Open Air Filmfest Weiterstadt

“The Woodstock of Short Film” — that’s how a British film magazine once described the unique vibe of the Open Air Filmfest Weiterstadt. And while much has evolved since then — from digital formats to new workshops and events — the heart of the festival remains the same: bringing people together to celebrate bold, creative films under the open sky.

For our 49th edition, we’re once again looking for inventive films of all styles, genres, and formats. There are no restrictions — just great storytelling. (If your film exceeds 60 minutes, please contact us before submitting.)

Expect passionate audiences, filmmakers from around the world, live music, street food, and local beer — all part of the unmistakable Weiterstadt feeling.

→ Submit your film by April 30, 2025 (earlier submissions appreciated!).
→ No entry fee for direct submissions — details on our website.

We can’t wait to see your stories!

1. More information about the submission you can find at: https://www.filmfest-weiterstadt.de
2. Due to the large number of submissions in previous years we have to restrict the length of films to 60 minutes. If you want to submit a film longer than 60 minutes, please contact the festival office before submitting it.
3. Films have to be produced in the year 2023, 2024 or 2025. Films older then 3 years may be submitted if there has not yet been a screening in Germany. It is not allowed to send the same films a second time.
4. There is no restriction to the number of entries a filmmaker may send to the festival.
5. For viewing copies a dialogue list may be sufficient, if pre-arranged with the festival.
6. Please attach a film still and short summary for the catalogue also as files (up to 700 characters including spaces in German or/ and English).
7. Viewing and projection copies / files with relevant dialogue must be in German or English language or must have German or English subtitles.
8. There is no entry fee for the filmmakers if you submit a film via e-mail and via post or courier. Please read our rules at www.filmfest-weiterstadt.de.
9. Please send a file of the film (DVD, CD, USB-Stick, others). Only Super 8 films can also be sent as film for the selection jury, if you don´t have any DVD / digital file of them. If you send the film from outside the EU, please mark it with: For cultural purpose only. Viewing copy for the selection jury. No commercial value. The viewing copies remain at the festival archive, we can not return them.
10. We will inform you for all films if they are selected or not. We try to do so as soon as possible, but please be aware that it takes time to watch all the submissions and cannot give information about the selection before we have seen all the films.
11. The shipping of selected films to the festival may be done as download or via courier. If it is done with courier, the festival covers only one way of shipping, either towards the festival or the return shipping / shipping to the next festival. Please do not send projection copies before receiving shipping information from the festival office.
12. The festival does pay a fee for the screenings if it is possible.
13. The festival supports filmmakers who visit the festival and present their selected films with some financial travel aid. However we are not able to pay the full travel costs. If films are selected, we will send more informations about that issue. Please do not make any travel arrangements before you get that information.
14. At the end of the festival there are some „best of“ screenings of selected films. The films for the „best of“ screening in Weiterstadt at the festival area are selected by the audience. The films for the „best of“ screenings in Darmstadt at the „Centralstation“ and Dresden are selected by a jury from the festival.