XPOSED Queer Film Festival Berlin · 18th Edition · May 30th - June 2nd, 2024

THE QUEER SHORT FILM FUND

The Queer Short Film Fund was set up to facilitate annual development and production of Queer Film Projects that originate from Germany. Submissions are accepted for documentary, narrative, animated or experimental projects that are queer in content and or form. Projects should ideally challenge and question normative perspectives and simultaneously broaden their vision to topics beyond traditional LGBTQIA+ representation of the mainstream niche market.

Five projects – be they narrative, documentary, animated or experimental queer shorts with a maximum length of 10 minutes – will be pre-selected as our finalists for 2025.

The five finalists will pitch their projects on Saturday, May 31st, 2025, at 16:00 CET in a public session at aquarium (next to Südblock). The jury will announce the winning project during the Lolly Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, the 1st of June.

The fund is awarded a cash prize of 1.500 €, donated by XPOSED and a voucher for filming equipment worth 2,000 €, provided by 25p.

In addition, the fund is accompanied by a mentoring programme: An industry expert advises the winner in five sessions from script development to the production phase and post-production. Our mentor this year will be Jakob M. Erwa.

The three finalists for the 11th Queer Short Film Fund will be announced soon here!

ELIGIBILITY

  • The Applicant must be the copyright holder of the project.
  • The Applicant must have made at least 1 short film as a director to be eligible.
  • The Applicant must live in Germany.
  • Student projects are eligible, as long as they retain the rights of the film.
  • Projects must be no longer than 15 pages and 10 minutes in duration.
  • Projects can be in any film/video/other format.

DEADLINES & DATES

  • Submissions –  Deadline May 9th, 2025
  • Semi-finalist pre-selection notification – May 12th, 2025
  • Announcement of the Semi-finalists – May 26th, 2025
  • Semi-finalists public pitch – May 31st, 2025
  • Winner Announcement at Lolly Awards – June 1st, 2025

REQUIRED MATERIALS

  • To submit your project, please email through your submission with the following required materials to filmfund@xposedfilmfestival.com(please include a link to download all materials underneath your Project Synopsis)
  • a one pager – that should include, title, synopsis, project length, contact details and short biography of the director and key creatives.
  • a script – created in final draft format, delivered in pdf format.
  • a visual document – delivered as a pdf document.
  • a budget – delivered in either excel or pdf.
  • a page of links – to directors and or key creatives past work.
  • all materials must be provided or translated into German or English.

REVIEW PROCESS

XPOSED assembles a selection committee that will review every application, preview the previous works of the filmmakers, and select the semi-finalists. The semi finalists are then invited to a public pitching session where they will present their projects to the Lolly Awards Jury, which is made up of producers, directors and other experts in the queer film industry. The jury will deliberate and announce the recipient of the fund at the annual Lolly Awards Ceremony, held during the evening of the last festival day.

Previous Recipients:

  • The 1st Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Doireann O’Malley for the project PROTOTYPES
  • The 2nd Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Zara Zandieh for the project THE SEAS RUNS THROUGH MY VEINS
  • The 3rd Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Pol Merchan for the project PIRATEBOYS
  • The 4th Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Popo Fan for the project BEER! BEER!
  • The 5th Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Tonina Matamalas for the project AMIGAS… MUY AMAIGAS
  • The 6th Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Sarnt Utamachote for the project SONIC REVERBS
  • The 7th Queer Short Film Fund was received by: João Carvalho for the project WAIT YOUR TURN
  • The 8th Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Eric Bitencourt for the project UNCANNY HOME
  • The 9th Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Katrina Singleton for the project CABIN FEVER
  • The 10th Queer Short Film Fund was received by: Wellington Almeida for the project MASCQUERADE
Menu