Competitions
©Award Winners 2026
Awards of the International Jury
Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen
worth 8,000 euros
Opera
Igor Zelić
Croatia 2026, 19‘39'', colour
Statement:
For staging light and darkness, space and time into an ode to cinema and the drama of life.
Principal Prize of the International Jury
worth 4,000 euros
黑洞洞
(Dark Channel)
Name Regisseur*in
China 2025, 11‘35‘‘, colour
Statement:
For reshaping an everyday space into a work of art through the power of cinematic observation.
Promotional Prize of the International Competition
worth 1,500 euros
Daylight
Anna Heisterkamp
Ireland/ USA 2025, 21‘53‘‘, colour
Statement:
For an artistically accomplished research on the architectural project placed in the middle of the city but slipping from the public view.
Short Film Candidate for the 39th European Film Awards
August och kriget
(August and the War)
Leandro Netzell Cerón, Samori Tovatt
Sweden 2026, 14‘24‘‘, colour
Statement:
For offering a critical and humorous reflection on the rising militarization.
Special Mention of the International Jury
TEÊMBA!
(FLOW!)
Kagoma Ya Twahirwa
Rwanda 2025, 22‘15‘‘, colour
Statement:
For challenging the language of cinema to express what is beyond narratives and images.
Prize of the Jury of the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia
1st Prize of the Jury of the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia
worth 5,000 euros
Opera
Igor Zelić
Croatia 2026, 19‘39'', colour
Statement:
From a static perspective, we see village life at night come to life in its cyclical rhythms. At daybreak, the lights of the spirit world fade into an irretrievable past. What remains is a sense of dread at the ruthlessness of history.
2nd Prize of the Jury of the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia
worth 3,000 euros
記憶座標
(Map of Traces)
Chan Hau Chun
Hongkong 2025, 29‘27‘‘, colour, black and white
Statement:
In Street View images that promise boundless orientation and control, the film searches in vain for fading memories. It finds them in idiosyncratic, secret signs and fleeting encounters. Longing, state violence, resistance – the urban space is examined for its role as a witness.
Special Mention of the Jury of the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia
黑洞洞
(Dark Channel)
Name Regisseur*in
China 2025, 11‘35‘‘, colour
Statement:
An inconspicuous space, easily overlooked, becomes a recording channel. Like a distant echo, the movements of a metropolis are reflected on the water’s surface of a microcosm. Through focused observation, Yu Zhe uncovers the poetry of the peripheral.
The International Critics’ Prize
The International Critics’ Prize (FIPRESCI Prize)
Opera
Igor Zelić
Croatia 2026, 19‘39‘‘, colour
Statement:
Nocturnal darkness covers a rural road in the night. Bit by bit lights are added, interspersing the darkness with bright spots, thus revealing the depths of the space. Over the whole length of the film a carefully choreographed movement of lights adds and subtracts visible elements allowing us glimpses into the mysterious space lining the road. The pale glow of colours gives the image the beauty of a painting of light, the appearance and disappearance of people turns the road into a nocturnal theatre stage until the arrival of the daylight sets an early end to the night's magic. Igor Zelić's Opera is an astonishing piece of film art whose creativity and crafty play with the basic elements of film (light, sound and space) left us deeply impressed.
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
worth 2,000 euros
黑洞洞
(Dark Channel)
Yu Zhe
China 2025, 11'35‘‘, colour
Statement:
Film theorist Siegfried Kracauer once used the phrase "ordinary invisible things" to describe aspects of reality that are technically visible, but usually go unnoticed in everyday life. Cinema at its best captures these fleeting, everyday, seemingly mundane moments we tend to overlook or ignore. The Ecumenical Jury would like to award its prize to a film that is at the same time seemingly simple and incredibly poetic, layered and emotionally involving. The filmmaker creates a filmic space, uses light to reflect on light and makes it a lifeline or, if you wish to see it, the spiritual presence of the flow of life.
Special Mention of the Ecumenical Jury
wolno, szybko, wolno
(slow, fast, slow)
Jagoda Czarnek
Poland 2025, 1‘02‘‘, colour
Statement:
We would also like to commend another film with a Special Mention. Speaking of subverting expectations: it is very rare to find a young filmmaker who has such a feeling for timing and dark humour that she can show both Memento Mori and Carpe Diem in just four shots and one minute.
ZONTA Prize
ZONTA Prize
worth 1,000 euros, sponsored by Zonta Club Oberhausen Rheinland
for a female filmmaker in the International or German Competition
Cold Call
Stefanie Schroeder
Germany 2025, 16‘, colour
Statement:
Stefanie Schroeder’s film Cold Call lets us connect where we would least expect it: in a call centre conversation with an anonymous scam caller. It is the unconventional attitude – visible and audible in the film – with which Stefanie Schroeder confronts the constraints of this conversation, be they racist stereotypes, the steep social divide or the telephone scam itself, for a moment that lets us discover beauty, absurd humour and, above all, another human being. A cinematic experience that is humanising in the best sense of the word.
Awards of the German Competition
Prize of the German Competition
worth 5,000 euros
Audry Lornacle or 14 Days in DJ’s House
Dagie Brundert
Germany 2025, 08‘16‘‘, colour
Statement:
With a playful and unconventional touch, the director finds symbols and images in her surroundings, from which she crafts a delightful dreamlike tale. Text and image come together to form a poem that is by turns humorous and thought-provoking, its cinematic form shaped by her personal narrative and her uniquely creative handling of the film footage.
Promotional Prize of the German Competition
worth 1,500 euros
Ein Meter Neunzig
(One Meter Ninety)
Gregor Bartsch
Germany 2026, 30‘, colour
Statement:
A former socialist computer centre in Potsdam has been converted artists’ studios and now stands in the way of the reconstruction of a Baroque Prussian military church, as the two dissimilar buildings occupy the same plot of land. Taking the dedication ceremony of the half-finished church tower as its starting point, the film sets out to uncover layers of German history right up to the present day and to highlight the historical amnesia of today’s culture of remembrance.
3sat Emerging Talent Prize
worth 2,500 euros, sponsored by 3sat
In addition the award includes a buying option on the awarded work to be broadcast on 3sat.
Catacombs سراديب
Shehab Fatoum
Germany 2026, 28‘48‘‘, colour
Statement:
A film that shifts perspectives because its point of view is unstable. It seeks structure in chapters and in Greek mythology. The Syrian-born filmmaker explores the impossibility of returning to a time before – thereby broadening not only the scope of the German Competition, but also our view of Germany itself.
Special Mention of the Jury of the German Competition
Berlin, Europacity
Leonard Geisler
Germany 2025, 13‘39‘‘, black and white
Statement:
It’s understandable in a way. Who hasn’t got annoyed at their landlord at some point? Nevertheless, we were surprised and delighted by the ease with which the director crafts his crime plot here and discovers previously unseen images from the heart of Berlin. When the story is reinterpreted through the lens of a blind photographer, you suddenly realise that you’ve not only been marvellously entertained, but also whisked away into the heart of the big questions of semiotics.
Awards of the 18th NRW Competition
Prize of the NRW Competition
worth 1,000 euros
Garden of Edie
Miri Klischat
Germany 2026, 20'‘‘, colour
Statement:
The expulsion from paradise as an act of liberation. A courageous break with conventions and standardized ways of life leads to the discovery of one’s own sexuality and one’s own voice. ‘She’ becomes ‘I’, while the camera explores the new garden of temptation in precise images. Just as in the stories from the invisible worlds she described to her friends as a child, the protagonist’s language guides us along the insightful path to self-empowerment.
Promotional Prize of the NRW Competition
worth 500 euros
Ku Yendza
(Trajectories)
Simon Rittmeier
France/ Germany 2026, 16'30‘‘, black and white
Statement:
A collaborative portrait, as playful as the juggling balls in the air. On the breathless journeys to the next performance, in the quiet moments of reflection, whilst practising and rehearsing, the film develops a rhythm of its own that draws us into the protagonist’s world. Across continents and languages, it is less the words than the sounds, beats and repetitions that characterise the protagonist and capture him on grainy 8mm film.
Special Mention of the Jury of the NRW Competition
Hope Road
Susann Maria Hempel
Germany 2025, 12'30''‘‘, colour
Statement:
The film begins in a state of despair – a crisis with oneself, with one’s own work, with the world. It explores what it means to make films when the future seems hopeless and new and old family responsibilities stand in the way of art. So the filmmaker works her way through her own feelings and thoughts, whilst at the same time taking us on a cinematic aesthetic discourse about the creation of images.
Prize of the WDR Westart Audience Jury
Prize of the WDR Westart Audience Jury
worth 750 euros, sponsored by WDR Westart
Hope Road
Susann Maria Hempel
Germany 2025, 12'30‘‘, colour
Statement:
A ceaseless monologue on crises and one’s own artistic identity: intense, exhausting, all-consuming – not light viewing. On motherhood and being an artist, from dystopia to utopia, from despair to hope. The world as a constantly renewing possibility.
The diversity of the themes is reflected in the execution: from deliberately flawed AI sequences to stop-motion and experimental techniques. Reinvention is possible! A cinematic triptych that overwhelmed us both in terms of content and form. A short film with a magnetic pull.
Awards of the 49th International Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Prize of the Children’s Jury
worth 1,000 euros, sponsored by Wirtschaftsbetriebe Oberhausen (WBO)
Under The Wave off Little Dragon
Luo Jian
United Kingdom 2025, 14‘25‘‘, colour
Statement:
What we liked about our winning film was that the girl was very brave and didn’t let anyone push her around. She had the courage to go out on her own to find her fish, even though she’s only five. She was also very clever. We thought the ending on the beach was lovely because all the sand was glowing.
Promotional Prize of the Children’s Jury
worth 1,000 euros, sponsored by Energieversorgung Oberhausen AG (evo)
הצל שלי ואני
(My Shadow and Me)
Yali Herbet
Israel 2025, 3‘52‘‘, colour
Statement:
At the start of the film, the boy was sad because his mum couldn’t play with him. But then he found a friend. We liked the beautiful shadow play, especially when the boy was riding the rabbit. The film was lovely and we wished it had gone on a bit longer!
Special Mention of the Children's Jury
Just Jools
Ezra Verbist
Belgium 2025, 16‘40‘‘, colour
Statement:
We liked the fact that we learnt something from the film. The girl was very brave and didn’t give up, even though others were mean to her. She had a teacher who helped her with her dancing. The dance moves were particularly beautiful and it made you want to join in straight away.
Prize of the Youth Jury
worth 1,000 euros, sponsored by Rotary Club Oberhausen
BEI KUN ZHU DE GOU
(A Trapped Dog)
Xinying Lao
USA 2025, 12‘12‘‘, colour
Statement:
We decided on our winning film because it shows how one can be oppressed by a system, and why, as a young person, one wants to break free from it precisely for that reason. In the film we selected, the protagonist ultimately manages to do just that, and that is what won us over.
SURPRISE. Prize for the most surprising film
worth 1,000 euros, sponsored by Methode Film
மாப்பிள்ளை
(Mappillai)
Padakathai Illaka Collective
India, Germany 2026, 16‘50‘‘, colour
Statement:
The beauty of surprises is that they catch us when we least expect them. Our winning film had us hooked right from the start. We thought we knew where the story was heading, but just at that moment the film took us by surprise and turned everything upside down. This dramatic twist really piqued our interest. We chose a film that gives us an insight into many cultural and historical contexts, which we also found quite interesting. We were particularly impressed by the involvement of the entire village and the authentic insight into a culture that brought the film to life.
Special Mention of the Youth Jury
Des Gens Vivent Ici
(People Live Here)
Gabrielle Côté
Canada 2025, 12‘12‘‘,, colour
Statement:
The short film we selected tells the story of a vibrant, warm neighbourhood where people come together, support one another and life flourishes. Yet this idyll is brutally shattered when it is forced to make way for towering skyscrapers – an anonymous, soulless architecture that drives life away. But in the end, life returns: the neighbourhood is rebuilt. We chose this film because it manages to capture our longing for identity and community, and reminds us how important it is to fill our cities with life.
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury of the Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury of the Children’s and Youth Film Competition
worth 1,500 euros
Just Jools
Ezra Verbist
Belgium 2025, 16'40‘‘, colour
Statement:
A documentary that tackles a difficult subject in a deeply loving way, managing to make a particular issue feel universal.
The main character finds her strength in settling into herself and feeling the dance, rather than in the gaze and judgment of others. The film portrays this journey through authentic characters and a storyline that almost gives the documentary the feel of bordering on fictional drama.
The director's gentle eye ensures it remains personal without getting to private. The dance comes to life for the girl not just through the music, but in collaboration with the dance teacher, in nature, and through her imagination.
Special Mention of the Ecumenical Jury of the Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Jésus Marie Joseph
(Jésus Marie and Joseph)
Patxi Meerman
France 2025, 03‘27‘‘, colour
Statement:
At once a deeply loving, handheld film and razor-sharp in its exploration of life's fundamental "why" — a question just as valid for a 3-year-old boy running through a Greek village as for an old man. It manages to tell a full story in 3 minutes without explaining or oversimplifying.
The film is organic and follows the boy at a playful pace that lends the film the boy's own energy… The images portray the island small-town through a boy’s eyes as white light and contours — with the church bell as the distant goal.
Prize of the ECFA Jury
ECFA Short Film Award
(The award consists of a nomination for the ECFA Short Film Award 2027)
LE JOUR OÙ J'AI LÉCHÉ UN CAILLOU
(THE DAY I LICKED A PEBBLE)
Flavie Eliézer, Chloé Bernuchon, Goli Atefi, Maud Kolasa, Nathan Jauze, Marie Pijollet
France 2025, 06'35‘‘, colour
Statement:
Not least because of the three siblings’ unique cinematic journey to a bakery, we – as jury members here in Oberhausen – could identify deeply with our award-winning film. Time and again, we found ourselves lost between the festival venues, but always with plenty of joy and some great dialogues, just like the protagonists.
We selected the film for its surprising form: it‘s an animated film styled to look like a home video or found footage, and it has been created with remarkable precision.
And, for the love of film and video it conveys, we award THE DAY I LICKED A PEBBLE.
28th MuVi Award
1st Prize of the 28th MuVi Jury
worth 2,000 euros
Rentrer à la maison (Anadol & Marie Klock)
(Returning Home)
Timo Schierhorn, Uwe
Germany, 3‘35‘‘, colour
Statement:
You're coming home, to a place where you're safe. However, something is off. There's a certain uncanniness that's hard to describe. Things aren't quite as you remember them to be.
And this feeling is conveyed perfectly by the music video. The footage is shot on an old camera, some of it being the artist's real home video, and with the power of simple yet clever editing, despite the language barrier, it universally manages to make the viewer feel the familiar unease of coming home again.
2nd Prize of the 28th MuVi Jury
worth 1,000 euros
IDLU (TEII A ViSiON)
Lars Zimmermann, Paulina Wetzel
Germany 2026, 3‘19‘‘, colour
Statement:
Simple, yet effective. Despite the single location — a white room with white walls — the music video never feels constrained by its space. The energy is explosive, the guitar playing beautifully faked, and the whole music video was done in one take. Sometimes, less is more, especially when done right.
Special Mention of the 28th MuVi Jury
All Glock No Cock (ildikó)
Olga Ringleb, Paula Kiermaier
Germany 2025, 3‘25‘‘, colour
Statement:
With a vibe matching an older YouTube video, All Glock, No Cock is fun, aware that it's fun, and makes everyone else have fun along with it. The tonal shift works perfectly, the music video never takes itself too seriously, and sometimes that's the right way to go.
MuVi Online Audience Award
chosen by online vote on www.muvipreis.de and worth 500 euros
All Glock No Cock (ildikó)
Olga Ringleb, Paula Kiermaier
Germany 2025, 3‘25‘‘, colour
The MuVi Partners 2026:
3sat, 3sat.de
Byte.FM, www.byte.fm
kaput – Magazin für Insolvenz & Pop, kaput-mag.com
kultur.west, www.kulturwest.de
netpoint media, www.netpoint-media.de
©Competition Films
By countries
Armenia
The observation, Gurgen Aloian, 2025, 4' 07", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Austria
Letters from home, Maryam Zuhuri, 2025, 6' 58", International Competition
Das Höhenphänomen (Call of the Void), Angelika Reitzer, 2025, 25' 44", International Competition
Austria/ France/ Germany
Dressing Up Together, Elly Jarvis, Lilli Strakerjahn, Célia Caroubi, 2025, 39' 44", German Competition
Belgium
Ik Zou Je Graag Zien (I'd Love To See You), Sébastien Segers, Zaïde Bil, Petronella Van der Hallen, 2025, 11' 44", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Just Jools, Ezra Verbist, 2025, 16' 40", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Belgium/ France
Poisson Nuage (Cloud Fish), Noe Garcia, 2025, 5' 47", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Belgium/ Hungary/ Kazakhstan/ Portugal
Let Me Circle Around You, Aiya Akilzhanova, 2025, 11' 58", International Competition
Belgium/ Netherlands/ United Kingdom
20 Hz – 384,400 km, Graham Kelly, 2026, 10' 33", International Competition
Belgium/ Turkey
Dogs and Dust, Ece Era, 2025, 14' 49", International Competition
Brazil
Batata Frita na Chuva (French Fries in the Rain), Ninah Nogino, 2025, 09' 47", International Competition
Brazil/ China/ Germany
三只海豹 (Three Seals), Dou Dou, 2025, 8' 24", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Brazil/ France/ Germany
Em Busca de S (In Search of S.), Gustavo de Mattos Jahn, 2025, 17' 17", International Competition
Brazil/ Portugal
Memórias Encontradas Numa Banheira (Memoirs Found in a Bathtub), Leonardo Pirondi, 2025, 4' 19", International Competition
Bulgaria
Голишар (Nestling), Georgi Martev, 2026, 10' 56", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Canada
Custom Trailer Series: Austin Powers, Kelly Egan, 2025, 04' 34", International Competition
Prayer for All Simple Things, Diego Rojas, 2026, 14' 18", International Competition
Des Gens Vivent Ici (People Live Here), Gabrielle Côté, 2025, 12' 12", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Canada/ France
Autobiography of My Diabetes, Matthew Lancit, 2025, 30' 39", International Competition
Canada/ USA
Leaks in the Lines, Adebukola Bodunrin, 2025, 04' 32", International Competition
Cambodia/ China
Jiu Jiu (Chirp Chirp), Wenting Song, 2026, 7' 35", International Competition
China
啤酒的滋味 (A Taste of Beer), Xie Li, 2025, 5' 30", International Competition
黑洞洞 (Dark Channel), Yu Zhe, 2025, 11' 35", International Competition
西藏游客 (Tourist to Tibet), Wu Han, 2025, 8' 24", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
时代在召唤 (The Times Are Calling), Chutian Shu, 2026, 4' 21", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Colombia
Niña Chilapa (Chilapa Girl), Juana Lotero López, 2025, 17', Children’s and Youth Film Competition
El Mandado (The Favour), Ingrid Paola Bonilla Rodriguez, 2025, 19' 54", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
El Salto (The Fall), Jerónimo Rincón Diaz, 2025, 12' 02", International Competition
Croatia
Töst, Nela Gluhak, 2025, 2' 32", International Competition
Opera, Igor Zelić, 2026, 19' 31", International Competition
Finland
Laulu ei kuole (Song Will Not Die), Mox Mäkelä, 2026, 9' 25", International Competition
Maanalainen lintu (An Underground Bird), Eero Tammi, 2026, 10' 44", International Competition
France
Au gré de l'iode (To the rhythm of the Sea), Léa Deprez, Pierre-Luis Bordes, Elliot Desmarets, Jeanne Finet, 2025, 7' 40", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Hulum, Miguel Miceli, 2025, 22' 15", International Competition
Jésus Marie Joseph (Jésus Marie and Joseph), Patxi Meerman, 2025, 3' 27", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Kosmogonia, Karolina Chabiert, 2025, 15' 33", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
La Mort Du Poisson (The Death of the Fish), Eva Lusbaronian, 2025, 13' 50", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
LE JOUR OÙ J'AI LÉCHÉ UN CAILLOU (THE DAY I LICKED A PEBBLE), Flavie Eliézer, Chloé Bernuchon, Goli Atefi, Maud Kolasa, Nathan Jauze, Marie Pijollet, 2025, 6' 35", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Les femmes en feu (Women on fire), Alina Titorenko, 2025, 20' 17", International Competition
Precious Fantasy, Nino Bouhnik, 2025, 13' 16", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Qui a tué Narin G****? (Who Killed Narin G****?), Ayçe Kartal, 2025, 4' 42", International Competition
France/ Germany
Ku Yendza (Trajectories), Simon Rittmeier, 2026, 17', NRW Competition
France/ Germany/ South Africa
an open field, Teboho Edkins, 2025, 38' 06", International Competition
France/ Switzerland
Piccolo Piccolo, Marta Gennari, 2025, 8' 30", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Germany
All Glock No Cock, Olga Ringleb, Paula Kiermaier, 2025, 3' 23", MuVi Award
Audry Lornacle or 14 Days in DJ's House, Dagie Brundert, 2025, 8' 16", German Competition
Beneath the Night, Maximilian Karakatsanis, 2026, 13' 33", NRW Competition
Berlin, Europacity, Leonard Geisler, 2025, 13' 39", German Competition
Borderland, Gavois Klöfkorn, 2025, 11' 02", NRW Competition
Catacombs, Shehab Fatoum, 2026, 29', German Competition
Cold Call, Stefanie Schroeder, 2025, 16', German Competition
Eine Tochter und zehn Söhne (A Daughter and Ten Sons), Paula Milena Weise, Finn Ole Weigt, 2026, 20' 30", NRW Competition
Ein Meter Neunzig (One Meter Ninety), Gregor Bartsch, 2026, 30', German Competition
Ein neues Wort (A New Word), Cana Bilir-Meier, 2025, 24' 56", German Competition
Erst zahlen, dann malen!, DJ Babyoil, 2026, 4' 04", MuVi Award
Everybody (A 21 Years Later Video Edit), Stefan Lampadius, 2026, 6' 14", MuVi Award
Floating, Nikolas Müller, 2025, 5' 12", MuVi Award
Forming en Route, James Edmonds, Petra Graf, 2026, 35', German Competition
Garden of Edie, Miri Klischat, 2026, 20', NRW Competition
Holz! (The Story of Wood), Rainer Knepperges, 2025, 2' 44", German Competition
Hope Road, Susann Maria Hempel, 2025, 12' 30", NRW Competition
How Do You Spell This Word?, Yulia Lokshina, 2026, 26' 10", German Competition
IDLU, Lars Zimmermann, Paulina Wetzel, 2026, 3' 19", MuVi Award
Je croyais que la vie était un poème (I Thought Life Was a Poem), Felix Herrmann, 2026, 11' 35", German Competition
Kamogawa, Rainer Komers, 2025, 16' 47", NRW Competition
Kenger, Irfan Akcadag, 2026, 14' 59", NRW Competition
Knockout Dreams, Andreas Birkenheier, 2026, 26' 59", German Competition
KOMMUNIST KAR KOMMANDOS, Markus Mischkowski, Christos Dassios, 2026, 3' 30", NRW Competition
Liquor, Yi-Chen Huang, 2025, 4' 37", German Competition
No Lube So Rude, Matt Lambert, 2026, 5' 02", MuVi Award
No More Roses, Graw Böckler, 2025, 3' 53", MuVi Award
Only Making Out, Marlon Weber, 2025, 15' 45", German Competition
POLLY POCKET, Mariola Brillowska, 2026, 4' 40", German Competition
Rentrer à la maison (Returning Home), Timo Schierhorn, Uwe, 2026, 3' 35", MuVi Award
Rote Süden, Max Hilsamer, 2026, 3' 25", MuVi Award
Sailing Away, Christina Romano, 2026, 2' 07", MuVi Award
The Way Through The Woods, Toby Cornish, 2025, 2' 30", MuVi Award
Until It's Hard To Tell, Ceren Oykut, 2025, 5' 03", German Competition
Germany/ Colombia
El Paraíso de Ainara (Ainara's Paradise), Esther Niemeier, Laura Espinel, 2025, 14' 05", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Germany/ India
மாப்பிள்ளை (The Groom), Padakathai Illaka Collective, 2026, 16' 50", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Germany/ Ukraine
Movchat' Ptakhy (The Birds Are Silent), Leo Dzhyshyashvili, 2025, 7' 47", German Competition
Germany/ USA
Slow Dissolve, Library Stack, Andreas Bunte, 2026, 27' 15", International Competition
Hong Kong
記憶座標 (Map of Traces), Chan Hau Chun, 2025, 29' 27", International Competition
India
ചായപ്പൊടി (tea powder), Bhavya Karthikeyan, 2026, 23' 56", International Competition
Iran/ United Kingdom
The Walnut of Knowledge, Niyaz Saghari, 2025, 27', International Competition
Ireland/ Ukraine
Я не зникаю (Self-Preserving Nudity), Nelly Shylova, 2025, 7' 03", International Competition
Ireland/ USA
Daylight, Anna Heisterkamp, 2025, 21' 53", International Competition
Israel
Escape Will Get You Tonight, Noa Simhayof Shahaf, 2025, 14' 46", International Competition
הצל שלי ואנ (My Shadow and Me), Yali Herbet, 2025, 3' 52", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Japan
dipolar bipolar, Quankai Li, 2025, 8' 50", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Tristesse, Yuri Muraoka, 2026, 11' 14", Japan
TOKERUBON (Floating lanterns), Shiori Watanabe, 2025, 2' 04", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Kosovo
Prej 6-ve në 5 (From 6 to 5), Erlisë Beqiri, 2026, 9' 47", International Competition
Latvia
žļurga (Slush), Aivars Šaicāns, Jēkabs Okonovs, 2026, 19' 59", International Competition
Lithuania
Parkas. Po pamokų (After Classes), Simona Jurkuvėnaitė, 2025, 14' 16", International Competition
Malaysia
鳥，飛行中 (In the Valley), Han Loong Lim, 2025, 21' 13", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Mexico
Ilhuícatl Nextli (Heavenly Dream), José Ángel Tomasis Briseño, 2025, 7' 45", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Mexico/ Uruguay
5-6-7-8, Emilio Bianchic, 2025, 9' 07", International Competition
Morocco
تُرَى (You are seen), Zakaria Dinia, 2025, 9' 44", International Competition
Myanmar
အတိုးဆုံးလေညှင်း (A Gentle Breeze), Lin Htet Aung, 2026, 23' 54", International Competition
Nepal
Taste of Water, Aayan Pariyar, 2025, 12' 48", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Pakistan
Attock, Awais Gohar, 2025, 15' 47", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Peru
América, Javier Arias-Stella, 2025, 15' 33", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Poland
wolno, szybko, wolno (slow, fast, slow), Jagoda Czarnek, 2025, 1' 02", International Competition
Rwanda
TEÊMBA! (FLOW!), Kagoma Ya Twahirwa, 2025, 22' 15", International Competition
Sierra leone
We will be who we are, Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda, 2025, 16', Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Spain
La Pegaso, María Martos, 2025, 18' 39", International Competition
Secretos a voces (Open Secrets), Gorka Carcedo Labayen, 2026, 4' 25", International Competition
Sri Lanka
A Flower Falling Back Into the Earth, Rajee Samarasinghe, 2025, 7' 39", International Competition
Sweden
Green Noise, Ewa Einhorn, Jeuno Kim, 2026, 8' 30", International Competition
August och kriget (August and the War), Leandro Netzell Cerón, Samori Tovatt, 2026, 14' 24", International Competition
Liminal Beings, Sonja Nilsson, 2026, 18' 49", International Competition
Switzerland
Astral, Judith Ordonneau, 2025, 3' 42", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Taiwan
我在去找你的路上 (I'm on the Way to You), Yung Shiuan Yang, 2026, 10' 27", International Competition
Thailand
แสม (Habitare), Tanatat Khuttapan, 2025, 29' 55", International Competition
Ukraine
Відкритий світ (Homecoming), Roman Khimei, Yarema Malashchuk, 2026, 19' 08", International Competition
United Kingdom
Our Kingdom, Chris Ross, 2025, 8' 38", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
Under The Wave off Little Dragon, Luo Jian, 2025, 14' 25", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
USA
BEI KUN ZHU DE GOU (A Trapped Dog), Xinying Lao, 2025, 12' 12", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
daylight, Andrea Walter, 2025, 14' 49", Children’s and Youth Film Competition
The Day's Mother, the Night's End, Anna Zalevskaya, 2025, 5' 52", International Competition
By sections
Internationaler Wettbewerb / International Competition
20 Hz – 384,400 km, Graham Kelly, 2026, 10' 33", Belgium, United Kingdom, Netherlands
5-6-7-8, Emilio Bianchic, 2025, 9' 07", Uruguay, Mexico
A Flower Falling Back Into the Earth, Rajee Samarasinghe, 2025, 7' 39", Sri Lanka
an open field, Teboho Edkins, 2025, 38' 06", South Africa, France, Germany
August och kriget (August and the War), Leandro Netzell Cerón, Samori Tovatt, 2026, 14' 24", Sweden
Autobiography of My Diabetes, Matthew Lancit, 2025, 30' 39", France, Canada
Batata Frita na Chuva (French Fries in the Rain), Ninah Nogino, 2025, 09' 47", Brazil
Custom Trailer Series: Austin Powers, Kelly Egan, 2025, 04' 34", Canada
Das Höhenphänomen (Call of the Void), Angelika Reitzer, 2025, 25' 44", Austria
Daylight, Anna Heisterkamp, 2025, 21' 53", Ireland, USA
Dogs and Dust, Ece Era, 2025, 14' 49", Belgium, Turkey
El Salto (The Fall), Jerónimo Rincón Diaz, 2025, 12' 02", Colombia
Em Busca de S (In Search of S.), Gustavo de Mattos Jahn, 2025, 17' 17", Brazil, Germany, France
Escape Will Get You Tonight, Noa Simhayof Shahaf, 2025, 14' 46", Israel
Green Noise, Ewa Einhorn, Jeuno Kim, 2026, 8' 30", Sweden
Hulum, Miguel Miceli, 2025, 22' 15", France
Jiu Jiu (Chirp Chirp), Wenting Song, 2026, 7' 35", China, Cambodia
La Pegaso, María Martos, 2025, 18' 39", Spain
Laulu ei kuole (Song Will Not Die), Mox Mäkelä, 2026, 9' 25", Finland
Leaks in the Lines, Adebukola Bodunrin, 2025, 04' 32", Canada, USA
Les femmes en feu (Women on fire), Alina Titorenko, 2025, 20' 17", France
Let Me Circle Around You, Aiya Akilzhanova, 2025, 11' 58", Belgium, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Hungary
Letters from home, Maryam Zuhuri, 2025, 6' 58", Austria
Liminal Beings, Sonja Nilsson, 2026, 18' 49", Sweden
Maanalainen lintu (An Underground Bird), Eero Tammi, 2026, 10' 44", Finland
Memórias Encontradas Numa Banheira (Memoirs Found in a Bathtub), Leonardo Pirondi, 2025, 4' 19", Brazil, Portugal
Opera, Igor Zelić, 2026, 19' 31", Croatia
Parkas. Po pamokų (After Classes), Simona Jurkuvėnaitė, 2025, 14' 16", Lithuania
Prayer for All Simple Things, Diego Rojas, 2026, 14' 18", Canada
Prej 6-ve në 5 (From 6 to 5), Erlisë Beqiri, 2026, 9' 47", Kosovo
Qui a tué Narin G****? (Who Killed Narin G****?), Ayçe Kartal, 2025, 4' 42", France
Secretos a voces (Open Secrets), Gorka Carcedo Labayen, 2026, 4' 25", Spain
Slow Dissolve, Library Stack, Andreas Bunte, 2026, 27' 15", Germany, USA
TEÊMBA! (FLOW!), Kagoma Ya Twahirwa, 2025, 22' 15", Rwanda
The Day's Mother, the Night's End, Anna Zalevskaya, 2025, 5' 52", USA
The Walnut of Knowledge, Niyaz Saghari, 2025, 27', Iran, United Kingdom
Töst, Nela Gluhak, 2025, 2' 32", Croatia
Tristesse, Yuri Muraoka, 2026, 11' 14", Japan
wolno, szybko, wolno (slow, fast, slow), Jagoda Czarnek, 2025, 1' 02", Poland
žļurga (Slush), Aivars Šaicāns, Jēkabs Okonovs, 2026, 19' 59", Latvia
Відкритий світ (Homecoming), Roman Khimei, Yarema Malashchuk, 2026, 19' 08", Ukraine
Я не зникаю (Self-Preserving Nudity), Nelly Shylova, 2025, 7' 03", Ukraine, Ireland
تُرَى (You are seen), Zakaria Dinia, 2025, 9' 44", Morocco
ചായപ്പൊടി (tea powder), Bhavya Karthikeyan, 2026, 23' 56", India
แสม (Habitare), Tanatat Khuttapan, 2025, 29' 55", Thailand
အတိုးဆုံးလေညှင်း (A Gentle Breeze), Lin Htet Aung, 2026, 23' 54", Myanmar
啤酒的滋味 (A Taste of Beer), Xie Li, 2025, 5' 30", China
我在去找你的路上 (I'm on the Way to You), Yung Shiuan Yang, 2026, 10' 27", Taiwan
記憶座標 (Map of Traces), Chan Hau Chun, 2025, 29' 27", Hong Kong
黑洞洞 (Dark Channel), Yu Zhe, 2025, 11' 35", China
Deutscher Wettbewerb / German Competition
Audry Lornacle or 14 Days in DJ's House, Dagie Brundert, 2025, 8' 16", Germany
Berlin, Europacity, Leonard Geisler, 2025, 13' 39", Germany
Catacombs, Shehab Fatoum, 2026, 29', Germany
Cold Call, Stefanie Schroeder, 2025, 16', Germany
Dressing Up Together, Elly Jarvis, Lilli Strakerjahn, Célia Caroubi, 2025, 39' 44", Austria, France, Germany
Ein Meter Neunzig (One Meter Ninety), Gregor Bartsch, 2026, 30', Germany
Ein neues Wort (A New Word), Cana Bilir-Meier, 2025, 24' 56", Germany
Forming en Route, James Edmonds, Petra Graf, 2026, 35', Germany
Holz! (The Story of Wood), Rainer Knepperges, 2025, 2' 44", Germany
How Do You Spell This Word?, Yulia Lokshina, 2026, 26' 10", Germany
Je croyais que la vie était un poème (I Thought Life Was a Poem), Felix Herrmann, 2026, 11' 35", Germany
Knockout Dreams, Andreas Birkenheier, 2026, 26' 59", Germany
Liquor, Yi-Chen Huang, 2025, 4' 37", Germany
Movchat' Ptakhy (The Birds Are Silent), Leo Dzhyshyashvili, 2025, 7' 47", Ukraine, Germany
Only Making Out, Marlon Weber, 2025, 15' 45", Germany
POLLY POCKET, Mariola Brillowska, 2026, 4' 40", Germany
Until It's Hard To Tell, Ceren Oykut, 2025, 5' 03", Germany
NRW-Wettbewerb / NRW Competition
Beneath the Night, Maximilian Karakatsanis, 2026, 13' 33", Germany
Borderland, Gavois Klöfkorn, 2025, 11' 02", Germany
Eine Tochter und zehn Söhne (A Daughter and Ten Sons), Paula Milena Weise, Finn Ole Weigt, 2026, 20' 30", Germany
Garden of Edie, Miri Klischat, 2026, 20', Germany
Hope Road, Susann Maria Hempel, 2025, 12' 30", Germany
Kamogawa, Rainer Komers, 2025, 16' 47", Germany
Kenger, Irfan Akcadag, 2026, 14' 59", Germany
KOMMUNIST KAR KOMMANDOS, Markus Mischkowski, Christos Dassios, 2026, 3' 30", Germany
Ku Yendza (Trajectories), Simon Rittmeier, 2026, 17', France, Germany
Kinder- und Jugendwettbewerb / Children’s and Youth Film Competition
América, Javier Arias-Stella, 2025, 15' 33", Peru
Astral, Judith Ordonneau, 2025, 3' 42", Switzerland
Attock, Awais Gohar, 2025, 15' 47", Pakistan
Au gré de l'iode (To the rhythm of the Sea), Léa Deprez, Pierre-Luis Bordes, Elliot Desmarets, Jeanne Finet, 2025, 7' 40", France
BEI KUN ZHU DE GOU (A Trapped Dog), Xinying Lao, 2025, 12' 12", USA
daylight, Andrea Walter, 2025, 14' 49", USA
Des Gens Vivent Ici (People Live Here), Gabrielle Côté, 2025, 12' 12", Canada
dipolar bipolar, Quankai Li, 2025, 8' 50", Japan
El Mandado (The Favour), Ingrid Paola Bonilla Rodriguez, 2025, 19' 54", Colombia
El Paraíso de Ainara (Ainara's Paradise), Esther Niemeier, Laura Espinel, 2025, 14' 05", Colombia, Germany
Ik Zou Je Graag Zien (I'd Love To See You), Sébastien Segers, Zaïde Bil, Petronella Van der Hallen, 2025, 11' 44", Belgium
Ilhuícatl Nextli (Heavenly Dream), José Ángel Tomasis Briseño, 2025, 7' 45", Mexico
Jésus Marie Joseph (Jésus Marie and Joseph), Patxi Meerman, 2025, 3' 27", France
Just Jools, Ezra Verbist, 2025, 16' 40", Belgium
Kosmogonia, Karolina Chabiert, 2025, 15' 33", France
La Mort Du Poisson (The Death of the Fish), Eva Lusbaronian, 2025, 13' 50", France
LE JOUR OÙ J'AI LÉCHÉ UN CAILLOU (THE DAY I LICKED A PEBBLE), Flavie Eliézer, Chloé Bernuchon, Goli Atefi, Maud Kolasa, Nathan Jauze, Marie Pijollet, 2025, 6' 35", France
Niña Chilapa (Chilapa Girl), Juana Lotero López, 2025, 17', Colombia
Our Kingdom, Chris Ross, 2025, 8' 38", United Kingdom
Piccolo Piccolo, Marta Gennari, 2025, 8' 30", France, Switzerland
Poisson Nuage (Cloud Fish), Noe Garcia, 2025, 5' 47", France, Belgium
Precious Fantasy, Nino Bouhnik, 2025, 13' 16", France
Taste of Water, Aayan Pariyar, 2025, 12' 48", Nepal
The observation, Gurgen Aloian, 2025, 4' 07", Armenia
TOKERUBON (Floating lanterns), Shiori Watanabe, 2025, 2' 04", Japan
Under The Wave off Little Dragon, Luo Jian, 2025, 14' 25", United Kingdom
We will be who we are, Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda, 2025, 16', Sierra Leone
Голишар (Nestling), Georgi Martev, 2026, 10' 56", Bulgaria
הצל שלי ואנ (My Shadow and Me), Yali Herbet, 2025, 3' 52", Israel
மாப்பிள்ளை (The Groom), Padakathai Illaka Collective, 2026, 16' 50", Germany, India
三只海豹 (Three Seals), Dou Dou, 2025, 8' 24", Brazil, China, Germany
时代在召唤 (The Times Are Calling), Chutian Shu, 2026, 4' 21", China
西藏游客 (Tourist to Tibet), Wu Han, 2025, 8' 24", China
鳥，飛行中 (In the Valley), Han Loong Lim, 2025, 21' 13", Malaysia
MuVi-Preis / MuVi Award
All Glock No Cock, Olga Ringleb, Paula Kiermaier, 2025, 3' 23", Germany
Erst zahlen, dann malen!, DJ Babyoil, 2026, 4' 04", Germany
Everybody (A 21 Years Later Video Edit), Stefan Lampadius, 2026, 6' 14", Germany
Floating, Nikolas Müller, 2025, 5' 12", Germany
IDLU, Lars Zimmermann, Paulina Wetzel, 2026, 3' 19", Germany
No Lube So Rude, Matt Lambert, 2026, 5' 02", Germany
No More Roses, Graw Böckler, 2025, 3' 53", Germany
Rentrer à la maison (Returning Home), Timo Schierhorn, Uwe, 2026, 3' 35", Germany
Rote Süden, Max Hilsamer, 2026, 3' 25", Germany
Sailing Away, Christina Romano, 2026, 2' 07", Germany
The Way Through The Woods, Toby Cornish, 2025, 2' 30", Germany
©International Competition
Fifty films from 36 countries were selected for the International Competition, the largest and oldest section in Oberhausen, 28 of which will be shown as world premieres. They range from abstract experimental to classic feature films. A theme that runs through many of the films is migration and exile – from the decade-long struggle of an immigrant family to obtain US citizenship to the virtual return of a young refugee from Ukraine to his home.
The world's oldest short film competition is a forum for experiments, unusual content and formats, and the place for cinematic discoveries, regardless of genre and production country. Every year, filmmakers from over 40 countries present themselves here. Only international festival premieres are admitted to this competition. The professional audience researches new films here, and a premiere shown in this competition is often a springboard for selection at other festivals - not least for the Oscar.
Filmmakers from all over the world are invited to present their work in person. The International Short Film Festival Oberhausen appoints its own selection committee and juries for this competition, in which the traditional Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen is awarded.
Further Links
Submission
Reglement (Download-PDF)
Members of the jury (since 2009)
Competition films 2026
20 Hz – 384,400 km, Graham Kelly, 2026, 10' 33", Belgium, United Kingdom, Netherlands
5-6-7-8, Emilio Bianchic, 2025, 9' 07", Uruguay, Mexico
A Flower Falling Back Into the Earth, Rajee Samarasinghe, 2025, 7' 39", Sri Lanka
an open field, Teboho Edkins, 2025, 38' 06", South Africa, France, Germany
August och kriget (August and the War), Leandro Netzell Cerón, Samori Tovatt, 2026, 14' 24", Sweden
Autobiography of My Diabetes, Matthew Lancit, 2025, 30' 39", France, Canada
Batata Frita na Chuva (French Fries in the Rain), Ninah Nogino, 2025, 09' 47", Brazil
Custom Trailer Series: Austin Powers, Kelly Egan, 2025, 04' 34", Canada
Das Höhenphänomen (Call of the Void), Angelika Reitzer, 2025, 25' 44", Austria
Daylight, Anna Heisterkamp, 2025, 21' 53", Ireland, USA
Dogs and Dust, Ece Era, 2025, 14' 49", Belgium, Turkey
El Salto (The Fall), Jerónimo Rincón Diaz, 2025, 12' 02", Colombia
Em Busca de S (In Search of S.), Gustavo de Mattos Jahn, 2025, 17' 17", Brazil, Germany, France
Escape Will Get You Tonight, Noa Simhayof Shahaf, 2025, 14' 46", Israel
Green Noise, Ewa Einhorn, Jeuno Kim, 2026, 8' 30", Sweden
Hulum, Miguel Miceli, 2025, 22' 15", France
Jiu Jiu (Chirp Chirp), Wenting Song, 2026, 7' 35", China, Cambodia
La Pegaso, María Martos, 2025, 18' 39", Spain
Laulu ei kuole (Song Will Not Die), Mox Mäkelä, 2026, 9' 25", Finland
Leaks in the Lines, Adebukola Bodunrin, 2025, 04' 32", Canada, USA
Les femmes en feu (Women on fire), Alina Titorenko, 2025, 20' 17", France
Let Me Circle Around You, Aiya Akilzhanova, 2025, 11' 58", Belgium, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Hungary
Letters from home, Maryam Zuhuri, 2025, 6' 58", Austria
Liminal Beings, Sonja Nilsson, 2026, 18' 49", Sweden
Maanalainen lintu (An Underground Bird), Eero Tammi, 2026, 10' 44", Finland
Memórias Encontradas Numa Banheira (Memoirs Found in a Bathtub), Leonardo Pirondi, 2025, 4' 19", Brazil, Portugal
Opera, Igor Zelić, 2026, 19' 31", Croatia
Parkas. Po pamokų (After Classes), Simona Jurkuvėnaitė, 2025, 14' 16", Lithuania
Prayer for All Simple Things, Diego Rojas, 2026, 14' 18", Canada
Prej 6-ve në 5 (From 6 to 5), Erlisë Beqiri, 2026, 9' 47", Kosovo
Qui a tué Narin G****? (Who Killed Narin G****?), Ayçe Kartal, 2025, 4' 42", France
Secretos a voces (Open Secrets), Gorka Carcedo Labayen, 2026, 4' 25", Spain
Slow Dissolve, Library Stack, Andreas Bunte, 2026, 27' 15", Germany, USA
TEÊMBA! (FLOW!), Kagoma Ya Twahirwa, 2025, 22' 15", Rwanda
The Day's Mother, the Night's End, Anna Zalevskaya, 2025, 5' 52", USA
The Walnut of Knowledge, Niyaz Saghari, 2025, 27', Iran, United Kingdom
Töst, Nela Gluhak, 2025, 2' 32", Croatia
Tristesse, Yuri Muraoka, 2026, 11' 14", Japan
wolno, szybko, wolno (slow, fast, slow), Jagoda Czarnek, 2025, 1' 02", Poland
žļurga (Slush), Aivars Šaicāns, Jēkabs Okonovs, 2026, 19' 59", Latvia
Відкритий світ (Homecoming), Roman Khimei, Yarema Malashchuk, 2026, 19' 08", Ukraine
Я не зникаю (Self-Preserving Nudity), Nelly Shylova, 2025, 7' 03", Ukraine, Ireland
تُرَى (You are seen), Zakaria Dinia, 2025, 9' 44", Morocco
ചായപ്പൊടി (tea powder), Bhavya Karthikeyan, 2026, 23' 56", India
แสม (Habitare), Tanatat Khuttapan, 2025, 29' 55", Thailand
အတိုးဆုံးလေညှင်း (A Gentle Breeze), Lin Htet Aung, 2026, 23' 54", Myanmar
啤酒的滋味 (A Taste of Beer), Xie Li, 2025, 5' 30", China
我在去找你的路上 (I'm on the Way to You), Yung Shiuan Yang, 2026, 10' 27", Taiwan
記憶座標 (Map of Traces), Chan Hau Chun, 2025, 29' 27", Hong Kong
黑洞洞 (Dark Channel), Yu Zhe, 2025, 11' 35", China
The selection committee
Carsten Aschmann
Madeleine Bernstorff
Masayo Kajimura
Simon Petri-Lukács
Michel Wagenschütz
Felix Mende
Alex Gerbaulet
The Jury of the International Competition 2026
Angela Summereder, Austria
Mario Kozina, Croatia
Mariángela Martínez Restrepo, Argentina
Deimantas Narkevičius, Lithuania
Weronika Szyma-Chahed, Poland
The Jury of the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia
Faris Alrjoob
Angelika Lepper
Danila Lipatov
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Sprenger
The International Critics' Jury (FIPRESCI)
Fabian Tietke
Meena Madhukar Karnik
Amirata Joolaee
The Ecumenical Jury of the International Competition
Rinke Dellebeke van Hell
Daniel Hercenberger
Iva Folajtárová
Former contributions
Among the international contributions were works by: Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Santiago Álvarez, Lindsay Anderson, Roy Andersson, Kenneth Anger, Andrea Arnold, Yael Bartana, Neil Beloufa, Jürgen Böttcher, Walerian Borowczyk, Stan Brakhage, Vera Chytilová, Jem Cohen, Terence Davies, Khavn De La Cruz, Valie Export, Milos Forman, Robert Frank, Karpo Godina, James Herbert, Takashi Ito, Joris Ivens, Ken Jacobs, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Isaac Julien, Miranda July, William Kentridge, Jan Lenica, George Lucas, Dusan Makavejev, Jonas Mekas, Mike Mills, Kornel Mundruczo, Robert Nelson, Yoko Ono, Adina Pintilie, Roman Polanski, Laure Prouvost, Alain Resnais, Pipilotti Rist, Martin Scorsese, Cate Shortland, John Smith, Michael Snow, Alexander Sokurov, Jan Svankmajer, Eva Stefani, István Szabó, Matsumoto Toshio, François Truffaut, Gus Van Sant, Agnès Varda, Bill Viola, Apitchatpong Weerasethakul, Jia Zhang-Ke, Zelimir Zilinik
Contact
Katharina Schröder
schroeder(at)kurzfilmtage.de
©German Competition
Seventeen films were selected for the German Competition, twelve of which will be screened as world premieres. Around 1,200 submissions were previewed. Here, migration is not only the subject of many productions; more than half of the filmmakers in this competition come from international background and look at the life of migrants in Germany today from very different perspectives
With surprising diversity, topicality and a critical eye, Germany's oldest short film competition impresses its audience anew every year. Innovative short films by established filmmakers and newly discovered talents, produced in Germany but with themes from all over the world, compete here. The German Competition gathers independent artistic positions of all genres and is appreciated especially by international audiences as a showcase of German short film. A premiere shown here is noticed attentively and is often a door opener for other festivals.
Further Links
Submission
Regulations (Download-PDF)
All members of the jury since 2009
Competition films 2026
Audry Lornacle or 14 Days in DJ's House, Dagie Brundert, 2025, 8' 16", Germany
Berlin, Europacity, Leonard Geisler, 2025, 13' 39", Germany
Catacombs, Shehab Fatoum, 2026, 29', Germany
Cold Call, Stefanie Schroeder, 2025, 16', Germany
Dressing Up Together, Elly Jarvis, Lilli Strakerjahn, Célia Caroubi, 2025, 39' 44", Austria, France, Germany
Ein Meter Neunzig (One Meter Ninety), Gregor Bartsch, 2026, 30', Germany
Ein neues Wort (A New Word), Cana Bilir-Meier, 2025, 24' 56", Germany
Forming en Route, James Edmonds, Petra Graf, 2026, 35', Germany
Holz! (The Story of Wood), Rainer Knepperges, 2025, 2' 44", Germany
How Do You Spell This Word?, Yulia Lokshina, 2026, 26' 10", Germany
Je croyais que la vie était un poème (I Thought Life Was a Poem), Felix Herrmann, 2026, 11' 35", Germany
Knockout Dreams, Andreas Birkenheier, 2026, 26' 59", Germany
Liquor, Yi-Chen Huang, 2025, 4' 37", Germany
Movchat' Ptakhy (The Birds Are Silent), Leo Dzhyshyashvili, 2025, 7' 47", Ukraine, Germany
Only Making Out, Marlon Weber, 2025, 15' 45", Germany
POLLY POCKET, Mariola Brillowska, 2026, 4' 40", Germany
Until It's Hard To Tell, Ceren Oykut, 2025, 5' 03", Germany
The selection committee
Madeleine Bernstorff
Carsten Spicher
Jonathan Guggenberger
Hilde Hoffmann
Michel Wagenschütz
Neriman Bayram
The jury of the German Competition 2026
Mikosch Horn, Curator, Nuremberg
Ebba Jahn, Filmmaker, Berlin
Eva Könnemann, Filmmaker, Berlin
Former contributions
Among the German contributions were works by: Jürgen Böttcher, Detlev Buck, Phil Collins, Hellmuth Costard, Doris Dörrie, Andreas Dresen, Valie Export, Harun Farocki, Jeanne Faust, Werner Herzog, Romuald Karmakar, Alexander Kluge, Volker Koepp, Korpys/Löffler, Jan Krüger, Matthias Müller, Bjørn Melhus, Werner Nekes, Peter Schamoni, Ulrich Schamoni, Angela Schanelec, Christoph Schlingensief, Rudolf Thome, Adolf Winkelmann und Sönke Wortmann
Contact
Carsten Spicher
spicher(at)kurzfilmtage.de
©NRW Competition
More than 260 productions from North Rhine-Westphalia were submitted for this competition, nine films were selected. With films from Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Wuppertal or Mülheim/Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia as a whole is making its mark as a major film production hub. Three of the works come from the Cologne Academy of Media Arts. Some films are set in North Rhine-Westphalia, but most take you to other countries, covering a wide range of themes.
In the youngest competition at Oberhausen, the filmmakers of the region meet their audience. The varied programme presents independent productions as well as the most interesting student films of the current year. Here, regulars of the Festival meet new talents still to be discovered - a mixture highly appreciated by both regional and professional audiences
North Rhine-Westphalia is not only home to the Oberhausen Festival but also one of the most important and creative film production locations in Germany. And the NRW competition, as diverse in scope as North Rhine-Westphalia as a film location, is open to all genres, styles and themes.
The short films submitted here have a threefold chance of being shown at the Festival because, in addition to the NRW Competition, they can also qualify for the German or International Competition. The films are selected by an independent committee.
Further Links
Submission
Regulations (Download PDF)
All members of the jury since 2009
Competition films 2026
Beneath the Night, Maximilian Karakatsanis, 2026, 13' 33", Germany
Borderland, Gavois Klöfkorn, 2025, 11' 02", Germany
Eine Tochter und zehn Söhne (A Daughter and Ten Sons), Paula Milena Weise, Finn Ole Weigt, 2026, 20' 30", Germany
Garden of Edie, Miri Klischat, 2026, 20', Germany
Hope Road, Susann Maria Hempel, 2025, 12' 30", Germany
Kamogawa, Rainer Komers, 2025, 16' 47", Germany
Kenger, Irfan Akcadag, 2026, 14' 59", Germany
KOMMUNIST KAR KOMMANDOS, Markus Mischkowski, Christos Dassios, 2026, 3' 30", Germany
Ku Yendza (Trajectories), Simon Rittmeier, 2026, 17', France, Germany
The selection committee
Madeleine Bernstorff
Carsten Spicher
Jonathan Guggenberger
Hilde Hoffmann
Michel Wagenschütz
Neriman Bayram
The jury of the NRW Competition 2026
Oliver Flothkötter, curator, Essen
Lili Hartwig, curator, Hamburg
Brigitte Strubel-Mattes, Kuratorin, Wiesbaden
All members of the jury since 2009
Contact
Carsten Spicher
spicher(at)kurzfilmtage.de
©Children's and Youth Film Competition
In this section, Oberhausen will present 34 films from 21 countries this year, screened by age groups starting with three and selected from around 800 international submissions. Productions from Latin America are particularly well-represented this year. The films cover a spectrum from fantastic animations for very young audiences to images of children’s lives in Colombia, Nepal or Peru, to breaking out of traditional structures or a teenage pregnancy in the programme for kids age 16 and over.
The Children's and Youth Film Competition was established in 1978 and is one of the most popular sections of our Festival. It not only opens up unusual perspectives on the world to young viewers. Whether animation or documentary, experimental or feature film, there are no limits to the variety of cinematic forms.
Every year, an independent commission selects around 45 films and videos from more than 25 countries from the submissions for the German and International Competition and programmes them for the various age groups, starting from the age of three. The filmmakers* are invited to Oberhausen to present their films in person and to discuss them with the audience - an event that regularly meets with much applause on both sides.
The prizes are awarded by juries of children and young people. In addition, a jury of experts nominates a film for the ECFA Short Film Award which was initiated by Oberhausen. The children's and youth film competition is accompanied by a series of film education projects for children, young people and educators.
Further Links
Submission
Regulations (Download-PDF)
Film education
All members of the jury since 2017
Competition films 2026
América, Javier Arias-Stella, 2025, 15' 33", Peru
Astral, Judith Ordonneau, 2025, 3' 42", Switzerland
Attock, Awais Gohar, 2025, 15' 47", Pakistan
Au gré de l'iode (To the rhythm of the Sea), Léa Deprez, Pierre-Luis Bordes, Elliot Desmarets, Jeanne Finet, 2025, 7' 40", France
BEI KUN ZHU DE GOU (A Trapped Dog), Xinying Lao, 2025, 12' 12", USA
daylight, Andrea Walter, 2025, 14' 49", USA
Des Gens Vivent Ici (People Live Here), Gabrielle Côté, 2025, 12' 12", Canada
dipolar bipolar, Quankai Li, 2025, 8' 50", Japan
El Mandado (The Favour), Ingrid Paola Bonilla Rodriguez, 2025, 19' 54", Colombia
El Paraíso de Ainara (Ainara's Paradise), Esther Niemeier, Laura Espinel, 2025, 14' 05", Colombia, Germany
Ik Zou Je Graag Zien (I'd Love To See You), Sébastien Segers, Zaïde Bil, Petronella Van der Hallen, 2025, 11' 44", Belgium
Ilhuícatl Nextli (Heavenly Dream), José Ángel Tomasis Briseño, 2025, 7' 45", Mexico
Jésus Marie Joseph (Jésus Marie and Joseph), Patxi Meerman, 2025, 3' 27", France
Just Jools, Ezra Verbist, 2025, 16' 40", Belgium
Kosmogonia, Karolina Chabiert, 2025, 15' 33", France
La Mort Du Poisson (The Death of the Fish), Eva Lusbaronian, 2025, 13' 50", France
LE JOUR OÙ J'AI LÉCHÉ UN CAILLOU (THE DAY I LICKED A PEBBLE), Flavie Eliézer, Chloé Bernuchon, Goli Atefi, Maud Kolasa, Nathan Jauze, Marie Pijollet, 2025, 6' 35", France
Niña Chilapa (Chilapa Girl), Juana Lotero López, 2025, 17', Colombia
Our Kingdom, Chris Ross, 2025, 8' 38", United Kingdom
Piccolo Piccolo, Marta Gennari, 2025, 8' 30", France, Switzerland
Poisson Nuage (Cloud Fish), Noe Garcia, 2025, 5' 47", France, Belgium
Precious Fantasy, Nino Bouhnik, 2025, 13' 16", France
Taste of Water, Aayan Pariyar, 2025, 12' 48", Nepal
The observation, Gurgen Aloian, 2025, 4' 07", Armenia
TOKERUBON (Floating lanterns), Shiori Watanabe, 2025, 2' 04", Japan
Under The Wave off Little Dragon, Luo Jian, 2025, 14' 25", United Kingdom
We will be who we are, Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda, 2025, 16', Sierra Leone
Голишар (Nestling), Georgi Martev, 2026, 10' 56", Bulgaria
הצל שלי ואנ (My Shadow and Me), Yali Herbet, 2025, 3' 52", Israel
மாப்பிள்ளை (The Groom), Padakathai Illaka Collective, 2026, 16' 50", Germany, India
三只海豹 (Three Seals), Dou Dou, 2025, 8' 24", Brazil, China, Germany
时代在召唤 (The Times Are Calling), Chutian Shu, 2026, 4' 21", China
西藏游客 (Tourist to Tibet), Wu Han, 2025, 8' 24", China
鳥，飛行中 (In the Valley), Han Loong Lim, 2025, 21' 13", Malaysia
The selection committee
Franziska Ferdinand
Einar Fehrholz
Stefanie Schlüter
Jens Schneiderheinze
Konrad Neiße
The Children's jury of the Children's and Youth Film Competition
Adam Breitkopf
Tina Soso Khalaf
Katharina Abdullah
Jodie Alkassab
Nour Yahya
The Youth jury of the Children's and Youth Film Competition
Willi Hüsken
Marc Loginow
Linus Bellinghausen
Eriselda Gjerga
Jenina Sothilingam
The ECFA jury
Marija Georgiev, Kroatien
Daniel Lundquist, Schweden
Julia Fleißig, Deutschland
The Ecumenical Jury
Balázs Szövényi-Lux, Hungary
Irina Grassmann, Germany
Lars Karmark Obel, Denmark
Contact
Konrad Neiße
kiju@kurzfilmtage.de
©MuVi Award
This year, Oberhausen has selected eleven music videos as candidates for the MuVi Award from over 200 submissions. Documentary music videos are unusually well-represented with three music videos.
All nominated clips will be available for online viewing and to vote for the MuVi Audience Award from 2 April on www.muvipreis.de. The MuVi Award is supported by 3sat, Byte FM, kultur.west, Kaput – Magazin für Insolvenz & Pop, netpointmedia.
With the MuVi Award for the best German music video, Oberhausen launched the world's first film festival prize for music videos in 1999. Over the years, the MuVi Award has become a meeting place and forum for filmmakers, the trade press and the short film scene - a place to make discoveries and be discovered. Above all, it has developed into a real audience favourite. Here the Festival pleads for the extraordinary visual form as well. Only current music videos whose director or production is based in Germany are nominated.
An independent commission will select ten to twelve candidates from the submissions, who will be invited and screened at the festival. An international MuVi jury will award the prize winners. In addition, an audience award will be presented, which will be determined by voting on the Internet.
Further Links
Submission
Regulations
MuVi 14+
after youtube
A selection of the jury members since 1999
Competition films 2026
All Glock No Cock, Olga Ringleb, Paula Kiermaier, 2025, 3' 23", Germany
Erst zahlen, dann malen!, DJ Babyoil, 2026, 4' 04", Germany
Everybody (A 21 Years Later Video Edit), Stefan Lampadius, 2026, 6' 14", Germany
Floating, Nikolas Müller, 2025, 5' 12", Germany
IDLU, Lars Zimmermann, Paulina Wetzel, 2026, 3' 19", Germany
No Lube So Rude, Matt Lambert, 2026, 5' 02", Germany
No More Roses, Graw Böckler, 2025, 3' 53", Germany
Rentrer à la maison (Returning Home), Timo Schierhorn, Uwe, 2026, 3' 35", Germany
Rote Süden, Max Hilsamer, 2026, 3' 25", Germany
Sailing Away, Christina Romano, 2026, 2' 07", Germany
The Way Through The Woods, Toby Cornish, 2025, 2' 30", Germany
The selection commitee
Hans-Christian Grimm
Myriam Brüger
Jessica Manstetten
The jury of the MuVi Award 2026
Jim Avignon, Berlin
Nela Gluhak, Zagreb
Tintin Patrone, Hamburg
Contact
Jessica Manstetten
muvi(at)kurzfilmtage.de