Every year Oberhausen attracts filmmakers, festival representatives, curators, buyers, journalists, distributors and, last but not least, an enthusiastic short film audience. For filmmakers around the globe, the festival is a platform where they can present their work to the public and network with buyers, other festivals and distributors.

Oberhausen is interested in non-conformist films that develop their own language, take un-conventional standpoints and dare to experiment. International submissions must not have been shown at another German festival before Oberhausen.

For all films that do not make the final cut, the festival will once again offer an Open Screening.

Launched in 2009, this programme gives filmmakers who have submitted a work that was not selected for competition the opportunity to still show their film to the festival audience. On one condition: they must come to Oberhausen to present their work in person.

The registration period begins with the announcement of the competition selections in mid-March.

Oberhausen organizes the following competitions. Entries are automatically forwarded to the right selection committee depending on the country of production:

International Competition
Open to film and video formats, maximum 35 minutes in length Awards totalling 24,000 €

German Competition
Open to film and video formats, maximum 45 minutes in length Awards totalling 7,500 €

NRW Competition
Open to film and video formats, maximum 45 minutes in length Awards totalling 1,500 €

Children’s and Youth Film Competition
All entries to the International and German Competitions that are appropriate for this competition will be previewed
Awards totalling 2,000 €, conferred by two juries of children and young people

The MuVi Award for the best German music video has its own set of regulations and entry form.

How do I submit my film?
1. Read regulations carefully, fill in and sign the entry form.

2. Send a preview DVD before the entry deadline, together with all the required documents, to Oberhausen – or submit the film by the deadline via www.reelport.com.

3. Wait until the independent committees have previewed all submissions.

4. Filmmakers whose entries have been selected for competition will be informed by email only in mid-March 2010. Therefore, please make sure to provide a valid email address with your submission. Mid-March 2010 a list of all titles chosen for the competitions will be available online.

5. The Festival invites all filmmakers whose works have been selected for the competitions to Oberhausen.

6. After the festival, Oberhausen purchases some of the works screened at the Festival for its international short film distribution.