synopsis: 2020 has definitely been a disruptive year for the short film festival ecosystem. The unexpected outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March has forced the vast majority of organisations to postpone, move online or even cancel long time scheduled events. Many festival organisers immediately managed to quickly and successfully respond to this new situation and to adapt their events to an all online reality. Others, in order to make a hybrid or “on-site” version a viable option, chose to postpone the festivals hoping in more favourable epidemiological conditions from August onwards. Unf ..read more

synopsis: Where there’s a will there’s a way. At least in theory. The path to a green festival comes with a lot of requirements. Many of the existing certifications are granted in stages, others are already outdated or designed for businesses or one-time events. Thus, a growing number of festivals in Austria are joining forces to adapt existing regulations. 2020 would have been the first year with a green strategy for Vienna Shorts. Festival co-director Daniel Ebner talks about goals, partial successes, and challenges. moderator: Emilia Mazik (Talking Shorts) panelists: Daniel Ebner (Vienna Sh ..read more

synopsis: The transition to a greener festival scene requires substantial investment and long-term planning. The short film industry, in particular, faces considerable challenges in regard to providing the needed capacities. But this investment will pay off in the long run. Sven Schwarz, managing director of the Hamburg Short Film Festival, shares his experiences with budgeting and talks about the challenges and successes, as well as the chain of effects in regard to transitioning to a greener festival. moderator: Enrico Vannucci (Talking Shorts) panelists: Sven Schwarz (Kurzfilm Festival Hamb ..read more

synopsis: Academic discourse as well as journalistic resources for short films have always been, and still are, limited. Though the short film scene is an active, flourishing field and the prime source of innovation for film and filmmaking, there is still a serious lack of education, canonisation and criticism. Talking Shorts’ prime purpose is to widen this current (lack of) discourse about the short film as an art form. In this panel we aim to explore the current state of short film criticism in terms of accessibility and opportunities. Who is doing it and who is it for? Has the rise of more ..read more

Synopsis: The panel will give you the opportunity to listen to the point-of-view of filmmakers and those that represent them. How are they dealing with postponed festivals, cancelled premieres, online screenings and the lack of human connections & networking that are usually so vital to the festival experience? Moderated by: Aneta Ozorek (Kaboom Animation Festival) Panelists: Katie McCullough (Festival Formula Ltd), Lasse Linder (director of ‘All Cats Are Grey In The Dark’), Niki Lindroth von Bahr (director of ‘Something To Remember’ & ‘The Burden’), Nicolas Schmerkin (Autour de M ..read more

Synopsis: Film festivals have been canceled or are taking place online, cinemas are closed, film premieres have been canceled and training and recordings have been suspended. How do you deal with this as a novice player in the film industry? What is the impact on film development? And what is still possible? In this (online) industry talk, the guests will talk about their new reality and perspectives on the long-term impact on the film industry and talent development. Moderated by: Sanne Jehoul (Glasgow Short Film Festival) Panelists: Mila Zhluktenko (Opera Glasses), Erik Glijnis (producer Lem ..read more

The Seminar will talk about the technical and logistic difficulties the guests have faced when transforming their festivals into a successful online event. How do you sell tickets? Who is the target group? What if directors don't want their films to be screened online yet? Moderated by: Gina Dellabarca (Show Me Shorts Film Festival) Guests: Daniel Ebner (Vienna Shorts), Luce Grosjean (Miyu Distribution), Rich Warren (Encounters Film Festival), Uli Wegenast (ITFS - Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film ..read more

The Seminar will talk about the guests' experiences dealing with all the changes and responsibilities they have come to face trying to stay afloat during these crazy times. How to cancel your festival without cancelling your audience? How to find new festival dates in (an already very crowded) fall season? Moderated by: Aneta Ozorek (Kaboom Animation Festival) Guests: Anne Gaschütz (FILMFEST DRESDEN), Marie-Elaine Riou (Festival Regard), Sven Schwarz (Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg ..read more

With much being made of gender equality within the film business, with both film production and major festivals such as Cannes and Venice all coming under intense scrutiny, this panel will explore gender (in)equality within the world of short film. We'll discuss the steps that can be taken to ensure short film can lead the way in terms of diversity and inclusivity. Moderated by: Gina Dellabarca (Short Film Conference) Panelists: Julie Billy (co-Founder & co-President of Collectif 50/50), Ivana Kvesic (executive Board Member of SWAN – Swiss Women's Audiovisual Network) & Agnė Adomėnė (F ..read more

Boosting Your Film Festival! Financial Planning, Collaborations and Creativity at Film Festivals Workshop organised by Creative Europe Desk Italy MEDIA Curated by Doris Bauer (VIS Vienna Shorts) with contributions by Anne Gaschütz (FILMFEST DRESDEN) and Matt Lloyd (Glasgow Short Film Festival). Introduction held by Silvia Sandrone (Creative Europe Desk MEDIA Torino). The workshop will provide an insight in successful collaborative projects and creative international network solutions for film events. An important focus will be dedicated to the new Creative Europe’s scheme for film festivals ne ..read more