The shnit worldwide shortsfestival is a premier platform for the exhibition and promotion of short films. The festival is a unique transnational event held simultaneously in ten cities across five continents. The festival will take place from August 20 to September 20, 2026, and consists of three main segments: [1] shnit PLAYGROUNDS*—festival cities [2] shnit EXPANDED [3] shnit FINALE—awards ceremony All winners of the WORLDWIDE COMPETITION and INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION will be eligible for consideration for the 2027 Oscars® (via a cinematic release, in accordance with the rules of the 99th Academy Awards®). Over the past twenty-four years, shnit has evolved into a major international short film festival, continuously reinventing itself. Originally a local initiative, it has grown into a global event that connects and inspires filmmakers and audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds. The festival promotes diversity, originality, and artistic exchange. With its high-quality cinematic selections, shnit attracts over 30,000 visitors, making it one of the leading short film festivals worldwide. shnit is a non-profit organization, coordinated in collaboration with festival executives. The festival operates on principles of excellence and professionalism, fostering its ongoing international expansion. * Planned PLAYGROUNDS for 2026 The shnit worldwide shortsfestival takes place simultaneously in several cities— known as the shnit PLAYGROUNDS— across five continents. The final lineup will be announced by August 1, 2026. The planned PLAYGROUNDS for this year are: —Amsterdam (The Netherlands)—shnit FINALE —Buenos Aires (Argentina) —Cairo (Egypt) —Cape Town (South Africa) —Goa (India) —Hong Kong (China) —Moscow (Russia) —Sydney (Australia) —San José (Costa Rica) —Toronto (Canada)