Memories in the night, threatening to engulf us. Explorations in an abandoned village. A panopticon of horror between media spectacle, self-optimization, and the loss of autonomy. The winning films of Vienna Shorts 2024 depict a distorted reflection of our world—or rather, a reflection of our distorted world. These are visions of darkness, sometimes spun in mystery and gloom, but at other times with humor and clarity, lifting the veil before our eyes. What remains of our humanity, our stories, our hope in the end?

Daniel Ebner, Artistic Director of Vienna Shorts