Filmfest Dresden with record number of entries

More productions than ever before have been submitted for the Dresden Film Festival in April. In total, the screening committee for the 38th edition of the festival has to review around 3,800 films, compared to 3,400 last year, the organizers announced in Dresden. Under the title "Work in Progress", the focus from April 14 to 19 will be on films about labor justice, solidarity and the future of work. The films will be screened in a national, an international and a so-called Central German competition. The festival specializes in short films and animated films.

Festival finds itself in a financially strained situation

At the same time, the organizers spoke on their own behalf. The financial situation remains tense, they said. "The costs for production and implementation have been rising continuously for years - particularly as a result of ongoing inflation - while funding is not only not growing in line with this, but is continuing to decline overall," explained festival director Anne Gaschütz. This year, too, the festival is affected by the budget freeze of the city of Dresden, which corresponds to a reduction of ten percent.

Focus also on Latvia and Québec (Canada)

This year, one focus is dedicated to films from Latvia. The festival is also celebrating a birthday with the "Focus Québec", which is honoring the film work of the francophone Canadian province for the 20th time. The program section has long since established itself as an audience favorite and will celebrate its anniversary with international guests, it was added.

With prize money of more than 70,000 euros, Filmfest Dresden is one of the most highly endowed short film festivals in Europe. The complete program of the 38th festival edition will be presented on 24 March at the Schauburg Dresden film theater.