Mo&Friese Young Short Film Festival Hamburg

Short films for all ages

Mo&Friese — short for "Modesty and Friese", the festival mascots — is the children's and youth section of the Short Film Festival Hamburg, one of Germany's most prestigious short film festivals. While the main festival week is dedicated to the adult ShortFilmAgency programming, Mo&Friese belongs to the young audience: four- to eighteen-year-old viewers.

Six days, six cinemas

The festival uses several established Hamburg venues simultaneously:

• Festival Centre Post — meeting point, hands-on activities, bar
• 3001 Kino in Schanze/Sternschanze
• Abaton Kino in Rotherbaum
• Lola Kulturzentrum in Bergedorf
• Metropolis Kino in Neustadt
• Zeise Kinos in Ottensen

Mornings feature school and kindergarten screenings for registered classes; afternoons and evenings host public programmes. Workshops for aspiring filmmakers and scriptwriters complement the programme.

"Gib mir 5!" — The Youth Competition

A dedicated programme strand is "Gib mir 5!" (Give me 5!), the youth competition for filmmakers under 18. Submitted short films are judged and awarded by a youth jury — a real platform for the next generation of German filmmakers.

Programme sorted by age

Curated into five age groups: 4+, 6+, 8+, 12+, and 16+. The selection includes animations, live-action films, documentaries, and experimental works from around twenty countries. Subtitles are provided live or via whisper system for younger viewers.

KurzFilmAgentur as a Pillar

The organiser is KurzFilmAgentur Hamburg e.V. (KFA), which has been promoting short film culture in Hamburg for decades, from film rights representation to festival operations. Mo&Friese has established itself over 28 editions as one of the most renowned German short film festivals for young audiences.