One thing that has long been an indispensable part of our program: our short films! In two diverse blocks, we’ll be showing you genre-based short films from all over the world, with the goal of entertaining you in every way imaginable. Sometimes it’s creepy, sometimes cheesy, sometimes hard-hitting, and sometimes super soft. As always, there’s something for every taste. This year, we’re screening 14 short films, 10 of which are in the running for the Méliès D’Argent, the jury award presented by all member festivals of the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF). Our winner will then be sent to the final round in Sitges. You can find more information about our jury below.
In addition, you can look forward to 7 international highlights that are not competing in the festival. But they’re all vying for your attention, because any of them could win your hearts and take home our Audience Award, the “Silver Razor Blade.” Long story short—here’s our short film program!
SHORT & HOART 1 | Fri, Apr 17, 2026 | 10:30 p.m.
- YOU MUST SEE IT (ESP 2025 | Nacho Solana) – In Competition
- DARK DILEMMA (Germany 2026 | Christian Fernandez Larrere) – In Competition
- STRETCHER (FR 2025 | Thibault Fauconnet) – In Competition
- BAIT (ESP 2025 | Martha G. Ayerbe) – In Competition
- KNITTING CLUB (PRT 2025 | Diogo Abrantes) – In Competition
- THE NEW FLESH (BRA 2025 | Luciana Malavasi)
- THE SEEING EYE DOG WHO SAW TOO MUCH (USA 2025 | Eric Jackowitz)
In this short film program, you will see seven films from six countries, including five German premieres and two world premieres. Guests will also be in attendance.
SHORT & HOART 2 | Sat, April 18, 2026 | 10:30 p.m.
- GIMME (USA 2025 | Steven Schloss)
- ÅTERSÅDD (SWE 2025 | Emanu Garnheim) – In Competition
- THE NEST (ESP 2025 | Ignatio Rodó) – In Competition
- THE INSPECTOR (ESP 2025 | Jandro) – In Competition
- COMPOST (FRA 2025 | Jennifer Lumbroso) – In Competition
- THE STOLEN FUTURE (IND 2025 | Vedd V Rawtaani)
- SHUT UP AND SUFFER (Germany 2024 | Emma Bading) – In Competition
In this short film program, you’ll see seven films from six countries, including three German premieres and one international premiere. Guests have already registered for this event as well.
THE JURY
Valeria Bistagnino
Valeria was born in Buenos Aires and attended film school there. Although she has steadily gained international recognition, she has remained connected to her homeland. In 2018, she co-founded the production company Mostra Cine with Tomás Eloy Muñoz, which is dedicated to films with a social context. Unlike in this country, genre is not overlooked here. Valeria is the producer of our opening film, which premiered at Sundance. Her resume includes other genre works such as “When Evil Lurks” and “Los Que Vuelven.” Who, if not her, has an eye for the next big talent?
Elinor Lewy
Having grown up in Israel, Elinor “Eli” Lewy moved to Berlin in the 2010s, where she teamed up with Lara Mandelbrot and Sara Neidorf to launch an event that is likely unique worldwide: a horror festival focused exclusively on films featuring and about women. Over the course of its past eleven editions, Final Girls has become a key pillar of the festival scene, and Eli is one of its central figures. Her perspective is indispensable in an era when the male gaze is losing its hold, particularly in genre cinema.
Christopher Tauber
Christopher “Piwi” Tauber is a Frankfurt native, even though he has since lived in Stuttgart, Berlin, and even Offenbach. He has made a name for himself primarily as a comic artist with a penchant for subcultures: *The Three Investigators*, metal, as well as trash and horror films. His approach is always a deconstructive one. On the one hand, he breaks down the obvious into its individual parts; on the other, he reassembles them into a whole, opening up new, fresh perspectives. Thus, the ??? as adults are juxtaposed with coloring pages for metalheads. HARD:LINE at its core—what more could you want?
