Due to the current situation, we regret to announce that this year’s FiSH film festival in Rostock, scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 3 2020, is cancelled in its physical form.

We were expecting around 100 filmmakers from Germany and the Baltic Sea region to attend the festival in Ros- tock, to present their films, have them discussed by and with hundreds of short film enthusiasts and experts, and for the best to receive awards — as every year since 2004.

However, the current COVID-19 pandemic presents everyone with new and major challenges, making a festival expecting around 3500 visitors unthinkable. To keep all risks as low as possible for the public health and safety, and guided by our common and individual responsibility to prevent the virus from spreading, we are announcing the cancellation of the FiSH 2020 as a physical festival experience.

We would like to thank all the young filmmakers, film professionals, and the audience of the festival for their understanding. Many of the partners and patrons that have been associated with the festival for several years have already signalled us their ongoing support, among them the State Chancellery of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock, and the Media Agency of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

We will spend the coming days and weeks discussing the possible alternatives and will keep you up to date with the developments.