19th British Shorts Short Film Festival / 150 films, 7 days, 7 venues / 22–28 January 2026 in Berlin
Venues: Sputnik Cinema, City Cinema Wedding, Acudkino, Filmrauschpalast, Kino Intimes, Klick Cinema, Xenon Cinema
We Love Cinema!
From 22 to 28 January 2026, the 19th edition of the British Shorts short film festival will take place in Berlin. This year’s focus: cinema as a place for encounters and adventure! As always, it will feature the best current short films from Great Britain and Ireland, a retrospective on the Scala Cinema in London (1978-1993), a photo exhibition on great British cinemas (past and present), a free film workshop, live music, talks and much more.
With more than 150 films over seven days, the current British and Irish cinema will be presented in short format. Every genre is represented: from comedy, drama, animation, documentary, thriller and experimental to horror.
The British Shorts retrospective “Scala Rising: Anarchic Shorts from London’s Legendary Underground Cinema” shows the microcosm of the Scala Cinema in London, which from 1978 to 1993 was a playground for film buffs, outsiders and eccentrics – including celebrities such as Barry Adamson, John Waters, Mark Moore, Ben Wheatley, Tilda Swinton, Peter Strickland and many more. The two-part retrospective includes the German premiere of the feature-length documentary with the long title “Scala!!! or, The Incredibly Strange Rise and Fall of the World’s Wildest Cinema and How It Influenced a Mixed-up Generation of Weirdos and Misfits” and a programme of short films that were shown at the Scala – compiled in collaboration with Jane Giles, who was the Scala’s programme director at the time.
In addition, the surrounding programme guarantees music (with Jim Avingon’s electronic project Neoangin, Diane Electro, Greatful Cat), talks with filmmakers, a photography exhibition on forgotten and British cinemas in the UK from the 1980s to the present day with works by Darren Holden and Peter Marshall, live comedy and the free festival workshop ‘Portrait’ including a 48-hour project for an intense festival atmosphere.
As always, the festival events will take place in some of Berlin’s most interesting independent cinemas, which fits in well with this year’s theme. These are spread across the city and include the festival centre Sputnik Kino (Kreuzberg), City Kino Wedding (Wedding), Acudkino (Mitte), Klick Kino (Charlottenburg), Xenon Kino (Schöneberg), Kino Intimes (Friedrichshain) and, for the first time, Filmrauschpalast (Moabit).
Since its first edition in 2007, British Shorts has quickly developed into a real audience festival and, with many world and German premieres, represents one of the most interesting platforms for British and Irish short films outside the British Isles. Internationally renowned names meet newcomers and film students. Big budget meets low budget meets no budget – a mixture that makes up the appeal of the festival. At the end, both a jury prize and an audience prize will be awarded.
British Shorts Website | British Shorts on Instagram |
What’s On When
The programme on Thursday 22.1
20:00 City Kino Wedding: Opening & Short Film Screenings & Live Music: Neoangin (aka Jim Avignon)
Fri 23.1
18:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings (Documentary)
19:00 Acudkino 1: Short Film Screenings
20:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings
21:00 Acudkino 1: Festival Screenings
22:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings
22:00 Sputnik Kinobar: Grateful Cat (Concert, Indie/Folk)
Sat 24.1
12:00 Sputnik Kinobar: Free Festival Workshop (Registration necessary)
17:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings (Documentary)
19:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings
20:00 Xenon Kino: Short Film Screenings
21:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings
22:00 Sputnik Kinobar: Diane Electro (Concert, Electro/Punk)
23:30 Sputnik Kino 1: Midnight Movies: Horror & Weird Stuff
Sun 25.1
15:00 Klick Kino: Short Film Screenings (Documentary)
17:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings
19:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings
20:00 City Kino Wedding: Short Film Screenings & Jury Award Ceremony
Mon 26.1
19:00 Sputnik Kinobar: Free Workshop Screening
19:30 Sputnik Kino 1: Retrospective (Part 1): “Scala!!!”
20:00 Kino Intimes: Short Film Screenings
22:00 Kino Intimes: Short Film Screenings
Tue 27.1
19:00 Sputnik Kino 1: Short Film Screenings (Documentary)
19:00 Filmrauschpalast: Retrospective (Part 2): “Scala Rising” Short Film Programme
Wed 28.1
20:00 City Kino Wedding: Short Film Screenings (Animation) & Audience Award Ceremony & Live-Comedy
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