20MIN|MAX SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Seeking quality through wealth of genres

As we do not set any limits with regard to film genres, our festival offers a holistic overview of the current short film scene. The diversity of the genre shall be underlined by showing blocks of films; this allows the spectator to both compare and understand the ways in which short films can be designed, which topics they can address, and the fashion in which these topics can be approached. Screening the films in this manner should, on the one hand, create awareness of the fact that short films ought not to be written off as mere support for full-length movies; and, on the other hand, emphasize the selection process itself as well as the dramaturgical order of the program, which are of the utmost importance at times where we have seemingly limitless access to videos of any kind at our disposal.
We would like to offer an independent, manifold, unusual yet still coherent program choice which might question, train, amuse, or simply satisfy the spectator and his visual perception of film.

The origins: festival history

In October 2005, Peter Rein, artistic director of the Theater Ingolstadt, and Michael Klarner, former managing director of Ingolstadt’s television station INTV (until the end of 2008), came up with the idea of establishing a film festival in Ingolstadt. For one night, short films by filmmakers from Ingolstadt were screened at the Theater Ingolstadt, hence giving local filmmakers a platform for their work. The idea formed the foundation for Ingolstadt’s own film festival, 20min|max, which first took place on May 12th, 2006. Since then, it stands by its name: films may derive from any genre so long as they do not exceed the maximum length of 20 minutes. By imposing only one guideline, the festival turns out to be a fascinating and suspenseful mixture of documentaries, feature films, music videos, animated films, cartoons and video art.
The first festival in 2006 was a one-day event at the Theater Ingolstadt, celebrated as a ‘Long Night of Short Films.’ Yet, the festival was extended the following year to a second day and expanded to a larger venue – the Audi Repertory Cinema. The success was remarkable: 20min|max sparked interest not only throughout Germany, but throughout Europe as well. One dared to extend the festival to four days in 2008 (after a gap in 2007, when Ingolstadt was host of the 26th Bavarian Theater Days): three days at the Audi Repertory Cinema and the final day, including the award ceremony, at Theater Ingolstadt. The third manifestation in 2009 enjoyed great popularity and was sold out each day. For that reason, in 2010, the festival took place over a five day period, from 2013 on seven days, as it will in 2016.

The competition: flexible award categories

Every film chosen to be part of the festival is automatically entered into the competition as well. The award categories are defined de novo each year by the jury; by approaching the awards in this fashion, we try to reflect new and different tendencies and trends within the short film movement and to give credit to those most noteworthy. In 2015, close to 90 short films were screened during the five consecutive festival days. Awards included a prize worth 1500 € for best international short film.

The impuls: success follows Ingolstadt

As soon as 2006, it became evident that the festival would have an impact far beyond regional scope, as films were handed in not only from Ingolstadt and the surrounding area, but also from other parts of Germany, Austria or Switzerland. With each passing year, moviemakers from Europe and around the world would become increasingly aware of 20min|max. However, the regional aspect is still of paramount importance: just as in former years, we will be proud to feature films from the “South” (Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg) in 2016. We wish to favor an exchange between local creative professionals and like-minded persons, broadening the opportunities for all.

The appearance: a movie of its own

The visual concept of 20min|max (e.g. posters, brochures, festival trailer) is created by the design agency xhoch4. Each year, the festival is dedicated to a certain artistic theme – a conceptual approach that appeals to art, graphic art, experimentation and distinct expression. This theme then applies to the whole festival up to the award ceremony on the last day.
 

Brevity is the soul of wit

In other words: by focusing on the essential, short films deal with their cinematic themes and topics in a particular, concise, effective and striking fashion. It is the short film that allows us to capture central aspects of a plot it in a direct, nebulous, amusing, exciting and artistic way – and that is what 20min|max stands for.