Karin Leitner

Linz thrives on diversity, openness, and the courage to make new perspectives visible. The Linz International Short Film Festival is a wonderful example of this: it brings people from all over the world together, fosters creative exchange, and opens up spaces for stories that move, inspire, and make us think. The Queer & Feminist Day impressively demonstrates how important visibility, representation, and empowerment are – not only on the screen, but also in our society. Queer and feminist perspectives in film provide impulses for more tolerance, respect, and equality. They encourage us to embrace diversity and to work for an open, inclusive city where everyone can find their place. As LGBTIQ* Commissioner of the City of Linz, it is particularly important to me to support these movements and to create spaces for dialogue and exchange. Film art is a powerful medium for making social developments visible and showing new ways of living together. I thank the festival team and all involved for their commitment and passion, which make Linz a place of diversity and exchange. I wish all filmmakers, guests, and visitors inspiring festival days, enriching encounters, and many new cinematic discoveries!