»Quality is not to be measured in hours, even if it is rapidly becoming the norm for culture to be packed into 90-minute bundles to suit the rhythm of football. It doesn’t have to be like this, there are alternatives – short ones which can be measured in minutes.«

The ShortFilmAgency was established in October 1992 with the aim of setting up new distribution structures for short films and improving the ones which already existed. Its arrival on the scene added impetus to the ambitious movement intent upon liberating the short film from its corner of the film festival circuit and releasing it back into its natural habitat – the cinema. Challenging the might of cinema advertising and trying to re-animate the tradition of the pre-feature short has been a struggle the likes of which hasn’t been seen since David last went toe-to-toe with Goliath.
The ShortFilmAgency’s short film leasing service was set up in 1994 and now provides around 250 cinemas with a regular supply of short films for their programmes – and the numbers are still growing. It may sound like wishful thinking to dream of short films and adverts co-existing in the pre-feature zone but the reality is »coming to a screen near you« faster than you may imagine if it is not already there.

The big idea for the 18th International ShortFilmFestival Hamburg is probably best described as »13 plus one«. We are presenting 14 programmes made up of films from those promoted and leased out by the agency’s short film leasing service – including a host of prize-winning films from all over the world and audience favourites from previous festivals.
Anyone who has ever done business with the occupants of Friedensallee 7 will already be well aware that the ShortFilmAgency is the best contact when it comes to all your queries concerning short films. If for no other reason than because the agency works hard to ensure that no-one involved in the politics and financing of cinema is ever in any doubt that the short film is a legitimate art form and an excellent proving ground for young talent. The distribution department is responsible for the worldwide promotion and distribution of a carefully selected catalogue of short films. The expertise and capability of the agency staff is regularly called upon by those working with similar and partner film festivals – for example, the Goethe Institute gave the ShortFilmAgency the job of putting together programmes of German short films to be shown as part of its work promoting German culture all over the world.

The dream lives on – meanwhile, in the real world, the ShortFilmAgency’s first ten years in business is going to be celebrated. On Thursday, June 13th, DJ Markus Schaefer – fellow founder and former business chief of the ShortFilm-Agency – will do his best to drive us all as mad as wobbly cows and herd us gently into the dancehall slaughterhouse – where and when? The Festival Club at Harkortstrasse 125, starts at 11 pm. There will of course be the odd interruption from Jörg Wagner, formerly of the short film leasing service, who intends to regale all and sundry with curious items from the short film agency’s archive and mailbox, all to the accompaniment of moving pictures telling stories and capturing the spirit of the time projected on to a screen. Entertainment guaranteed.