Ghent, 24 March 2025 — The Ghent International Short Film Festival wrapped its third edition this past week with a resounding success, further cementing its reputation as a must-attend event for short film lovers. This annual celebration of independent cinema welcomed a diverse lineup of 58 shorts from Belgium and around the world, selected from nearly a thousand submissions. The program embraced all genres, with a dedicated “Teen Proof” screening that showcased films suitable for viewers aged 9 and up.
Festival director and curator Kris De Meester reflects on the momentum:
“This edition surpassed everything we hoped for. What began as a modest initiative turned into a week of sold-out screenings and vibrant exchanges between filmmakers and audiences—some sessions were so packed, people sat on the floor. We had no advertising budget, no government funding, and yet the response was overwhelming. That speaks volumes about the hunger for bold, independent cinema in Ghent. We’ve stayed true to our principles: no red carpets, no flashy parties, no artistic compromises—and a minimal carbon footprint, which we offset by planting 200 trees through TreePlan.org.
And still, we’re proud to say that every one of the 58 selected filmmakers received The Tarkovski Grant, worth 500 euros. Supporting artists directly, even without public funding, is part of our mission. The Ghent International Short Film Festival isn’t just growing—it’s becoming essential.”
This year’s jury recognized outstanding achievements across a broad spectrum of categories:
Best Film
The Dream of Joseph (France) — François Hébert
Best Narrative Film
Latchkey Kids (Norway) — Sindre Mangen Haram
Best Documentary Film
Who Loves the Sun (Canada) — Arshia Shakiba
Best Experimental Film
Dearest Ghost (Estonia) — Margaret Mäses
Best Animated Film
Tennis, Oranges (USA) — Sean Pecknold
Best Kids Film
Ultraviolet (Belgium/Netherlands) — Veerle De Wilde
Best Music Video
Shake Stew – Lila (Austria) — Rupert Höller
Best Connecting Cultures Film
The Steak (Canada, Iran) — Kiarash Dadgar
Best Dance Film
Do Not Dance (Germany) — Julian Quentin, Marie Heleen Samrotzki
Best Belgian Film
Bad Bad Belgium (Belgium) — Jasper Declercq, Wouter Medaer, Jonas Wellens
Best Underground Film
Spell (Brazil) — Khalil Charif
A heartfelt congratulations to all participating filmmakers for their inspiring work. The festival extends its gratitude to Studio Skoop and Velvet Room for their invaluable support in making this edition a reality.
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ABOUT GHENT INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Ghent International Short Film Festival recognizes the important role short films have in cinema, storytelling, and culture. The festival discovers, supports and develops new talent in filmmaking, providing a platform for emerging and established filmmakers from around the world. The Ghent International Short Film Festival is a new annual event that aims to screen up to 100 short films. Connecting industry and audiences, the festival celebrates the creativity, diversity and impact of short film.
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