Kurzfilmfestival Köln — KFFK Edition 20
20th Edition — Competition for German Short Films at Filmhaus Kino
About KFFK 20
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Twenty Years of Short Films in Cologne
The KFFK Kurzfilmfestival Köln is a fixture in the German short film scene. Since 2006, the festival has been held annually in Cologne's Südstadt; the 20th anniversary edition will take place from November 23 to 29, 2026. For seven days, the Filmhaus Kino on Maybachstraße 111 will become a meeting place for the German short film scene—with competitions, Q&A sessions, industry meetings, and an audience that regularly sells out the festival venues.
Four Competition Sections
The heart of the festival is the German competition, divided into four sections: Narrative Feature Film, Documentary, Animation, and Experimental Film. Films up to 45 minutes long can be submitted—the submission phase for 2026 opens in April and closes on August 1. A jury of experts and the audience will award prizes in the respective categories.
Filmhaus Kino — KFFK's Home Cinema
The venue is the Filmhaus Kino in Cologne's Südstadt, operated by Filmhaus Köln. With two auditoriums, a bar, and a foyer, it is the natural center of Cologne's film culture away from the multiplexes. The spatial concentration on one cinema is one of KFFK's hallmarks—not a distributed city festival, but seven days of concentrated programming in one location.
Q&A Sessions and Industry Meetings
A characteristic of KFFK are the in-depth Q&A sessions after each screening. Filmmakers often travel from all over the German-speaking world and face the audience's questions. Industry meetings take place concurrently—accreditation for industry visitors opens in October 2026.
Cologne and the Short Film Tradition
Cologne—along with Hamburg, Oberhausen, and Berlin—is considered one of the most important German short film cities. With the ifs internationale filmschule köln, the KHM Kunsthochschule für Medien, and a dense producer scene, there is a productive environment. KFFK is the annual inventory of this scene and, at the same time, a springboard for festivals such as Berlinale, Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, or Filmfest Hamburg.
KFFK 20 — edition 2026
20th Anniversary Edition
Seven days of short films — from Sunday, November 23, to Saturday, November 29, 2026, the KFFK will be held at the Filmhaus Kino. This is the 20th edition since its founding in 2006. The festival office traditionally publishes the complete program in early November; until then, the schedule is in preparation.
Films up to 45 minutes long can be submitted in the sections: Narrative Feature Film, Documentary, Animation, and Experimental Film. The submission phase opens in April 2026 and closes on August 1. Pre-selected films will be announced in October.
Programme KFFK 20 2026
Status at Time of Inventory
The complete 2026 program for the 20th edition will be published by the festival office in early November 2026 on kffk.de. Until then, the submission and selection phases are ongoing. The following program lines are confirmed from previous years and are expected again in 2026:
- German Competition in four sections — Feature Film, Documentary, Animation, Experimental
- Audience Award throughout the festival
- Industry Lounge with meetings for filmmakers
- Q&A Sessions after each screening with attending filmmakers
- Special program for the 20th edition (retrospective, best-of, anniversary gala)
Accreditation for industry visitors opens in October 2026, and tickets and festival passes go on sale in early November. Until then, monthly "SHORT MONDAY" screenings are held at the Filmhaus.
Highlights KFFK 20 2026
- 20th edition since its founding in 2006
- Competition for German short films in four sections
- Seven days of concentrated programming at Filmhaus Kino
- Q&A sessions with filmmakers
- Industry meetings and accreditation for industry visitors
Prices KFFK 20 2026
Single tickets, day passes, and festival passes available from early November 2026. Reduced prices for students, KHM and ifs students, and accredited visitors. Exact prices will be communicated with the program release.
Practical information — KFFK 20
Getting There
Filmhaus Kino, Maybachstraße 111, 50670 Köln. Take the S-Bahn lines S 6, S 11, or S 12 to Köln Hansaring (approx. 10-minute walk). Take the Stadtbahn lines 12 or 15 to Hansaring. By car: A 57 (exit Köln-Nord), parking garages at Mediapark.
Tickets
Tickets and passes available in advance from early November 2026. Day tickets, weekend passes, and festival passes are available. Accreditation for industry visitors from October 2026.
Submissions
Filmmakers can submit short films up to 45 minutes long. Submission deadline: August 1, 2026, via kffk.de/einreichung-call-for-entries.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place KFFK 20
Filmhaus Kino, Maybachstraße
Maybachstraße 111, 50670 Köln