HOW SHORT FILMS FIND THEIR AUDIENCE

The shortest day of the year is a very special day for the short film. On December 21st, people in many different countries around the world celebrate the “short format”. The German edition is called KURZFILMTAG (Short Film Day) and took place for the fourth time last year. Anyone could participate in this special occasion and create their own short film event — whether it was in a cinema or in more unusual locations like ice hockey stadiums, back courtyards, living rooms, phone boxes or even in refugee accommodations. Altogether 229 events were organized in 111 cities all over Germany in 2015 (in 2014 there were 222 events in 104 locations). The German Short Film Association, which organizes the German edition of the spectacle, awarded the best ideas with the creative prize “The Lucky 8”. The prize was given to eight organizers for their unusual locations, exceptional film programs or the fancy framework program. During the last years, the SHORT FILM DAY could win lots of friends and fans, among them actors, filmmakers and film-enthusiasts. Some of them have become ambassadors, including the film directors Axel Ranisch and Rosa von Praunheim, the actor Ludwig Trepte and the film critic Knut Elstermann. In videos they tell about their personal relationship to the short film and the shortest day of the year. Again, the German State Minister for Culture and the Media, Monika Grütters, took over the patronage for the SHORT FILM DAY. In 2015 young people were in focus for the first time. The youth initiative “We’ll Show You” gave 12 to 19-year-olds the opportunity to organize their own film event. Young talents could independently develop their own ideas, select the films, invite guests and carry out the event. In the end, eight “young events” took place.