With the end of the 22nd edition, we’re saying a heartfelt goodbye to our longtime festival director Daniel Hadenius-Ebner. Daniel helped build this festival from the ground up—under his guidance, it grew from a student project into what it is today. Milestones include gaining official qualification status for the Austrian Film Awards (2012), the Academy Awards (2016), and the European Film Awards (2018); his political engagement through initiatives like the Forum of Austrian Film Festivals (2012) and Fair Festival Work Now (2018); and expanding the festival’s international visibility and sustainability efforts. But more important to Daniel than the milestones were always the people—those in the team and across the global short film community. Daniel will stay on as Strategic Advisor, and in September will hand over the artistic directorship to film scholar and curator Max Bergmann. It’s been an honor!

News 10.6.2025