CLOSEFILM Film- und Kulturverein

Behind the festival stands the CLOSEFILM Film- und Kulturverein. The non-profit association was founded in 2018 by Parisa Ghasemi and Ashkan Nematian with the aim of promoting art, culture, and above all cinema. To realize this vision, the Linz International Short Film Festival has been held annually since 2018. In 2022, the Film Talent Academy was launched as a parallel initiative, and has since provided training and mentorship to more than 50 emerging filmmakers.