As of September 1, film scholar and programmer Max Bergmann has assumed the artistic directorship of VIENNA SHORTS. He succeeds Daniel Hadenius-Ebner, who shaped the festival for more than two decades since its founding and most recently bid farewell with a record-breaking edition. Together with managing director Karin Ginzel, Bergmann will henceforth lead the internationally renowned short film festival, which will take place next year in Vienna from May 26 to 31, 2026.

“I am very pleased and deeply honored to take on this role after such a long era,” says Bergmann. “For me, VIENNA SHORTS has always been a place where film is understood as a resonance space for society. In a world undergoing profound change, I want to build on this tradition—while also opening up new perspectives.”

Born in Germany in 1990, Bergmann has been a permanent member of the VIENNA SHORTS team since 2021. As programmer and head of marketing & cooperations, he was responsible for programming as well as for strategic partnerships and international networks. He curated competitions, expanded collaborations, and in recent years significantly shaped the profile of the festival—including as part of the programming team for the international competition FIDO (Fiction & Documentary) and as head of the competition Danube So Blue in cooperation with Johann Strauss 2025 Vienna.

In parallel, he worked at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) in the coordination of the university press mdwPress, while his academic career took him on research stays in Japan and into international publication activities. Following his bachelor’s and master’s studies at LMU Munich, he most recently submitted his doctoral dissertation in Film and Media Studies at the International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture at Justus Liebig University Giessen. His dissertation examines the relationship between non-linear narration, networks, and digitalization in 21st-century cinema.

“Max Bergmann brings with him a strong profile thanks to his clear perspective on film, his international connections, and his analytical way of working. These are the best prerequisites for further developing the festival’s content while also strengthening its roots within the city,” explains managing director Karin Ginzel. His predecessor Daniel Hadenius-Ebner welcomes the appointment: “With Max Bergmann, someone is taking over who understands the essence of the festival and will also set his own distinctive accents. The handover could not have gone more smoothly.”

News 8.9.2025