Short days, short films

November sucks. Christmas is still too far away to celebrate, no one is on holiday and the beautiful autumn landscape is disfigured by the snowless onset of winter. November, this defacement, is therefore ideal for organisers. Is there a better month to sink into a soft armchair in a heated, dark room and watch films on the big screen? November is cinema time. And the International Short Film Festival Winterthur comes just at the right time.

Full disclosure: I am on the organising team of the Short Film Festival. As a teenager I became a member out of a misunderstanding and since then I have somehow been doing countless hours of voluntary work.

Accordingly, I am naturally biased. I love this festival and highly recommend everyone to attend. In the spirit of balanced reporting, I therefore also allow myself a critical observation here:

Be careful with the international competition. If you want to get your fill of visual art, you've come to the right place. If you want to get what it's all about, rather not.

The good news is, there are plenty of options at the Short Film Festival for this taste as well. I'm very excited about the short films in the big focus, which this year is dedicated to Canada - a country with a great film culture. And the Hors-Concours programmes are also safe values, although the Dismissed is better enjoyed drunk.

Anyway, the importance of the festival bar in the Kraftfeld should not be underestimated. Malicious tongues say that film festivals are just another fig leaf for feeling cultured and getting drunk at the same time. I think that's a generalisation, but we do offer this service.

Thursday night I'm in charge of the bar, DJ Fancystuff and Dr. Brunner play. Anyone who stays until 2:30 a.m. and then tells me the code word "Kulturzüri" gets a free shot.

Don't worry, on my first visit to a short film day I also sat in the dark completely without a plan and asked myself what I had gotten myself into now. But getting into short films is really no problem at all: you don't need any prior knowledge, preparation or prejudices, because the films are - as the name suggests - short and accordingly, in an emergency, over again quickly. No matter which programme you choose, something will always appeal, touch, fascinate. And yet: the sheer amount of events can be overwhelming for a newbie. So here are my personal must-sees:

Züri Shorts
I've been filtering into Winti for this since before I became a resident: A selection of short films by local filmmakers that offer a new perspective on your own canton. Particularly appealing: recognising film locations: Züri Shorts

Hot Shorts
Probably the most entertaining programme of the Short Film Festival: Sometimes funny, sometimes thought-provoking, and always hot hot hot! Hot Shorts

Sparks I and II
The perfect introduction: Originally designed as a youth programme and appropriately accessible and varied. Sparks I and II

Kill Your Darlings: Dismissed
If you want to experience the Winti scene in the wild and discover not-quite-soberly shot-down competition shows in the middle of the night, this is the place to be. Kill Your Darlings: Dismissed

Best-of
An insider tip that marks the unofficial end of the festival: The favourite films of the current edition are gathered here once again. Best-of

In addition, of course, there are the competition programmes (inter- and national), where you can play jury yourself and get to know filmmakers:inside; two countries and an artist in focus (Nigeria, Canada and Willy Hans); and a wide range of special and family programmes, concerts, exhibitions and gala events.