From November 4-9, 2008, interfilm Berlin will be celebrating the 24th edition of the International Short Film Festival Berlin
Featuring around 450 international and German short films originating from more than 55 countries, interfilm Berlin presents the diverse nature of the short film spectrum in sections such as live action, children's film, animation, documentary, experimental and music clips.
Over six festival days, on eight screens in the center of Berlin, audiences will be given the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate poetic, musical, commercial, hybrid, shocking, and incredibly odd films -- always short and compactly compiled in 90 minute programs.
Highlights of the festival:
Current short film productions from emerging young talent will compete against established filmmakers from all over the world in German and international competitions. International juries will award prizes valued at a total of 40,000 Euros. The audience will get to reward their favorite German short film with a prize of their own for the second year running.
In its 24th year, the German capital's oldest film festival (after the Berlinale), has something innovative to offer: during the "Forward -- International Viral Video Award" the best viral films with a message will be awarded prizes by both an audience and industry jury. This is the first festival for short films from and for the Internet to be held at a German film festival.
The festival season kicks off on the 2nd of November with the International Short Film Festival for Children and Youth, making it the first year that "KUKI -- Shorts for Kids" 2008, will be a festival in its own right, a festival within a festival as it were. For a period of eight days competition programs and thematic film sections will entice children, parents, school groups and teachers to the cinema screen. Whether the films happen to be animated, in a foreign language, with or without dialogue: short films by and for kids tell stories that everyone can relate to.
Special programs include: "Focus on -- Mexico and the Autonomous Basque Region": The aspiring and internationally successful short film scenes belonging to Mexico and the Autonomous Basque Region will be highlighted in this year's Country Specials.
Numerous special programs take film productions from all the corners of the globe and give them their due place on the big screen, such as the award-winning dance films and (little known) ads made by the filmmaker Miranda Pennel. Spectacularly choreographed music clips from Bollywood productions as well as international dance films and music videos will certainly get the audience swinging in their seats.
Scenes of friendly, liberating chaos are sure to abound when their guest from New York, Charlie Todd, the founder of Improv Everywhere, personally presents his world renowned "missions" (performances) and even hold one, live with Interfilm Berlin.
The festival locations Volksbuehne Berlin, Roten Salon and Club Scala will set the scene for intense discourse and entertaining encounters at the various lectures and workshops, panels and parties held there, not to mention the Festival Club and filmmakers' brunch. Acquire an insight into the current themes, trends and techniques found in short films from all over the world by visiting the film market held in the Babylon:Mitte festival cinema daily.
With an audience of more than 14,000, 120 German and international guests and 450 industry visitors at last year's festival, interfilm Berlin is one of the most important platforms for short film in Europe. The festival's locations are: Babylon Berlin:Mitte, Hackesche Hofe Filmtheater, Volksbuhne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Roter Salon, Moviemento, Neue Kant Kinos, Instituto Cervantes and Club Scala.
