Name: Landshut Short Film Festival 2026
Start: 2026-03-11T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-16T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Kinopolis, Salzstadel, Kinoptikum Landshut

Landshut Short Film Festival

About Landshut Short Film Festival

The Landshut Short Film Festival is one of the most important short film festivals in Bavaria. For six days in March, Landshut transforms into a hotspot for the international short film scene. Hundreds of films from all over the world are shown at Kinopolis, Salzstadel, and Kinoptikum — feature films, documentaries, animation, experimental films, and music videos. The 26th edition in 2026 will feature 221 films from 36 countries, including numerous world and German premieres. A total of eleven awards with prize money of €16,550 will be presented.

Dates 11 Mar — 16 Mar 2026

Venue Landshut (09261)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Landshut Short Film Festival — edition 2026

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The 26th edition of the Landshut Short Film Festival, from March 11 to 16, 2026, will showcase a total of 221 films from 36 countries. The program includes 29 world premieres, 18 European premieres, and 83 German premieres. Eleven awards with a total prize money of €16,550 will be presented at Kinopolis, Salzstadel, and Kinoptikum. Six days of short films between Trausnitz Castle and St. Martin's Church tower.

The Landshut Short Film Festival 2026 runs from March 11 to 16 and brings the best of international short film production to Lower Bavaria. With 221 films from 36 countries, including 29 world premieres, 18 European premieres, and 83 German premieres, the program depth is as high as in previous years. Three venues will host the approximately 30 film blocks per day: the Kinopolis multiplex as the main venue, the historic Salzstadel with its arthouse cinema character, and Kinoptikum. The highlight is the awards ceremony on Saturday evening with a total of eleven awards and €16,550 in prize money — including the Großer BMW-Kurzfilmpreis and several audience awards.

Highlights Landshut Short Film Festival 2026

221 films from 36 countries, 29 world premieres, and 83 German premieres. Eleven awards totaling €16,550, including the Großer BMW-Kurzfilmpreis. Three venues — Kinopolis, Salzstadel, Kinoptikum.

Programme Landshut Short Film Festival 2026

Program Structure 2026

International Competition — the most important new voices from around the world.
GSA Competition — Short films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Animation Competition — a dedicated section with its own animation award.
Documentary Competition — short documentaries with their own award.
Children's and Youth Film — curated film blocks and school screenings.
Thematic Film Blocks — special programs on topics such as memory, identity, climate.
Music Video Program and Festival Specials — late-night sessions and special programs.

Venues

Kinopolis Landshut — Main venue, premieres, and competition blocks.
Salzstadel — Historic granary, festival cinema atmosphere.
Kinoptikum — Smaller arthouse cinema, additional film blocks.

The complete film list and detailed schedule are available on landshuter-kurzfilmfestival.de; a printed program booklet is available at all venues and the festival center.

Prices Landshut Short Film Festival 2026

Single tickets for film blocks starting at approx. €9; day passes and festival passes significantly cheaper proportionally. Discounts for students, trainees, and members. Accreditation for industry and press via the festival website. School screenings with reduced admission.

Practical information

Practical information — Landshut Short Film Festival

Getting There

Landshut is directly accessible by train from Munich (35 min.) and Regensburg; it's about a 10-minute walk from the station to Kinopolis. By car, take the A92 motorway (Munich–Deggendorf); there are parking garages in the city center.

Tickets and Accreditation

Single tickets, day passes, and festival passes are available at the cinema box offices or online via the festival website. Accreditation for industry professionals and press is available.

On Site

Festival center with lounges and film discussions. Restaurants and bars in the old town; the festival organizes its own daily festival gathering program.

Short Film Hub in Lower Bavaria

The Landshut Short Film Festival, organized by the association Dynamo Kurzfilm e. V., has been a firm fixture in the German short film scene for over two decades. The artistic director is Michael Orth. Every year in March, the festival family of filmmakers, distributors, critics, sponsors, and cinephiles gathers in the Lower Bavarian district capital for six intensive days.

Program Structure

The festival presents the entire spectrum of the short film art form. The competitions are divided into several sections:

International Competition — the most important new voices from around the world.
GSA Competition — Short films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Animation — a dedicated section for animated short films.
Documentary Film — short documentaries with their own award.
Children's and Youth Film — curated for young audiences, with school screenings.
Thematic Film Blocks and Special Programs — from music videos to retrospectives.

Awards

The highlight of each edition is the awards ceremony with eleven accolades. The main prize is the Großer BMW-Kurzfilmpreis (Grand BMW Short Film Award). In addition, there are audience awards (sponsored by, among others, Bayernwerk Netz and BBI), an animation award, a documentary award, and several thematic awards. The total prize money is €16,550 — one of the highest endowments among German short film festivals.

Venues

Three venues share the program: the multiplex Kinopolis (main venue), the historic Salzstadel with its arthouse cinema atmosphere, and Kinoptikum, a small arthouse cinema on the outskirts of town. The festival center, with accreditation, a discussion lounge, and an evening festival gathering, moves between the venues.

Landshut

Landshut, with almost 75,000 inhabitants, is the capital of the Lower Bavaria administrative region and one of Bavaria's most beautiful medieval cities. With Trausnitz Castle, St. Martin's Church tower — the tallest brick tower in the world — and a magnificent old town, the festival offers ideal opportunities for strolling between screenings.