Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival 2026
17 May 2026 | 10:00–13:50
ABF Stockholm – Zätasalen
Sveavägen 41, Stockholm
This year's edition is held in collaboration with ABF Stockholm and takes place in the Zäta hall. During the day, a selection of officially selected films will be shown on the big screen, followed by an awards ceremony where this year's winner will be announced.
Celebrate the power and creativity of filmmaking! Watch short films from around the world and experience unique stories on the big screen
Officiell trailer från den andra upplagan av Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival i Stockholm.
En hyllning till independentfilm, internationella filmskapare, livesamtal och oförglömliga publikögonblick.
BLOCK 2 – Official Competition (Screening)(Winners of the 2026 Edition)
BLOCK 1 – Official Competition (Screening)(Finalists)
Festivalprogram
BLOCK 1
MAY 17 | 10:30 – 11:15
- Official Competition I
Finalists Screening
Opening: 10:20
Screening Program:
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Broken
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Directed by Angelo Donzella
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Italy
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The Penrose Triangle
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Directed by Kai Groenwald
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Germany
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The Shell
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Directed by Marco Santos
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Portugal
SCH
Finalists
Total Runtime:0:43:46
BLOCK 1
MAY 17 | 11:15 – 11:45
Audience Voting & Break (30 min)
Vote for your favorite film from Block 1.
The selected film will receive the
Audience Award.
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QR Code Voting
SCH
BLOCK 2
MAY 17 | 11:45 – 13:00
- Official Competition II
Award Winners Screening
SCH
Screening Program:
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Awin
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Directed by Behrooz Bagheri
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Iran
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Stray
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Directed by Anna Drake, Marjo Palokangas
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Sweden
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Homeless
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Directed by Rikard Westman
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Sweden
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Aylan
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Directed by Berhan Mete Arkin
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Slovenia
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Hobby
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Directed by Julia Matilda Boström
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Sweden
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To the Moon and Back
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Directed by Julia Marie Randrup
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Denmark
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The Art of Resistance
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Directed by Mehran Abasian
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Sweden
Total Runtime:1:13:36
MAY 17 | 13:00 – 13:30
BLOCK 2
Closing Ceremony
SCH
Trophy Presentation, Audience Award & Group Photos
Awards are presented in each category.
The Audience Choice Award winner is announced and receives their prize.
Representatives of the winning films who are present are invited on stage to accept their awards.
Finally, all guests are invited for photos at the festival’s photo wall – on the red carpet.
Closing 13:30
Emerging Visions – Non-Screening
(Semi-Finalists)
Emerging Visions – Non-Screening
(Quarter-Finalists)
Selected Films – Non-Screening
Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival is an annual celebration of the art of short film. It brings together creative filmmakers from all over the world to share their unique stories. The festival offers a platform for both new and established talents to showcase their work, compete in multiple categories and network with industry professionals. Submit your film and be part of this unique film experience!
Program and competition categories
Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival offers an exciting program that highlights short films in various genres and styles. Our competitions offer filmmakers an opportunity to show their creativity and compete in several categories, judged by a professional jury.
Categories in visual blocks:
Each category is presented in a separate visual block
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Best Short Film – For the festival's most creative and engaging film.
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Best Director – For the director who creates a unique and powerful vision.
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Best Actor – For the most memorable acting performance.
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Best Screenplay – For the most original and well-crafted screenplay.
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Best Cinematography – For technical brilliance and visual storytelling.
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Best Short Documentary – For strong and insightful documentary stories.
Competition conditions
To participate in the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival, you need to follow these rules and conditions:
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The film may be a maximum of 20 minutes long.
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Format: MP4 or MOV with at least Full HD resolution.
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If the film is not in English, it must have English subtitles.
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The film must have been produced within the last two years.
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Only original works are accepted; plagiarism is prohibited.
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By submitting your film, you agree that we may show it during the festival and use it in our marketing materials.
Festival schedule
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Deadline for submission: April 17, 2026
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Announcement of selected films: March 20, 2026
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Festival days: May 1, 2026
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Award ceremony: May 17, 2026
What do participants win?
The winners in each category will receive the prestigious Swedish Cinema House statuette and a unique opportunity to participate in the festival's panel discussions and workshops.
Swedish Cinema House Film Festival May 31, 2025 – Highlights
Meet the Jury
Our jury consists of award-winning screenwriters, directors and film educators with extensive experience in storytelling and cinematic craft. Each jury member brings their own unique perspective – together they represent a strong and diverse voice that highlights the most moving short films of 2026.
Ali Memarchi – Director and StorytellerAli Memarchi är kreatör och regissör som rör sig mellan film, drama och reklam med ett starkt visuellt och emotionellt berättande. Hans arbete präglas av verkliga berättelser. Han har regisserat kampanjer för globala varumärken och berättelser som lyfter människor i samhällets marginaler med värme, integritet och kraft.
We are proud to welcome Ali Memarchi as a jury member of the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival 2026.
Reza Bagher – Director and Screenwriter
Reza Bagher is an award-winning Swedish film director and screenwriter with a versatile and accomplished career. He has written and directed several acclaimed feature films, including:
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Wings of Glass (2000) – Winner of the Children’s Film Prize at the Nordische Filmtage Lübeck in 2001
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Capricciosa (2003) – Winner of the Golden Starfish Award for Best International Feature at the Hamptons International Film Festival
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Popular Music from Vittula (2004) – Screened at Berlinale and awarded the Just Film Award for Best Youth Film at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
His films are known for their strong characters, cultural richness, and deep emotional storytelling.
We are proud to welcome Reza Bagher as a jury member of the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival 2026.
Adriano Forti Production Designer, Filmmaker, 3D & VFX Artist
graduate of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Set Design for Cinema and TV, Adriano Forti has an
extensive multidisciplinary background. His expertise spans drawing, filmmaking, set design, 3D modeling,
animation, and VFX for cinema, television, and real-time game engines, alongside soundtrack composition.
Driven by this broad artistic vision, he directed and produced the feature film Lost in the Woods, a dark
fantasy freely inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, which received international critical acclaim.
He has also worked as a Production Designer and Set Decorator on various feature and short films, and as a
3D/VFX Artist on television commercials for major international brands. Furthermore, he contributes as a
film reviewer for the independent editorial project Popcorn & Podcast.We are proud to welcome Adriano Forti as a jury member of the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival 2026.
Amir Mohammad – 3D Character Animator and VFX Compositing
Amir Mohammad began his professional career in 2009, quickly transitioning from working on television series to contributing to the film industry. Over the years, he has served as a Visual Effects Supervisor and Compositing Supervisor on six feature films.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering and pursued further education in Italian Language and Literature at the University of Milan, Italy. Additionally, he completed specialized training in animation at Animation Mentor School, with a focus on advanced body mechanics—providing him with both a technical and artistic foundation in animation and visual storytelling.
His portfolio includes producing two animated mini-series (with a combined runtime of approximately 100 minutes), directing a feature film, and creating several commercial shorts. One of his most notable works is the Google Space Shelter commercial, a high-profile project that garnered international attention.
We are proud to have him as a jury member in the Animation & VFX category of the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival 2026.
Hooman Sadeghloo – Director, Screenwriter, and Director of Photography
Hooman Sadeghloo has over 26 years of professional experience in media and filmmaking. Throughout his career, he has worked across various fields including directing short films, screenwriting, documentary production, television program production, and serving as a director of photography (DOP).
He has produced seven short films that have been showcased and awarded at numerous international film festivals.
Hooman has also been actively involved in multiple documentary projects and television content production, gaining extensive experience in visual storytelling and creative media production.
In 2024, he founded Swedish Cinema House, a cultural platform dedicated to nurturing talents, offering educational opportunities, and fostering collaboration within Sweden's film industry.
