Is it short? let it roarrrrr!
From May 29 until June 02, Leiden Shorts returns for its 2026 edition, transforming the city into a space for short-form cinema that engages directly with the realities shaping our present. Across five days, the festival will present a wide-ranging programme of international and national works, bringing together filmmakers who reflect on the conditions we live in today. From geopolitical conflict and displacement to technological systems and everyday resistance, the programme traces how personal lives are shaped by larger structures, and how cinema can hold, question, and reframe these experiences.
Each year, Leiden Shorts receives over 1,400 submissions from more than 70 countries. Over the course of five days, the festival presents more than 120 short films in a variety of genres from around the world. Our core programme includes three competitions—for national, international, and debut films—along with thematic and focus programmes, industry and networking events, and opportunities for in-depth discussion through panels, Q&As, and workshops. In 2026, for the second time, the festival is proud to host the European Short Pitch Coproduction Forum. Leiden Shorts continues to be a vibrant, evolving festival that nurtures talent, broadens perspectives, and creates meaningful opportunities for connection.
Programme:
To view the full programme please visit the webiste.
Hope to see you there!
