For over seven decades, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen has served as a vital platform for short-form cinema, maintaining a rigorous commitment to artistic innovation and formal experimentation. The festival's history is intertwined with the evolution of the short film as a distinct art form, and its competitions remain a benchmark for curatorial excellence. The 72nd edition will take place from 28 April to 3 May 2026, presenting a program that spans competitions and curated sections. Oberhausen is not merely a showcase but a discursive space where filmmakers, critics, and audiences engage with the pressing aesthetic and political questions of the moving image. The festival's enduring support for independent and non-commercial work has made it a destination for artists whose practices resist easy categorization. While specific prizes and fees are not detailed in the provided information, the festival's reputation ensures that selected works receive significant visibility within the international film community. The curatorial vision of Oberhausen is rooted in a deep respect for the short film as a medium capable of radical inquiry. The festival seeks works that challenge conventional narrative and visual languages, whether through experimental, documentary, or hybrid forms. It is a context where the short film is treated with the same seriousness and critical attention as feature-length cinema, making it an essential venue for practitioners committed to the possibilities of the form.