Oberhausen Short Film Festival

Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen

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Arts & CultureOberhausen
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
Duration6 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsHosting the actual 1962 Oberhausen
LanguageGermanCurrency: EUR
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Oberhausen Short Film Festival in Oberhausen

Founded in 1954 by Hilmar Hoffmann as the Westdeutsche Kulturfilmtage, Oberhausen's International Short Film Festival is widely recognised as the world's oldest short film festival. It is best known as the site of the 1962 Oberhausen Manifesto, the declaration that launched New German Cinema, a legacy of political and aesthetic confrontation still embedded in the festival's identity today.

Hilmar Hoffmann, then director of Oberhausen's adult education centre, founded the festival in 1954 together with the Filmclub Oberhausen under the name Westdeutsche Kulturfilmtage, or West German Cultural Film Festival, giving it a specific educational-policy mandate from the outset, reflected in its first motto: 'Cultural Film — Route to Education'.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Hosting the actual 1962 Oberhausen Manifesto, the founding document of the New German Cinema movement and widely regarded as the single most important text in modern German film history, gives the festival a specific, documented role in a major national cinema movement rather than a general reputation for quality programming

02

The mystery stays covered

Its claim to being the world's oldest short film festival, founded in 1954, is a specific and verifiable historical distinction

03

The city starts moving

Its origin under an explicit educational-policy mandate, rather than a commercial or industry-networking purpose, gives it a documented civic founding rationale distinct from most film festivals

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

Symbols

Custom

Oberhausen Short Film Festival is documented as a recurring arts-culture festival in the Eventisimus atlas.

Participation

Calendar

Some moments are open to visitors; others belong to local participants. Follow barriers, steward instructions, and local etiquette.

Place memory

Place

The strongest version of the event is the one tied to Oberhausen, not a generic copy of the same category elsewhere.

The local code

Meaning

Hosting the actual 1962 Oberhausen Manifesto, the founding document of the New German Cinema movement and widely regarded as the single most important...

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

For Oberhausen Short Film Festival, plan transport around the exact Oberhausen venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Smart-casual clothing suits general screenings; a layer against variable spring weather is worth carrying for queuing outside busy venues.

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Oberhausen Short Film Festival, stay near the part of Oberhausen you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

EUR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map51.48 N, 6.86 EOpen in Google Maps

Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Nearest airportDUS — Düsseldorf
TransportFor Oberhausen Short Film Festival, plan transport around the exact Oberhausen venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Oberhausen Short Film Festival, stay near the part of Oberhausen you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Oberhausen via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Oberhausen, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearSmart-casual clothing suits general screenings; a layer against variable spring weather is worth carrying for queuing outside busy venues.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Germany and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Oberhausen Short Film Festival?

Oberhausen Short Film Festival is listed for Past edition: 28 April–3 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Oberhausen Short Film Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Oberhausen, Germany. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

6 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLkurzfilmtage.de
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusOfficial source linked
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