Let’s Stick Together!

This is the motto of this year's festival – a call to action that couldn’t be more timely. We are living in a time when solidarity is not just a moral value, but a social necessity.

A glance at the world shows just how fragile our freedom is. While we come together during the festival week to celebrate short film in all its diversity, devastating wars are raging in other parts of the world. In Ukraine and Gaza alone, more than 65,000 civilians have lost their lives in recent years. These are harrowing numbers. And they are realities that remind us how important it is not to look away.

We are also feeling the effects here in Germany. Our democracy is under pressure – from the growing influence of anti-democratic forces, from far-right networks, from voices that divide rather than unite. In such a climate, solidarity becomes a political act. Because to act in solidarity means standing against exclusion, for participation, against fear, and for community.

But solidarity doesn't just mean looking outward. It begins right on our doorstep – amid social inequality, insecure living conditions, and a lack of equal opportunities. And this is where culture plays a vital role: as a space for exchange, reflection, and connection – open to all.

When we began preparing this edition of the festival, it was unclear what kind of budget we could expect. The only certainty was: there would be less. Budget negotiations at both the municipal and state levels have led to cuts – not only in the cultural sector, but also in youth, education, and social services. Precisely in areas that are already under strain. Precisely where we shouldn’t be saving right now. Because solidarity doesn’t mean that everyone can contribute equally – it means taking responsibility, supporting where structures are fragile and people lack fair opportunities.

Over the past months, we have experienced a great deal of solidarity – especially from our funders, who have advocated for the preservation of cultural structures despite tight public budgets. We are well aware of the challenges facing public finances. And yet, even cuts of "only" ten percent, as in our case, hit institutions like ours particularly hard – because the starting conditions are already precarious.

Because we are not just a festival that screens films. We create spaces – for cultural education, for social participation, for creative and political discourse. And not only during the festival week, but all year round. Through our media education project Kurz.Film.Scouts., for example, we provide children and young people across Saxony with access to film culture and media literacy – especially those who otherwise lack such opportunities. Our queer and political short film tours also bring visibility and dialogue to rural areas.

If we cut back these spaces – these “molecules” of our society, as depicted in this year’s campaign design – the entire structure begins to collapse. And once something is broken, it takes years to rebuild – if it can be rebuilt at all. Acting in solidarity also means investing in our shared future. That is something we must not forget.

We are deeply grateful for the support we have received. Our special thanks go to our funders and sponsors. And of course, we also thank our incredible team, our partners, and everyone who believes in this festival and makes it possible. We look forward to a week of solidarity.

Anne Gaschütz

“We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers,” Dr Martin Luther King Jr., the American civil rights activist, once said. He himself later became a victim of that same lack of brotherhood. In the history of human culture, solidarity has long existed in tension with egoism and self-interest. Both the past and our own unsettling times clearly show us where the lack of humanity and empathy for others can lead. In its 37th edition, the FILMFEST DRESDEN is focusing on the theme of solidarity, in search of new ideas for keeping society from fragmenting and pointing the way towards a greater sense of community and justice for all. Along with this cinematic foray into the realm of philosophy in its special programmes, this year’s wide-ranging festival offerings once again include competitions, other programme series and events for professionals. Audiences can look forward to experimental films, cinematic visions and unique artistic styles as well as fascinating locations and an extremely dedicated festival team. All of this is what the FILMFEST DRESDEN is known for all over the world, making it an important event for short films not only in Germany. An impressive 3,400 submissions had to be viewed, selected and curated for the 2025 festival, which further underscores the significance of this event.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to the festival directors, Anne Gaschütz and Sylke Gottlebe, and to everyone involved in organising the FILMFEST DRESDEN for their untiring dedication in these times that are challenging for this festival as well. I wish all festival guests an inspiring experience of cinema and solidarity.

Minister of State Claudia Roth, Member of the German Bundestag

Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media

Dear Short Film Enthusiasts,

“Let’s stick together!” This motto represents the focus of this year’s festival. Supporting each other and becoming active in a common cause has become necessary in so many areas nowadays – not least in the field of culture due to the current budgetary situation in the public sector. But we are committed to Saxon culture, and we will continue to support it to the best of our ability with the resources available to us. After all, important highlights like FILMFEST DRESDEN that are so valuable culturally and socially should definitely continue to happen in the future.

This year’s programme features highly expressive films with innovative narrative forms. Likewise, the joy of experimentation in the short film genre is revealed in all its range, resulting in new inspirations. As usual, the important critical examination of current topics is occurring again in the special programmes. And the regional film history exploring Sorbian filmmaking, as well as film productions from Chemnitz acting as a bridge to the European Capital of Culture 2025, are not being neglected either. This is something about which I am especially pleased.

There are also various cinematic treats for the youngsters, specially curated by young film fans themselves, letting them immerse themselves in the wonderful world of short films. By watching and appreciating films together, new connections can be made between people and new supporters found. Which is how solidarity-based communities are formed for things that move and affect us all.

I would like to thank the entire festival team for their unique commitment. Thanks to them, Dresden and Saxony are able to present themselves as cosmopolitan hosts for international culture and cinematic art. May I also thank all of the festival’s sponsors who have already shown their solidarity with the film artists and FILMFEST DRESDEN in this current difficult situation.

In conclusion, may I wish all visitors to the film festival an exciting, stimulating and unifying time.

Dear Film Fans from Near and Far,

Welcome to the 37 FILMFEST DRESDEN. I am delighted that once more our city has become a magnet for film fans from all over the world. Now is the time to raise the curtains on cinematic experiments and inspirational contemporary cinema!

This year’s festival motto of “Let’s Stick Together!” is not only a reaction to the current situation globally, but also to the local situation in the city of Dresden and Germany as a whole. Despite the generally difficult budgetary situation here and the departure of some festival award sponsors, the prizemoney level from previous years could be maintained. Likewise, thanks to the solidarity and support by Dresden’s creative scene, the much-coveted “Golden Horseman” film festival award in the National Competition has also been saved. And this year there is even an additional prize, the Audience Award in the Central German Competition.

For many years, the Dresden city administration has also accompanied the development of the festival with generosity and supported it financially – with this year being no exception despite the tight budgetary situation. But true to tradition: Anyone who says Dresden is a city of art should also regard Dresden as a city of cinematic art! Speaking of which, the DEFA Studio for Animated Film Dresden was the largest animation studio in the GDR at that time. From 1955 to 1992, more than 1,500 animated and cartoon films were produced in Dresden. On the occasion of this year’s 70^th anniversary of the DEFA Studio for Animated Film Dresden, an anniversary programme is of course a must in the festival’s schedule: “Transitions in Animation”, in cooperation with the German Institute for Animated Film (DIAF), is dedicated exclusively to this significant cinematic heritage from Dresden.

I would like to thank the Filmfest team with all my heart for putting together such an exciting and entertaining programme. And last but not least: My compliments to the long staying powers that short films have! With this in mind, may I wish the 37^th FILMFEST DRESDEN large, curious audiences, exciting films and many “filmable” discussions.

In short: Let the movies roll...

Dirk Hilbert

Mayor of the City of Dresden