Press Release
Linz, September 2024
7th Edition of the Linz International Short Film Festival: A Global Window to Diversity
The Linz International Short Film Festival (Linz ISFF) returns for its seventh edition from October 9 to 12, 2024. With a broad range of narrative, documentary, and animated short films, the festival once again celebrates global cinematic diversity. Events will take place at City-Kino Linz and the University of Arts Linz. All short film screenings will be held in the main hall of the City-Kino. The University of Arts Linz, centrally located at the main square, will serve as the primary gathering spot where film enthusiasts can participate in various ancillary programs. A special highlight will be the 2nd Queer-Feminist Day on October 10, organized in collaboration with the Women’s Office of the City of Linz. The Mahsa Zhina Amini Award will be presented again this year. The award supports a female director with her next film project.
An international expert jury will select the best films in categories such as Best Short Fiction Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Animated Short Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Editing, Best Sound, as well as Best Austrian and Best Queer-Feminist Film.
Festival Vision
“Our core mission is to foster cultural dialogue in all its facets, with a particular focus on diversity to promote solidarity in society,” emphasize festival founders Parisa Ghasemi and Ashkan Nematian. “As intersectional feminists, we believe that art and culture are powerful tools for resistance and change. We firmly believe that every film, every story, and every creative voice we present here contributes to creating a more just and solidaristic world. Our festival stands for the diversity of perspectives, the blending of ideas, and respectful exchange—essential elements for building bridges between people often separated by societal boundaries. Of the 75 selected films, 53% are by women and non-binary individuals, and 47% are by men. We are convinced that the future is female. It is time for female and non-binary voices not only to be heard but to actively shape the world. Another highlight is the 2nd Queer & Feminist Day on October 10, organized in collaboration with the Women’s Office of the City of Linz. On this day, the Mahsa Zhina Amini Award will be presented at the University of Arts Linz. The award supports a female director with her next film project.”
Film World Map 2024
The Film World Map 2024 of submissions to Linz ISFF impressively showcases the festival’s global reach: 2,750 submissions from 109 countries, with 75 selected short films, almost all of which will celebrate Austrian, world, or international premieres. 11 films will have their world premiere, 43 their Austrian premiere, 7 their European premiere, 5 their international premiere, and 6 their Upper Austrian premiere. The budgets of the films range from €250 to €700,000, highlighting the diversity and significance of creative voices. The program includes 22 animated films, 13 documentaries, and 38 short fiction films, including 30 student films and 20 debut films, reflecting Linz ISFF’s ambition to support young talents.
The Linz ISFF Talent Academy
Linz ISFF not only supports talents through the presentation of their films and the invitation of young creatives to the festival but also launched its own Talent Academy three years ago, which supports emerging filmmakers on their creative journey. With the third edition of the Academy, the festival expanded its offerings to include two new programs: the Short PRO LAB and the First Feature LAB. Last year, the Linz International Short Film Festival was once again represented at the film market of the Cannes Film Festival. A dedicated stand in the Short Film Corner at the Festival Palace not only increased the festival’s visibility on one of the most prestigious stages in the film world but also provided the Talent Academy filmmakers with an exclusive trip to Cannes. During their stay, participants took part in a residency that offered intensive workshops and valuable insights into the film industry. The experiences gathered during the Cannes trip and the workshops are now directly integrated into the festival’s pitch session in Linz, where talents have the unique opportunity to present their projects developed during the mentoring program and Cannes trip to a broad audience and a jury, with a chance to win a co-production fund of €2,000 to advance their projects.
Program Overview: Opening and Awards Ceremony
The festival kicks off daily at 10:00 AM with educational and industry events at the University of Arts Linz. Film screenings will be held at the City-KinoLinz. In the evenings, all will return to the University of Arts Linz, where panel discussions, a buffet, and drinks will be offered. The day concludes with a party attended by filmmakers and jury members.
The festival begins on Wednesday, October 9, with a reception from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at the University of Arts Linz, followed by the opening ceremony at 3:00 PM at the City-Kino Linz. Film screenings, panel discussions, and Nightline events with DJs will follow at the Festival Center of the University of Arts Linz. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 12, at 8:15 PM in the main hall of the City-Kino. This will be followed by Nightline events with DJs at the Festival Center of the University of Arts Linz. The detailed festival program will be released in mid-September.
Festival Passes
Festival passes and day tickets are available now until mid-September with a 30% discount at https://kupfticket.com/events/linz-international-short-film-festival-2024. Festival passes can also be purchased on-site during the festival.
Festival Venues
City-Kino Linz (Film Screenings): Graben 30, 4020 Linz, Austria
University of Arts Linz (Festival Center and Ancillary Events): Hauptplatz 8, 4020 Linz, Austria
Film Selection
Austria – In Their Dreams All Jellyfish Are Wet – Marie Luise Lehner
Austria – The Robbers – Isa Schieche
Austria – Kinderfilm – Adrian Jonas Haim, Robin Klengel, Michael Stumpf
Austria – Into the Wild Land – Emil Kaschka
Austria – Getty Abortions (German Version) – Franzis Kabisch
Austria – Shitty Liking – Linua Land
Austria – Internet Gaga – Reinhold Bidner
Austria – When I Woke Up Today, I Didn’t Know What Day It Was. I Guess It’s Summer – J.S. Schönbauer
Austria – Ode to Masturbation – Claudia Virginia Dimoiu
Austria – Vielleicht Bin Ich Morgen Wieder Verloren – Stephanie Bergwinkl
Bahrain – Where Have You Been – Mohammad Gotta
Brazil – Unfamiliar Skin – Gustavo Milan
Bulgaria – Everything Tastes Strange Today – Kristina Spassovska
Chile – The Dreamed Life – Aurelio Lamas Germain, Alvaro Rozas Leiva
China – Dodo – Yi Luo
China – A Tortoise’s Year of Fate – Yi Xiong
Colombia – La Perra – Carla Melo Gampert
Colombia – Degenere – Sara Asprilla Palomino
Colombia – Rage – Andrés Felipe Ángel
Côte d’Ivoire – DÉJÀ NU – Rolf Hellat
Croatia – The Family Portrait – Lea Vidakovic
Croatia – The Stranger – Milorad Milatović
Cyprus – Spiros Beach – Antonis Pouliasis
Cyprus – Buffer Zone – Savvas Stavrou
Czech Republic – Lights – Jitka Nemikinsová
Czech Republic – Sea Salt – Leila Basma
Egypt – A Promise To The Sea – Hend Sohail
Egypt – In The Waiting Room – Moatasem Taha
Ethiopia – Hāgarē – Mickies Kiros
Finland – Bright White Light – Henna Välkky, Eesu Lehtola
France – A kind of Testament – Stephen Vuillemin
France – A Good Boy – Paul Vincent de Lestrade
France – Les Chenilles – Michelle Keserwany, Noel Keserwany
France – 8 – Anaïs-Tohé Commaret
France – Sultana’s Reign – Hadi Moussally
France – Prends Chair – Armin Assadipour
France – Les Belles Cicatrices – Raphaël Jouzeau
Germany – The Currency – Sensing 1 Agbogblsohie – Elom 20ce, Musquiqui Chihying, Gregor Kasper
Germany – It’s Just a Whole – Bianca Scali
Germany – δ – Julia Diệp My Feige
Germany – Hooked on Illusions – Laura Isabel Schneider
Germany – Will You Come With Me? – Derya Durmaz
Greece – Honeymoon – Alkis Papastathopoulos
Hongkong – Monsoon Blue – Jay Hiukit Wong, Ellis Kayin Chan
Iceland – Fár – Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter
Indonesia – Accidentally Intentional – Kevin Rahardjo
Indonesia – Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy – Khozy Rizal
Iran – Airless – Roya Parsa
Iran – Kazhal – Ali Azhari
Iran – Can I Hug You? – Elahe Esmaili
Italy – The Lady with Lipstick – Francesca Coppola
Jordan – The Red Sea Makes Me Wanna Cry – Faris Alrjoob
Lebanon – Manity – Hussen Ibraheem
Morocco – Bottles – Yassine EL Idrissi
Netherlands – In The Shadows Of Perfection – Emilė Juodzevičiūtė
New Zealand – Lǎo Lao Lǎo Le – Julie Zhu
Norway – Tits – Eivind Landsvik
Philippines – Cross My Heart and Hope To Die – Sam Manacsa
Poland – Composition of Existing Experiences – Joanna Szlembarska
Poland – Arcadia – Małgorzata Paszko
Poland – Little Boy – Sophie Horry
Poland – Wait for Me in a Dream – Natalia Durszewicz
Poland – Blue – Weronika Szyma
Spain – As Leaves in the Wind – Sofia Luz
Spain – We, Women Survivors – Itxaso Díaz
Switzerland – Fracti – Lavinia Petrache
Turkey – Unknown Continent – Murat Arda Gursoy
Ukraine – Mother – Mariia Felenko
Ukraine – Kharkiv Music Fest Did Happen – Vyacheslav Turyanytsya
United Kingdom – White Ant – Shalini Adnani
United Kingdom – From The Top – Rich Farris
United Kingdom – Praeis – Dovydas Drakšas
United States – The (W)hole – Jiansu Wang
United States – Power Signal – Oscar Boyson
United States – Lemon Tree – Rachel Walden
Image Release & Photo Credits
Image rights may be used in connection with reporting on the festival and the Queer & Feminist Day. Please credit “Closefilm.”
CLOSEFILM FILM AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION
The non-profit association CLOSEfilm, founded in 2018 by Parisa Ghasemi and Ashkan Nematian, is dedicated to promoting art, culture, and film. Since its founding, the Linz ISFF has made a significant contribution to the Linz cultural scene, providing artists and filmmakers with a platform for creative exchange.
Main Sponsors and Supporters
The festival is generously supported by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Public Service, and Sport (BMKÖS), the Cultural Directorate of the State of Upper Austria, the Cultural Directorate of the City of Linz, and the Women’s Office of the City of Linz. Additional supporters include VdFS, WKOÖ Film and Music Industry, and Linz Tourism. Special thanks to the University of Arts Linz, City-Kino Linz, and our media partners DorfTV and Radio FRO.
Contact
E-Mail: cooperation@linzisff.com
Website: www.linzisff.com
CLARA SCHULTES
Contact person for cooperations
Member of the board of Closefilm Film and Culture Association
+43 681 20224419
cooperation@linzisff.com
PARISA GHASEMI
Festival founder and director
Founder Closefilm Film and Culture Association
parisa.ghasemi@linzisff.com
Sujet Design: MARYAM BARADARAN
Film still: Land of Mountains – winning film Linz ISFF 2023
Copyright © Closefilm
