Linz International Short Film Festival,

FESTIVAL VISION: “The cultural dialogue in all its aspects with emphasis on diversity is our main ambition to create solidarity in society.” The 2022 festival is also taking a hybrid approach, attempting to hold both an online and a physical event. Linz ISFF presents films in three competition sections as well as in Special Programs. Submitted films can cover any topic: Fiction- international short fiction films max 30 minutes Documentary- international short documentary films max 40 minutes Animation - international short animations max 20 minutes ***Make sure you submit your film in the correct category to take advantage of the student, Austrian, Middle Eastern, and African film discounts! Each film can only be submitted in ONE category. In order to provide more opportunities for Middle Eastern & African filmmakers to present their work due to their limited access to the mainstream, and to promote local cinema, the Linz ISFF does not charge a fee for Middle Eastern & African films, and also for AUSTRIAN films. A discount is also available for student films.*** The LINZ INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL was founded in 2018 with the aim of supporting young, talented filmmakers in their qualitative work and giving them the opportunity to present their creations in a professional setting. The thematic focus is on diversity and “independent films” with strong characters and plots, virtuoso creative and entertaining narratives. With hundreds of independent short films on 5 festival days, the festival throws a spotlight from the screens of Linz cinemas, beyond the borders of Europe, into the wide world and underlines the lively interest of the international short film scene for the festival as well the location of Linz. The focused and multifaceted supporting program is enhanced by a diverse range of discussions, night-lines, and workshops for filmmakers and other guests. With the help of numerous, motivated film enthusiasts and the CLOSEFILM Association, the festival founders Parisa Ghasemi & Ashkan Nematian managed the first festival edition 2018, which immediately met with great approval. 800 submissions for the first edition, from which 114 favourites from around 40 countries were selected, speak for themselves and for the diversity of the festival. In 2019 we received around 800 submissions from 75 different nations, and 2020 we pleased more than 3400 submissions from 121 countries for our online edition of the festival, and 2021 we have received 1050 films. From the very beginning, the Linz ISFF has made an important contribution to the Linz cultural scene, creating a productive environment for local artists and filmmakers as well as space for collaborative artistic exchange. In the long term, the festival aims to support filmmakers in building up an international network. . . . . . We Invite films from countries such as Latvia, Moldova, Slovakia and eastern Asian Countries like Malaysia, Thailand, or Southern American like Chile, Colombia or Bolivia to submit to Linz ISFF 2022.