Like many other festivals, we have been faced with the difficult decision in recent weeks to cancel, postpone or rethink our festival due to the restrictions to contain the coronavirus. We have decided to rethink it: The 17th edition of Vienna Shorts will thus continue to take place from 28 May to 2 June 2020, but not in the cinemas in Vienna’s city centre, but online.

The flair, the cinematic experience and last but not least the encounters on location can not be replaced online. ”But the works of the filmmakers, the trust they have placed in the festival by submitting their works, and not least the work of the entire festival team to date deserve a platform that we want to give them again this year––not as planned, but still worthy,” explain festival directors Doris Bauer and Daniel Ebner.

Unfortunately, our plans and the health of the audience, the industry, the filmmakers and the team would not have been compatible with each other under any circumstances––no matter what the lockdown and assembly regulations are until the end of May. Accordingly, with curiosity and courage (sic!), we are now entering new territory together with you, and from now on we will devote ourselves entirely to the delightful challenge of transferring the film experience into the online world.

We plan to present all competitions (about 100 films in four categories) as well as selected additional film and supporting programs on a new streaming platform, which is currently being developed in cooperation with several international festivals. All further information on the Vienna Shorts – Online Edition will follow in the coming weeks.

News 1.4.2020