In 2026, Talking Shorts presents the third edition of the New Critics & New Audiences Award, reaffirming its commitment to fostering dialogue between emerging film critics, curators, and international audiences around contemporary European short cinema. Supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA programme, the award once again brings together critical engagement, accessibility, and collective viewing.

New Critics & New Audiences Award – 3rd Edition

The New Critics & New Audiences Award connects new generations of writers and programmers with wider audiences through a curated selection of outstanding European short films. The eight nominated works were selected by participants of the 2025 European Workshops for Film Criticism and the European Workshops for New Curators.

From February 4th to 18th, 2026, all nominated films will be available to stream for free worldwide* on Talking Shorts, inviting viewers to vote for their favourite title. The winning film will be announced on February 20th, 2026, and will receive a €1,000 cash prize.

All voters also enter a draw to win a one-year subscription to This Is Short, the official streaming platform of the European Short Film Network (ESFN).

Previous winners include Paradise Europe (Du bist so wunderbar) by Leandro Goddinho and Paulo Menezes, and Boys by Anna Martí Domingo.

Nominated Films
· Genealogy of Violence
Mohamed Bourouissa — France, 2024, 15’

· Le Grand Calao
Zoé Cauwet — France/Burkina Faso, 2025, 27’

· Beli Dani
Nevena Desivojevic — Serbia/North Macedonia/Portugal, 2025, 14’

· Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World
Kevin Walker, Irene Zahariadis — Greece, 2025, 26’

· Fačuk
Maida Srabovic — Croatia/Slovenia, 2025, 12’

· Green Grey Black Brown
Yuyan Wang — South Korea/France/China, 2024, 11’

· Their Eyes
Nicolas Gourault — France, 2025, 23’

· happiness
Firat Yücel — The Netherlands/Turkey, 2025, 18’

About the award

The New Critics & New Audiences Award is an initiative of the European Network for Film Discourse (The END), hosted on Talking Shorts and funded by the Creative Europe MEDIA programme, with the support of This Is Short.

The award is rooted in the educational and collaborative activities developed through Talking Shorts’ workshop programme, which encourages critical practice, curatorial engagement, and transnational exchange around short film culture.

The European Network for Film Discourse (The END)

The END reúne atualmente oito festivais europeus: Filmfest Dresden, Vienna Shorts, Curtas Vila do Conde, Lago Film Fest, Kortfilmfestival Leuven, FeKK Ljubljana Short Film Festival, Vilnius Short Film Festival e Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival, formando uma rede dedicada à promoção do pensamento crítico e à circulação do cinema de curta-metragem. The END currently brings together eight European festivals: Filmfest Dresden, Vienna Shorts, Curtas Vila do Conde, Lago Film Fest, Kortfilmfestival Leuven, FeKK Ljubljana Short Film Festival, Vilnius Short Film Festival and Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival, forming a network dedicated to promoting critical thinking and the circulation of short films.

Watch and vote at talkingshorts.com/award.

*Some films may be subject to geographical restrictions in certain territories.