Short Film Competitions | Manifesto
The competitions in the context of the festival
The FiSH – Filmfestival im StadtHafen Rostock showcases the artistic diversity of a generation, bringing together international filmmakers and audiences, and offering the chance to discover the unique traits and commonalities of young film cultures. With the German competition JUNGER FILM and the Northern European competition OFFshorts – Young Baltic Cinema, two core programs have been established, focusing on filmmaking both in Germany and the Northern European region. Additional nationwide competitions include the project-based Medienkompetenz-Preis MV and the music video competition PopFiSH.
The mere admission of a film to the competitions, is a distinction of cinematic quality and originality.
FiSH is an audience festival that enables filmmakers to experience their own films in high technical image and sound quality and a resonating space of at least 150 to 300 film enthusiasts
FiSH is a discursive festival that enables filmmakers to experience their own films in public jury discussions, film discussions on stage and in subsequent expert and debating discussions by the audience.
Admission to the competitions
One of our aims is to reach out to as many young filmmakers up to the age of 26 as possible, both nationwide and in Northern Europe, and to invite them to submit their films in the festival’s competitions.
Films are admitted under the following conditions:
films may not be older than two years
the directors may not be older than 26 years at the time of the film’s completion, whereby the participation of older people in the film production is not a criterion for exclusion
films have to be non-commercial, (i.e., films that are not made for profit or in other economic contexts – such as commissioned production)
films must not exceed 30 minutes in length
Film competitions and selection committees
The competition programs aim to capture the thematically and technically intriguing trends and innovations of a film season. Our selection committee members are expected to demonstrate both aesthetic tolerance and a broad range of interests in the reception and evaluation of diverse content and aesthetic expressions.
Selection criteria
the film has “heart and soul”, meaning it is thematically relevant and authentic, conveying something to its audience that deeply moves the filmmaker and is of immense importance — something the audience can truly feel.
the cinematic narrative is fresh and unconventional, ideally original and innovative, while the film language is crafted with skill
the film has the potential to captivate the audience, entertain and challenge them, provoke emotions, and inspire reactions, leading to discussions
the decisive criterion is the content of the story, prioritized over the narrative form, as far as that can be distinguished at all
we look forward to submissions that present a fair and modern portrayal of social categories such as gender, origin, or age. Sexualized or racist insults are not part of that
Award juries
the expert juries, composed of a diverse range of members, award prizes in the various competitions through discussions held publicly on stage for films that meet the aforementioned criteria.
Last revised in October 2024 by the FiSH Festival Team.