With a total of 3,740 short films submitted, it’s quite an achievement to be included in OFF’s competition program. Nonetheless, this mission has succeeded for 163 film teams from both Denmark and abroad.

“This year’s short films display fantastic diversity and are of incredibly high quality. As so often before, the short films serve as a mirror reflecting the wild and varied world we live in. Still, we notice some recurring themes. This year, many films focus on the healthcare system and the right to make decisions about one’s own body – including abortion. This is understandable given current global events,” says Birgitte Weinberger, program director and artistic leader at OFF – Odense International Film Festival.

Short Films Lead the Way

The 163 selected films in the competition program offer everything from sensory and surprising animations to captivating documentaries and fiction films focused on highly relevant topics such as identity, family dynamics, and gender roles. As always, short films are a step ahead when it comes to highlighting what stirs, disturbs, and moves us emotionally – in the world, among youth, in society, and between people in general.

Many Familiar Faces on the Screen

Although films from 47 different countries with many new talented forces behind and in front of the camera are part of the lineup, you’ll still see a number of familiar faces on screen during OFF25.

Among them are actors such as Katrine Greis-Rosenthal, Neel Rønholt, Diêm Camille, Charlotte Fich, Jens Albinus, Afshin Firouzi, Henrik Birch, Vicki Berlin, Carsten Bjørnlund, Karen-Lise Mynster, and many more.

Oscar-, EFA-, and Robert-Qualifying Competitions

The 2025 competition program consists of four main competitions: The International Competition, The Danish Competition, The Animation Competition, and The Documentary Competition. All four include Oscar-qualifying awards. Additionally, there’s also the Youth Competition, which features selected films from the four main categories that are particularly suited for younger audiences.

The prizes are awarded by the festival’s esteemed juries at the Award Show, held on Saturday, August 30. During the show, the five short films from the Danish Competition that will be nominated for a Robert Award (given by the Danish Film Academy) will also be revealed.

See the list of the 163 selected short films

Facts about OFF25 and This Year’s Selection

• A total of 3,740 short films were submitted to OFF25, out of which 163 films from 47 countries were selected for this year’s competition program.
• In addition to the competition program, OFF features a wide range of events such as talks with prominent film industry figures, open-air film screenings, screenings for children and youth, concerts, workshops, and networking events – all announced leading up to week 35.
• 2025 marks a special year for the short film festival, as OFF celebrates its 50th anniversary. This will include a major anniversary show at Odeon on Monday, August 25.
• OFF – Odense International Film Festival is Denmark’s oldest and only Oscar-, EFA-, BAFTA-, and Robert-qualifying film festival. In 2025, the short film festival was also honored with an honorary Bodil Award for its contribution to Danish film.
• OFF25 takes place in week 35 – from Monday, August 25 to Sunday, August 31 – in the heart of Odense.
• OFF has launched a streaming platform, OFFStream.dk, where you can watch selected short films from the festival’s extensive back catalog for free.
• During weeks 35 and 36, this year’s competition films will also be available to stream on OFFStream.dk for 89 DKK.