About us

VIENNA SHORTS is the international short film festival in Vienna that annually in spring makes around 300 films from all over the world accessible to the audience and the international industry in the best possible way – whether in the cinema or in the museum, whether in digital or virtual space.

The festival is a qualifying event for the Austrian Film Award, the British Film Award BAFTA, the European Film Award and the Oscars® and is one of two EU-funded film festivals in Austria. It is active in numerous international collaborations and was honored in 2014 with the Bank Austria Art Prize, the highest endowed award for art and cultural organisations in Austria.

VIENNA SHORTS (until 2016: Vienna Independent Shorts) was launched and is still run by the non-profit organization INDEPENDENT CINEMA in 2003 with the aim of presenting independent films and promoting talent. The association organizes film screenings, mediation programs and short film events throughout the year and has been based in the creative cluster Q21 in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier since 2007.

Milestones at a Glance

2004 – 1st edition of Vienna Independent Shorts (VIS)

2007 – Move into the Q21 of the MuseumsQuartier

2008 – First opening at Gartenbaukino with soccer short film reel "Eleven Minutes"

2011 – Initiation of the advocacy group Forum of Austrian Film Festivals (FÖFF)

2012 – Initiation of the category "Best Short Film" at the Austrian Film Award

2014 – Awarded with Bank Austria Art Prize in the category "international"

2016 – Acceptance as an Academy Award®-qualifying festival and inclusion in the MEDIA program of the EU

2017 – Shortening of the festival name to Vienna Shorts

2018 – Partner for the European Film Award and co-founding of the European Short Film Network (ESFN)

2019 – Acceptance as a qualifying festival for the British Film Award BAFTA

2020 – First edition of the festival as an Online Edition and distinction as EcoEvent of the City of Vienna

2021 – Launch of the ESFN streaming portal THIS IS SHORT and first-time implementation of the festival as a hybrid event