We envision Leiden Shorts as both an alternative and sustainable creative space for national and international filmmakers to showcase their distinct voices. Our vision is in part to aid in the exploration of the storytelling power that short films have. Leiden Shorts aims to create a conversation that has far reaching impact sustained outside of the festival. We believe in cinema as a tool for social change, and we want to become an outspoken figure in both Leiden and the Netherlands’ cultural scene. We fully embrace diversity and inclusivity, not only in culture but also in discipline, medium and expression.

Highlighting passionate work that explores underrepresented narratives through unique aesthetics is at the heart of our curatorial practice. Our central focus is on creating a diverse and cohesive experience where a variety of different media can come together, where technology in cinema is met with interactive documentaries, VR films and other groundbreaking media

Above all, Leiden Shorts views art as a self-sustaining cycle that simultaneously shapes communities while it is shaped by the communities it’s created in. Our film competitions, as well as our growing collaborations with international figures and arts festivals, are just some of the ways in which we move to transform the future of short film.