72nd International Short Film Festival Oberhausen – Call for Entry 2026

By Asian Film Festival on August 22, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Dear Asian filmmakers, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen (Germany) is accepting short films until January 19, 2026.

About the festival:
The International Short Film Festival Oberhausen has been moving in this field of tension for over 60 years; it is a catalyst and showcase for current developments, a forum for often controversial discussions, a discoverer of new trends and talents and, last but not least, one of the most important short film institutions worldwide. Oberhausen is the oldest short film festival in the world and the largest festival in North Rhine-Westphalia, with around 7,000 films submitted each year, approximately 500 films in the festival programme and over 1,100 accredited professional visitors annually.

Note: This article will not cover information about the MuVi Competition (Music Videos) since is only for German productions. To know more please visit: https://www.kurzfilmtage.de/en

International Competition
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.

German Competition
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. In addition, some of the entries submitted here also take part in the International Competition.

NRW Competition
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.

International Children’s and Youth Film Competition
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.

General Rules for all categories:
– Films must have been completed after January 1st, 2025.
– Submissions must be made via the Oberhausen’s website.
– Submissions cannot be withdrawn from the competition once the submitter has confirmed their participation in writing.
– The submission of the first five works by one submitter is free of charge. From the sixth submission onwards, a handling fee of 20 euros per film will be charged. This applies to all competitions.
– Admitted screening formats are 35 mm, 16 mm, Super 8 and DCP (for on-site screenings).