited and offered free accreditation to the festival, with an offer to provide free accomodation for three nights to one representative per international film.

The festival is a meeting point for the Swedish and international industry, bringing together emerging and established Swedish and international filmmakers in networking and social events and parties, where collaboration can begin. The industry events include Uppsala Talks, which is the festival focus on seminars, talks and workshops and Uppsala Talent Days, a national meeting for filmmakers on the verge of entering the professional film industry. The meeting is a unique opportunity to make contact with filmmakers from all over the country and to start creating a professional network.