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Next Generation Short Tiger 2026: German Short Films in Dresden and Canne

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For the sixth time, the new short film program NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER will celebrate its premiere this year at Filmfest Dresden, before being presented to an international audience one month later at the Festival de Cannes.

For the 16th edition of this joint initiative by FFA and German Films to support short films and emerging talent, this year’s jury members—director Anna Roller (ALLEGRO PASTELL, Face to Face with German Films 2026), Sarah Dombrink (interfilm Berlin), and Andreas Heidenreich (Kommunales Kino Weiterstadt, board member of the Federal Association of Municipal Cinemas)—selected ten short films from 99 submissions.

The 38th Filmfest Dresden (April 14–19, 2026), with its high-quality film program, extensive networking opportunities, and numerous international industry guests, provides the perfect platform for the premiere presentation of NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2026. The screening will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 4:00pm at Schauburg. On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the new short film program will then be presented as a market screening at the Marché du Film of the Festival de Cannes (6:15pm at Olympia 2).

“‘Work in Progress’ is the theme of this year’s Filmfest Dresden, and that fits perfectly with NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER,” remarks Jolinde Sawahn, Deputy Board Member of the FFA and Head of Funding. “The initiative advances the work of the selected filmmakers by supporting them through screenings, training, and—in the case of the SHORT TIGER winners—prize money and a distribution contract. I wish the 2026 cohort all the best on their journey, which begins in Dresden!”

“Supporting outstanding talent is a major concern for German Films. NEXT GENERATION together with SHORT TIGER not only has a long tradition but also represents a very important building block,” says Simone Baumann, Managing Director of German Films. “The filmmakers in the new selection draw inspiration from their personal experiences while also addressing social themes from the past, present, and future—with a wide variety of perspectives and styles.”

 

The films of NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2026:

 

Detailed information on all films and filmmakers is available here.

 

After the premiere in Dresden, registered users will be able to view the selected films on the industry platforms Festivalscope Pro and T-Port. Industry professionals can also request a personal screening link from German Films (nextgeneration@german-films.de). Cinemas in Germany can book the SHORT TIGER award-winning films for their programs through the distribution services of Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg.

Following their premieres in Dresden and Cannes, the program will be screened at festivals of German cinema organized by German Films abroad, including in Buenos Aires, Paris, Rome, and Madrid.

The joint initiative NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER by German Films and the FFA has existed since 2011. The requirements for the FFA’s SHORT TIGER AWARD are: a maximum length of seven minutes, entertaining and innovative storytelling, and strong suitability for theatrical release. An expert jury determines the winning films and awards prize money of €5,000 each. NEXT GENERATION was launched by German Films in 1997 to present emerging talents from German film schools internationally. Submissions for the program must not exceed 15 minutes. Eligible nominators include German film schools, universities of applied sciences and arts with film programs, as well as the AG Kurzfilm, which accepts applications from young talents in the independent film scene.

German Films and the FFA thank AG Kurzfilm, Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg, and Filmfest Dresden for their support of NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2026.

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