„Across fiction, animation and documentary, the 2026 selection once again proves the short form’s singular ability to distil vast political, emotional and historical realities into moments of striking clarity. Across fiction, animation and essayistic documentary, the programme moves between myth and material history, intimate longing and collective memory. War is heard rather than seen, archives speak where institutions fall silent, and imagined worlds open up as refuges from rigid systems. Together, these films ask how we adapt, quietly or radically, when reality presses in.“
review by Curation Hour
„Berlinale Shorts was, as ever, a rich collection of brief works up to 30 minutes, their makers ranging from emerging talents to seasoned directors like Radu Jude (who once again looked into the complicated recent past of Romania with Shot Reverse Shot) and Yolande Zauberman (who dedicated the screening of her film Les juifs riches to the memory of Frederick Wiseman, a master of the documentary form). As is often the case in this section, animation was particularly strong, the highlight being Unidentified Nonflying Objects (UNO), the latest by Russian director Sasha Svirsky. As he explained during the post-screening Q&A, that film also comes with a certain political baggage, as it was the first short he made after relocating to Germany four years ago due to his objection to the war in Ukraine. Also greatly appreciated was Cosmonauts, which was designated as the Berlin Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards.“
Deborah Young for The Film Verdict
„Man kann auch in einem Kurzfilm dem Publikum sehr viel mitteilen. Die Berlinale stellt das jedes Mal unter Beweis. […] Hierzulande wird manches Mal die Vorsilbe kurz mit klein verwechselt. Genauso, wie ein Kleinkunstprogramm auf der Bühne nicht mit kleiner Kunst verwechselt werden sollte. Die 4 Kurzfilme in der Sektion Berlinale Shorts-1 belegen, dass Kurzfilme auch ganz große Filmkunst sind.“
Volker Neef for Hauptstadtecho.de
“ Und noch von jeder Shorts-Sektion waren wir berührt, fasziniert und manches Mal geradezu eingeschüchtert vom klugen Umgang mit (zeit-)historischen Themen. Das liegt vor allem an der ungeheuren Kreativität und einer oft ungewohnten Ästhetik, mit der die zumeist jungen Autor*innen ihre Themen filmisch umsetzen.
Zwar standen zeithistorische Themen nicht explizit im Zentrum der diesjährigen Shorts-Sektion. Filme wie Flim Flam oder Cosmonauts wird man nur schwerlich als Auseinandersetzungen mit Zeitgeschichte interpretieren können, auch wenn als gesichert gelten kann, dass zukünftige Generationen von Historiker*innen das anders sehen werden. Alles wird irgendwann Geschichte.“
Annette Schuhmann for zeitgeschichte|online
„21 short films will be screened at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in the Berlinale Shorts section. The themes? Very diverse. They range from a poetic science trip into the eternal ice to committed social documentaries and self-empowerment stories to jungle adventures in Cambodia. What all the films have in common is the chance to win the Golden Bear for Best Short Film, the Silver Bear Jury Prize (Short Film), the Berlinale Shorts CUPRA Filmmaker Award and a nomination for the European Film Award. Do you need more incentive to get to the heart of a good story?“
Lisa Kummerer for Rampspace
„La ribellione silenziosa dei protagonisti è il filo conduttore di quest’anno», spiega Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck, responsabile di Berlinale Shorts 2026. Uomini, donne e bambini rifiutano i ruoli imposti, riscrivono la propria trama o escono dalla narrazione. Non mancano tocchi di magia, per l’entusiasmo della responsabile che dichiara “Colpisce anche il fatto che molti dei film incorporino poteri magici nelle loro storie.”: un operaio che vola su una scopa, scolarette che abbattono un uomo solo con le dita,un ragazzo che fa precipitare caccia militari con la forza del pensiero.“
Antonio Porro for Taxidrivers
„La magia y la rebeldía caracterizan el programa de cortometrajes de la próxima edición de la Berlinale, que arranca el 12 de febrero, con 21 películas muy diferentes entre sí que saben aprovechar con maestría la diversidad del formato narrativo breve, destaca el comunicado.“
review by Swissinfo
Berlinale Shorts 