shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival is a premier venue for the exhibition and promotion of short films. The festival is an exceptional twelve-day event with a unique concept – a transnational film festival simultaneously taking place in eight cities on five continents worldwide. The festival includes three main segments:
shnit PLAYGROUNDS*
shnit EXPANDED
shnit FINALE*
In its eighteen years of existence, shnit has become a major international short film festival that reinvents itself in ever new forms. What started as a local initiative is now an exceptional transnational event that connects and inspires makers and fans of short films across the globe. shnit embraces diversity, originality, and exchange between creators and an audience from different cultures and backgrounds. It is the main goal to actively increase the perception of short filmmaking by creating a multi-platform event for high-quality short films. With its cinematic treats, the popular festival fascinates more than 35.000 visitors and therefore belongs to the leading short film festivals in the world.
shnit is a non-profit organization. The annual festival is created and centrally coordinated by the shnit ASSOCIATION in cooperation with the executives. The organization is built on principles of excellence and professionalism, enabling the global expansion of the festival possible.
*shnit PLAYGROUNDS: shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival takes place simultaneously in the following cities, shnit PLAYGROUNDS, on five continents: Bern [Switzerland], Buenos Aires [Argentina], Cairo [Egypt], Cape Town [South Africa], Hong Kong [China], Moscow [Russia], San José [Costa Rica]. The shnit FINALE in New York is held annually, as long as the contributions of the partners and sponsors make this possible.
The shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival includes five award categories with prizes of USD 24.000 (cash or in-kind prizes)** and attracts award-winning short filmmakers from around the globe. As a result, shnit presents a competition program of exceptional quality and density. The prestigious award THE FLAMING FAUN is granted to the winners during shnit FINALE* in New York.
AUDIENCE AWARD – INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION & WORLDWIDE COMPETITION
The audience decides by voting in all INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS (INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION & WORLDWIDE COMPETITION) the following award (will be given to the film director(s)):
• shnit AUDIENCE Award: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this competition
WORLDWIDE COMPETITION
The organizers will nominate an international Jury of three members. Films with PLAYGROUNDS* premiere status will be considered primary. The following prizes will be given to the film directors:
• shnit JURY Award: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this competition
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
The organizers will designate a president of the shnit TRIBUTE to elect the three winners out of the nine nominated films. Nominations are done by the shnit TRIBUTE members. The members of the shnit TRIBUTE are former participants of INTERNATIONAL and NATIONAL COMPETITIONS who can give their vote on the shnit TRIBUTE platform. The following prizes will be given to the film directors:
• shnit TRIBUTE Award | Category up to 10 minutes: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this category
• shnit TRIBUTE Award | Category up to 20 minutes: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this category
• shnit TRIBUTE Award | Category up to 40 minutes: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this category
NATIONAL COMPETITION(S)
The organizers nominate one national jury per PLAYGROUND*. The kind of honoring per NATIONAL COMPETITION varies and is specified in the letter of confirmation. The following films are eligible for a NATIONAL COMPETITION:
• Origin of the film production from one of the PLAYGROUND* countries
• Origin of the film director from one of the PLAYGROUND* countries
Submissions for a NATIONAL COMPETITION automatically qualify as entries for all INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONs. Double submission is not necessary.
*shnit PLAYGROUNDS: shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival takes place simultaneously in the following cities, shnit PLAYGROUNDS, on five continents: Bern [Switzerland], Buenos Aires [Argentina], Cairo [Egypt], Cape Town [South Africa], Hong Kong [China], Moscow [Russia], San José [Costa Rica]. The shnit FINALE in New York is held annually, as long as the contributions of the partners and sponsors make this possible.
**Any prizes (cash or in-kind prizes) awarded by shnit are not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash. The Festival reserves the right to change, add or suppress awards according to the circumstances.