The International Short Film Week Regensburg was founded in 1994 by Arbeitskreis Film e.V. as a nonprofit festival and screens approximately 250 short films over eleven days each March in the charming cinemas of the Old Town. The program centers on four competitions: the International Competition, the German Competition, the Architecture Film Competition (international), and the Regional Competition. Live-action, documentary, animation, experimental film, and hybrid formats are presented on an equal footing. The special program typically consists of various themed programs as well as a country focus, masterclasses and talks, a late-night section, film programs for children, live events, and interdisciplinary formats.
Short Film Week sees itself as a meeting place for accessible exchange between filmmakers and the audience in a relaxed atmosphere. The festival is a founding member of the European Short Film Conference and a member of the German Short Film Association, the Association of Bavarian Film Festivals, and AG Filmfestival. These memberships reflect the festival’s commitment to providing short films with an appropriate and fair forum.