Mag.a Brigitte Hütter

Nine years ago, Parisa Ghasemi and Ashkan Nematian - up-and-coming filmmakers from Iran - launched the International Short Film Festival at the University of Arts Linz. Their goal was to provide insights into diverse cultures - without imposing boundaries. Since then, the University and the Linz International Short Film Festival have showcased works by young filmmakers every October. This year, around 60 films will be screened, selected from over 4,000 submissions from 121 countries. The four-day Linz ISFF views the short film as a distinct art form and a medium that reflects societal developments, opens up new perspectives, and enables experimental storytelling. A special highlight is the 4th Queer Feminist Day on October 15 at the City-Kino Linz. Dedicated to queer-feminist perspectives in contemporary cinema, the event combines screenings with discussions, dialogue, and tangible support. In collaboration with the City of Linz’s “Frauenbüro”, three scholarships for the Film Talent Academy will be awarded. Additionally, an outstanding work will receive the Mahsa Jina Amini Queer Feminist Film Award. We extend our special thanks to the festival directors, Parisa Ghasemi and Ashkan Nematian, and their team. With a carefully curated, diverse programme, they are once again making Linz a meeting point for new cinematic voices, bringing together the art of film, social discourse, and the fostering of emerging talent. We look forward to a multifaceted festival that broadens our horizons.