2026 Amsterdam International Short Film Festival, First Edition Officially Closes to a Full House at Lab111

The first edition of the Amsterdam International Short Film Festival concluded last night, February 19, with a sold-out screening at Lab111, marking a powerful and confident debut for a festival entirely dedicated to the art, urgency, and expertise of short filmmaking.

Held in the heart of Amsterdam, the night was met with an engaged and enthusiastic audience, thoughtful post-screening discussions, and a palpable sense that something essential had begun. The full house confirmed a belief at the core of the festival’s mission: short films matter, and audiences are eager to experience them in a focused, cinematic context.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our special guests — Ieva Jakusa, Annigje Peters, Ernst de Bruijn, Joey Kroon  — whose presence and generosity greatly enriched the evening and contributed to the festival’s atmosphere of exchange, curiosity, and shared passion for cinema.

Why Short Films

The Amsterdam International Short Film Festival was founded from a clear conviction: short films are not a stepping stone, but a cinematic form in their own right.

Short filmmaking demands precision, vision, and mastery. It is often where innovation happens first — formally, politically, emotionally. By launching this festival, we aim to highlight short-film expertise, give space to filmmakers who fully embrace the form, and offer audiences a concentrated experience of storytelling at its most distilled and daring.

Award Winners — First Edition

The jury proudly announced the winners of the inaugural edition:

Best Film

An excess baggage (France) — Myriam Garcia Marienstras

A deeply intimate portrait of loneliness and maternal dependency, following Sophie as her emotional world unravels when her daughter leaves for summer camp.

Best Director

NŪR (Congo) — Ryan Youngblood

A harrowing, unflinching journey into the reality of Islamic State camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo, blending reenactment and testimony to expose a hidden world.

Best Cinematography

Lovers’ Story: fragment(s) (Italy / Korea, Republic of) — Marta Irene Giotti

Three love stories unfold across one summer night in Seoul, visually capturing intimacy, jealousy, and farewell through a lyrical, fragmentary lens.

Best Drama Film

Measurements (Italy) — Marta Capossela

A chilling psychological chamber drama depicting control, abuse, and trauma within the confined space of a shared apartment.

Best Documentary Film

Dressing in Dresses (Netherlands) — Ieva Jakusa

A personal and political exploration of cultural heritage, examining how tradition is reshaped by nationalism and capitalism.

Best Experimental Film

Kiesler's Body (Austria) — Ganaël Dumreicher

An architectural and cinematic séance that resurrects Frederic Kiesler’s radical ideas, turning space itself into a living, breathing screen.

Best Animated Film

Trotter (Netherlands) — Annigje Peters & Manouk Moreau

A poetic metamorphosis tale in which a man wakes up as a horse and slowly finds belonging in a new herd.

Best Music Video

Filicide (France) — Christophe Ideal

A haunting encounter between a disabled dancer and a spectral creature, merging movement and apparition.

Looking Forward

With its first edition now officially closed, the Amsterdam International Short Film Festival has established itself as a vital new platform for short cinema, rooted in quality, risk-taking, and respect for the form.

We thank the filmmakers, jury members, guests, and — above all — the audience for making this opening edition such a strong and meaningful beginning. This is only the start.

Short films deserve the spotlight.

https://www.amsterdamshortfilmfestival.com