Dietmar Prammer

Meeting Place for Cinematic Art from Around the World With its ninth edition, the Linz International Short Film Festival once again brings international cinematic art to our city. Filmmakers, emerging talents and audiences from all over the world come together here in Linz. More than 4,000 films from 121 countries were submitted this year – what an achievement! From October 14 to 17, the program will feature the 60 best short films in the categories of fiction, documentary and animation. The selected films tell stories from diverse social and cultural contexts and showcase a wide range of cinematic styles. Linz, too, is a city with a diverse and internationally recognized cultural scene. Art, digital culture, innovative formats, and a vibrant independent cultural scene define our city. Cultural dialogue in all its facets is a central focus of the festival. As the City of Linz, we aim to foster cultural diversity, safeguard creative freedom, and connect talent from Linz with international networks, as these efforts strengthen exchange, mutual understanding, and, in turn, solidarity in our society. This aligns perfectly with the identity of our state capital and broadens our perspective beyond cultural and geographical boundaries. My thanks go to the festival team as well as to all filmmakers, partners, and supporters. I wish the audience inspiring encounters and many films that will linger in their memories.