The competition programmes feel the pulse of current global filmmaking, transforming the city into an international short film hub for six days. The best works from all competition categories will be honoured with prizes at the Award Ceremony on Sunday.
Here we present the latest national short films. Once again, the Swiss selection includes numerous premieres, offering plenty of room for discoveries. Join us on Sunday at the Award Ceremony to witness how the jury awards various prizes to the best films of this year’s festival edition.
With the Sparks programmes, we hope to spark a passion for the medium of short film. Featuring highlights from this year’s submissions, Sparks I & II are competition programmes that represent a broad range of current filmmaking. The selection is meant to appeal to multigenerational audiences and inspire discussion. Showcasing a diverse film culture beyond the mainstream and YouTube clips, the programmes offer an ideal introduction to the world of shorts. At the Award Ceremony on Sunday, the youth jury will award the prize for the best film from the Sparks section.
Kurzfilmtage’s annual Swiss Film School Day is a showcase of Switzerland’s six undergraduate degree programmes. Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL), the Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD), the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art – Video/Animation, and the International Academy of Audiovisual Sciences (CISA) present a selection of their recent short films in three sessions followed by film talks led by Filmexplorer. Admission to the Swiss Film School Day is free – a great opportunity to get a first glimpse of Kurzfilmtage!
Iran has been shaped by profound political and social changes, that have had a lasting impact on both domestic and diasporic filmmaking. The Focus: Shifting Grounds – Framing Iran takes this as an occasion to sharpen our awareness of the complexity of a cinema that defies simple explanations. Six programmes bring together historical and contemporary works created in Iran and the diaspora. These range from the imagery of oil to questions of identity and self-determination outside social norms, from myth and reality to diverse forms of resistance and works of the independent film movement Cinema-ye Azad of the 1970s. The films combine documentary, fictional and experimental forms. The focus is not on the country itself, but on how Iran is seen, narrated, and imagined – and how cinema can keep reframing these images.
Some films tell stories, while others tell us about cinema itself. To mark the 30th anniversary of Kurzfilmtage, this Focus is dedicated to the medium itself. Across three programmes, these short films explore filmmaking, its emotional power, and ways of thinking in images. This is our love letter to film and to all it entails – the magic of making, feeling, and thinking cinema. For the Love of Cinema.
What if the future is already here? Gala Hernández López explores the strange worlds where technology, money, and desire meet – from incels and crypto dreams to cryonics, self-optimization, and the possibility of controlling our dreams. Moving between documentary and science fiction, her films reveal how digital fantasies become real desires, markets, and infrastructures, asking whether we still dream of the future, or whether our systems have begun to dream for us.
This section showcases recent short films from Zurich, Switzerland, and around the world screened out of competition. For short film buffs who are unafraid of strange or profound works with cult potential – discover some rare finds from our treasure chest!
This section presents programmes on topics that our curators are passionate about or that are simply fun. From historical works calling for social cohesion or exploring how we deal with memory to perspectives on femininity and shorts that let us experience moments of cringe: there’s a lot to discover in our Special Programmes.
Stories for children aged 6+ kindle curiosity, empathy, and creativity, eliciting a sense of wonder. And our selection of serious, amusing, and exciting shorts for kids aged 9+ inspires discussion, offering families a great introduction to the universe of short films. In collaboration with the Magic Lantern, Kurzfilmtage offers a unique filmgoing experience for young viewers and their families.
Whether with our festive Opening, a moving Award Ceremony, or the Best of programmes on Sunday – we open and close Kurzfilmtage in style. Together with filmmakers, audiences, and partners, we celebrate the art of short film, showing that shorts are made for the big screen.
From the cinema to the dance floor: Kurzfilmtage invites you to shake a leg to live bands and DJs. Concerts and parties – including our legendary closing party – round off the festival experience. Kraftfeld has once again compiled a delicious programme for night owls. Come, listen, dance!
Kurzfilmtage’s Industry Events consist of the Swiss Film School Day, the Industry Lab, and the Creators’ Room. They offer film professionals an opportunity for networking and for discussing current issues, creative methods, and aesthetic trends.
Every image has a frame. And each frame determines what is visible and what remains out of sight. This applies to news reporting as much as to cinema. How Iran is framed, which stories are told, and what becomes visible depends on historical and political contexts.
Iran has been shaped by profound political and social changes. Over the course of a century, the country has experienced two revolutions: the Constitutional Revolution of 1905–06 and the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The empowerment of social groups defined these movements as much as the repeated influence exerted by imperial and ideological forces. The country’s political situation and perceptions of Iran have had a lasting impact on both domestic and diasporic filmmaking.
At least since the spring of 2026, the world’s attention has once again turned towards Iran, as war is shaking the country to its foundations. Our Focus programme Shifting Grounds – Framing Iran takes this as an occasion to challenge Eurocentric views of the country and to sharpen our awareness of the complexity of Iranian cinema and society – a complexity that defies simple explanations.
This Focus on Iranian cinema emerged from a collaboration between two non-Iranians and one Iranian curator. We conceive of «Iranian cinema» not as a fixed category, but rather as a perspective shaped by a range of attributions, contexts, and experiences. Questions about production conditions, the diaspora, and national identity intersect with interrogations of Western views and narrative patterns. What is perceived as Iranian cinema emerges from the interplay of festival practices, audience expectations, and cinematic self-representation. These diverse perspectives and their connections served as the starting point for this collaborative curation.
Six programmes bring together historical and contemporary works created in Iran and the diaspora, combining various documentary, fictional, and experimental forms. They range from the imagery of oil to issues of identity and self-determination outside social norms, from myth and reality to diverse forms of resistance. Works from the independent Cinema-ye Azad film movement of the 1970s are also represented. Many of the films navigate the space between inside and outside – between national borders, real walls, and fictional spaces, as well as the invisible borders in people’s minds.
The focus is not on the country itself, but on how Iran is seen, narrated, and imagined – and how cinema can keep reframing these images.
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur is Switzerland’s major short film festival. For six days every November, we transform the city into a dynamic short film hub.
Kurzfilmtage offers discoveries for everyone: our thoughtfully compiled thematic programmes address current events or topics that our curators are passionate about. The competition programmes showcase the latest filmmaking from around the globe, while installations, performances, and other specials highlight the diversity of audiovisual forms. And a programme of special events including concerts, readings, and more enhance the festival experience.
The programme of the 30th Kurzfilmtage will be released on 14 October 2026.
A short film is not just a shorter film. Shorts are a distinct art form, which we showcase at our annual festival.
Short films come in all shapes and genres, and how long – or short – they are, varies quite a bit. Simpler production processes allow filmmakers to capture the zeitgeist and quickly respond to trends. Shorts can be entertaining or surprising, they can analyse society, take a political stance, or offer glimpses of worlds unknown to us.
We compile our short films into thematic programmes or specific sections, such as our competitions, paying close attention to the selection and sequence of films in each programme. All you need to enjoy short films is an open mind for new discoveries and surprises.
Competitions
Recent short films from around the world. The best shorts will be presented with awards on Sunday evening.
Hors Concours
Recent short films from Zurich, Switzerland, and around the world screened out of competition.
Focus
Films that explore a region, a social phenomenon, or an artistic trend.
Person in Focus
A spotlight on the work of a filmmaker.
Special Programmes
Short film programmes dedicated to topics that our curators are passionate about – or that are simply fun.
Family Programmes
Short film fun for young viewers aged 6+ and for the whole family.
Expanded Cinema
Installations, performances, and exhibitions present the medium of film in unfamiliar forms.
Special Events
Concerts, parties, readings, and many other events enhance the festival experience.
Talks & Panels
Moderated talks and panels after the screenings offer additional context and insight into films and themes.
Industry Events
A wide range of educational events and networking opportunities.
