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Open Air Filmfest Weiterstadt
Open Air Filmfest Weiterstadt
Carl-Ulrich-Str. 9-11, 64331 Weiterstadt
Events: at the edge of the Weiterstadt forest, in Braunshardt Tännchen and in the film tent
see website
International short films, from emerging talent to award winners of major festivals, are screened, showcasing a diverse range of films from all genres. The program also includes live music, a short film poetry slam, the legendary Super 8 competition with an audience award, screenings of the winners from the 32nd Rüsselsheim Film Festival, and consultations for short filmmakers by the Short Film Working Group.
The Weiterstadt Open-Air Film Festival began in 1977 as a spontaneous response to low cinema attendance in the summer: initially, it was an open-air screening in the Braunshardter Tännchen forest, supplemented by short Super 8 productions. In the following years, the festival grew steadily: in 1978 it was a two-day event, and in 1979 it was four days. The 1980s and 1990s saw program expansion, technical diversification (Super 8 → 16mm, 35mm, video, later digital formats), and the inclusion of international films. In 1986/87, British filmmaker Tony Hill established the festival within the film industry; audience numbers and submissions increased steadily (1999: 543 submissions, approximately 8,000–9,000 viewers). Funding remained precarious, but grants and sponsors (including the Hessian Film Fund, Skoda, and Software AG) provided crucial support. In 1997, the Weiterstadt Film Deer for Super 8 was added. Structural reforms (film tent, parallel programs, youth offerings) and retrospectives shaped its profile. By 2002, the festival had solidified its role as an internationally renowned short film forum with approximately €30,000 in funding.