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Welcome

Festival Repeat

The award winners, highlights and favourites of this festival will be screened at:

Urania Berlin Fr., 14.11.2008 20:00h: Festivalnachlese 1

Babylon Saal 1 So., 16.11.2008 20:00h: Festivalnachlese 2

Festival Resumee

The 24th International Short Film Festival Berlin comes to a successful conclusion

On Sunday 9 November the 24th International Short Film Festival Berlin came to a triumphant close.491 films from 46 countries were shown in 22 competition programmes and numerous special programmes. Prizes valued at a total of € 46,250 were awarded in the various competitions. All the winners were announced on Sunday 9 November. The film entitled “Bratrabylta” from Iceland won the main category of “Best Short Film”, it was directed by Grímur Hákonarson.

Around 13,000 spectators attended this year’s festival. The introduction of KUKI – 1st. International Short Film Festival for Children and Youth was a tremendous success. 1,300 big and little film fans attended the four competition programmes, special programmes, school events, foreign language screenings and family celebrations.

The number of accredited guests continued to grow this year with 510 industry guests receiving festival accreditations. Of those 153 were international guests eager to use the chance to get to know and network with colleagues from other countries. In addition to short film screenings there were plenty of other occasions to meet and greet at the festival including the well attended interfilm Academy series of panels and lectures. Internal highlights were the diverse festival parties and events.

Filmmakers and audience alike found favour with “forward – international viral video award” initiated by interfilm Berlin and Zucker.Kommunikation. Over 500 internet viral films took part in the competition.

An absolute audience favourite was “Eject – the Long Night of the Unexpected”, where the weirdest and most wonderful festival films competed for the audience award at the sold-out show held in the Volksbuehne theatre on Rosa-Luxemburg Platz.

It was a particular honour for interfilm Berlin to host the New York artist and performer Charlie Todd and his project “Improv Everywhere” in Berlin. The organised “Mission” held at Alexanderplatz on 8 November saw approximately 300 spontaneous participants with umbrellas and balloons enchant the passing onlookers.

We’re looking forward to the 25th International Short Film Festival 2009 and will announce the call for entries online in January 2009!

G r e e t i n g

From the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, for the 24th International Short Film Festival Berlin 2008

In the past few years Berlin has steadily developed into a film capital of international standing. Beyond appreciating the wide range of distinctive locations the city has to offer, the industry is clearly attracted to the resources found here, such as vast expertise, highly professional production conditions, our effectual film funding bodies and the comprehensive service range offered by numerous small and medium enterprises. It is also becoming increasingly common for big-screen productions to use the actual city as a backdrop.

As a film capital, Berlin has always thrived on the enthusiasm of its cineastes. It is a passion that is not only obvious when regarding the unique cinema-profile of the city, but in its rich diversity of festivals too.

One such cinematic platform is presented by the International Short Film Festival Berlin, already experiencing its 24th edition this year. To this end, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all short film fans. Delight in the diversity of the programme, enjoy the inimitable atmosphere of Berlin’s event locations and let yourself be surprised by the amusing and thought-provoking contributions from all over the world.

With this in mind, I would like to wish all filmmakers, industry guests and audiences a stimulating time and many thrilling discoveries during the 24th International Short Film Festival.

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Timetable

WISHING YOU A WARM WELCOME to the 24th International Short Film Festival Berlin and for the very first time, to KUKI, the 1st International Short Film Festival for Children and Youth Berlin.

Prepare for an exciting film programme that promises to deliver a comprehensive insight into the world-wide development of contemporary short film. Almost 500 films have been selected from both international research sources and festival entries – this year amounting to 4,000 from more than 90 countries. Presented in more than 50 programmes, they each prove this statement true: Short films continue to be interesting because of the endless variety, creativity, and limitless possibilities open to them. The festival spectrum ranges from (take a deep breath!), live-action, animation, documentary and experimental film, to drama, comedy, horror thrillers, children’s film, war tragedies, poetry film, ads and music clips. International juries will nominate their favourites in eight competition categories. The total prize value amounts to 45,000 Euro.

This year, particular attention has been placed upon films for youth and children. KUKI - Shorts for Kids has grown into a festival of its own, inviting children and youth, parents and teachers with school groups, to watch and discuss competition films, documentaries and foreign language programmes.

The world’s first ever viral video competition to be held at a film festival, concentrates on short internet films that sell a message. Viewers are invited to participate in the voting process via internet. Other films vying for the audience’s favour also happen to be the festival’s weirdest, at eject – the long night of the unexpected. Already in its eleventh year, eject will once again be held at the magnificent Volksbühne!

In the country focus programmes we’ll be taking a closer look at Mexico and the Spanish Basque Region. Mexican short film is known for its quality and originality. International stars such as Alejandro Gonzáles Inárritu, Guillermo Arriaga and Alfonso Cuarón all began their careers with cortos. There will even be a chance to see early films featuring Salma Hajek and Gael Garcia Bernal. An assortment of work from recent decades will be screened in five programmes.

Short films from the autonomous Basque region are among the absolute highlights of Spanish cinema. Known for their excellence and virtuoso storytelling, they are internationally successful and are particularly present at interfilm this year.

On to the Special Programmes: In Capture Motion!, all films revolve around movement and choreography, often in extraordinary and humorous ways. Immaginale widens their focus from contemporary Italian short films, to include historical documentaries made in 1940’s and 50’s Sicily. Even East Asian short films have been dedicated a programme all their own with Asia Deli, a programme stuffed with outstanding film morsels. Berlin Beats is solely committed to the presentation of Berlin productions, while a selection of national and international music video highlights will be shown in two programmes, Alles Bleibt Anders and Let Me Know.

We’re expecting hundreds of guests from Germany and the whole world and look forward to a stimulating exchange at all of the panels, workshops, discussions and numerous parties and events.

Here’s wishing all our festival guests an entertaining, contemplative and inspiringly communicative festival!

Festival Trailer 2008

Competition Programmes

International Competition
The festival centrepiece where approximately 80 films compete for Short Awards, given by an international jury in the categories of Best Film, Best Animation and Best Live-action.

Confrontations - Films against Violence and Intolerance
The causes and effects of war, terrorism and discrimination are generally themes that most people like to avoid, especially in the cinema. However, the films selected to run in this programme should not be ignored. The Best Film against Violence and Intolerance will be decided on by a jury drawn from the fields of film, journalism and politics.

Documentary Competition
Not only do documentaries open our eyes to other worlds, they also make us aware of the extraordinary in our everyday surroundings. A specialist jury will select the Best Documentary.

German Competition
Take a diverse and revealing trip through German culture in pictures and words. The two Best German Short films will each be awarded a prize.

Short Film Competition for Children and Youth KUKI
Two separate juries consisting of children and youth each get to choose a Best Film from a terrific selection of animation and live-action films.

Forward – International Viral Video Award
Never before seen at a film festival! Viral internet films with an advertising, political or simply original message, packed together and judged by both a specialist jury and the audience.

eject! Audience Competition
The Long Night of the Unexpected has become a cult event in its own right! For the eleventh time, the weirdest and most wonderful film festival entries compete for the audience’s favour, as this is the night when the audience (ca. 800 people) is the jury. After the interactive live-show, die-hard eject! fans can keep on partying in Roten Salon.

Focus On…

The impressive short film productions of Mexico and the Spanish Basque Region will be highlighted at this year’s country focus programmes.

Mexico is not only home to the most diverse and interesting of South American film industries, Mexican films are also currently doing well at all of the big international film festivals like Cannes, the Berlinale and Sundance. International stars such as Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu, Guillermo Arriaga, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro and Fernando Eimbcke all started their careers with outstanding cortos. The 24th International Short Film Festival Berlin will present a mix of Mexican short films from both established greats and exciting newcomers.

Short films from the autonomous Basque region are among the absolute highlights of Spanish cinema. Popular with international audiences for their excellence and virtuoso storytelling, it should come as no surprise to learn that films from the Spanish Basque region have won numerous film awards and two Oscar-nominations to date.

Special Programmes

Retrospektive Miranda Pennell
Feel good with Bollywood Indian Dance Cuts
Improv Everywhere Charlie Todd and his “missions”
Reality Bites Wacky and would-be documentaries
Local Heroes Berlin shorts
Cortitos Shorts from Spain and Latin America
Immaginale Bella Sicilia
Shocking Shorts A real scream
Music Videos German, international & contemporary
Clip it! Animation & music

interfilm Academy

Lectures on set subjects held by 1 – 2 professionals in their specialized field. Length appr. 90 minutes, followed by a Q &amnp; A session

Sound for Film
Einführung ins Medienrecht*
Character Design
Filmförderung – Überblick über die Förderlandschaft in Deutschland*
FORWARD - INTERNATIONAL VIRAL VIDEO AWARD

*lectures held in German only


Workshops with hands-on subjects, held by 1 – 2 professionals. Participants get the chance to participate individually. Length appr. 5 hours. Workshops will be held in German.

Skriptclinic
High Dynamic Range Image – Realistic Lighting in 3D Programs


Discussionrounds with 3 – 4 industry professionals as guest. Lenght appr. 3 hours.

Machinima - Mixing Film & Game
Shortfilmproduction in Mexico – the way into ‚big business’?
Learning To Walk With Pictures – Approaches to active filmwork with children and teenagers/p>

Industry Day and Brunch/ Instituto Cervantes, 8.11.08, 10am – 6 pm.
Companies and educational institutions from Berlin and surroundings present themselves. Filmmakers, students and newcomers in the film and media industry can obtain useful information and get the change to network.

Parties / Events

Kuki Opening Matinee
Official opening of the 1st. International Short Film Festival for Children and Youth Berlin
Sunday 2nd.of Nov. at 3 p.m. / Babylon Berlin:Mitte

interfilm Festival Opening Night
Official opening of the 24th. International Short Film Festival Berlin
Tuesday 4th.of Nov. at 9 p.m. / Volksbühne on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
The party in Roten Salon starts at midnight.

Festival Lounge
Wednesday 5th.of Nov. – Friday 7th.of Nov. from 11 p.m. at Roter Salon in the Volksbühne
Special daily programmes at 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

eject! – The Long Night of the Unexpected
Friday 7th. of Nov. at 11p.m. / Volksbühne on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
The party in Roten Salon will take place directly after the event.

Festival Party
Saturday 8th.of Nov. at 10:30 p.m. / Club Scala, Friedrichstraße 112a, Berlin-Mitte
Live Act & DJs downstairs / Latin flavours in the Mexico-Lounge

Awards Ceremony
Sunday 9th.of Nov. at 7:30 p.m. / Babylon Berlin:Mitte
Wrapping-up and winding-down in Roten Salon at 10 p.m.

interfilm Academy
Wednesday 5th.of Nov. – Sunday 9th.of Nov. / Daily panels, lectures and workshops with media experts and professional filmmakers.
Saturday 8th.of Nov. from 10a.m. / Industry day & get-together brunch
Where companies and film schools introduce themselves and filmmakers, students and those starting out in the media business get to mingle and make contacts.

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