Third Edition of Ghent International Short Film Festival Draws Full Houses and Big Praise

Ghent, 25 March 2025 — The Ghent International Short Film Festival wrapped its third edition this past week with a resounding success, further cementing its reputation as a must-attend event for short film lovers. This annual celebration of independent cinema welcomed a diverse lineup of 58 shorts from Belgium and around the world, selected from nearly a thousand submissions. The program embraced all genres, with a dedicated “Teen Proof” screening that showcased films suitable for viewers aged 9 and up.

Festival director and curator Kris De Meester reflects on the momentum:  

“This edition surpassed everything we hoped for. What began as a modest initiative turned into a week of sold-out screenings and vibrant exchanges between filmmakers and audiences—some sessions were so packed, people sat on the floor. We had no advertising budget, no government funding, and yet the response was overwhelming. That speaks volumes about the hunger for bold, independent cinema in Ghent. We’ve stayed true to our principles: no red carpets, no flashy parties, no artistic compromises—and a minimal carbon footprint, which we offset by planting 200 trees through TreePlan.org.

And still, we’re proud to say that every one of the 58 selected filmmakers received The Tarkovski Grant, worth 500 euros. Supporting artists directly, even without public funding, is part of our mission. The Ghent International Short Film Festival isn’t just growing—it’s becoming essential.”

This year’s jury recognized outstanding achievements across a broad spectrum of categories:

Best Film 

The Dream of Joseph (France) — François Hébert

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Best Narrative Film

Latchkey Kids (Norway) — Sindre Mangen Haram

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Best Documentary Film  

Who Loves the Sun (Canada) — Arshia Shakiba

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Best Experimental Film  

Dearest Ghost (Estonia) — Margaret Mäses

Best Animated Film

Tennis, Oranges (USA) — Sean Pecknold

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Best Kids Film  

Ultraviolet (Belgium/Netherlands) — Veerle De Wilde

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Best Music Video 

Shake Stew – Lila (Austria) — Rupert Höller

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Best Connecting Cultures Film 

The Steak (Canada, Iran) — Kiarash Dadgar

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Best Dance Film  

Do Not Dance (Germany) — Julian Quentin, Marie Heleen Samrotzki

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Best Belgian Film

Bad Bad Belgium (Belgium) — Jasper Declercq, Wouter Medaer, Jonas Wellens

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Best Underground Film 

Spell (Brazil) — Khalil Charif

A heartfelt congratulations to all participating filmmakers for their inspiring work. The festival extends its gratitude to Studio Skoop and Velvet Room for their invaluable support in making this edition a reality.