12. FeKK or Reflecting on Lessons Found in the Darkness of the Movie Theaters and an Increasingly Dark World

The 12th edition of the Ljubljana Short Film Festival, FeKK, will take place from August 17 to 22 across multiple venues in the city. The festival, which has been running for 12 years, continues to grow in both scale and influence, drawing attention from local and international audiences alike. This year’s theme, “Nauki Tema” (Knowledge Theme), was inspired by Werner Herzog’s 1992 documentary Lektionen und Finsternis, a work known for its meditation on ecological and anti-war themes. The festival will feature over 150 films from 45 countries, including new works from Slovenia and other regions of Southeast Europe. This year marks several notable developments. A new international competition for children aged five and up, called FeKKids, and another for older children, FeKK (8+), have been introduced. These programs aim to engage younger audiences with short films tailored to their interests. In total, 497 submissions were received, with 287 entering the international competition, 168 for FeKK SLO, and 44 for FeKKids. The selection committee chose 25 films for the international program, 18 for FeKK SLO, and nine for the children's competitions. Program director Matevž Jerman noted that the festival has grown significantly since its inception. Initially, there were only around 50 entries for the Slovenian competition, and attendance was limited to about 50 or 60 people. Now, the number of submissions ranges between 170 and 180 for Slovenian films alone, reflecting a vibrant production scene within a small country. Public interest has also increased, with crowds of up to 300 gathering at projections held at the Metelkova Museum Square during favorable weather conditions. The international program this year focuses on recent productions from Southeast Europe, featuring works from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Cyprus, and Moldova. This expansion highlights the growing importance of regional cinema and the festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse voices. Meanwhile, FeKK SLO will present the latest Slovenian short films, emphasizing domestic talent and innovation. A key element of this year’s festival is the retrospective dedicated to Werner Herzog, one of the most influential filmmakers of the New German Cinema movement. His documentary Lektionen und Finsternis serves as the central theme, prompting reflection on the role of cinema in today’s world. On the festival website, organizers explain how modern society is constantly bombarded with images of war, ethnic cleansing, fires, floods, political violence, and more. These events are juxtaposed with advertisements, holiday footage, memes, and viral videos, creating a media landscape where catastrophe has become part of daily life. The challenge, they argue, is not simply seeing what happens, but holding onto a meaningful perspective long enough to be truly affected. In addition to the main programming, the festival will host curated sections exploring different aspects of contemporary culture and politics. The section Instant Kult will focus on Spanish-French artist and filmmaker Gala Hernandez Lopez. Curators Lyse Ishimwe, Anne Duffau, and Sanne Jehoul have organized three distinct programs: Nova Ozemlja (New Lands), Vzpon Podivjanega (Rise of the Absurd), and Kar Preganja Deželo (Who Will Take Care of the Country). Each program explores migration, wars, colonialism, extractivism, and current social crises through varied aesthetic and political lenses. The festival’s online platform will also provide access to a collection of award-winning films from last year’s edition, along with the best Slovenian video spots of the year. This digital component ensures broader accessibility and continued engagement beyond the physical locations of the festival. As the festival prepares to open, anticipation builds among attendees and participants, eager to explore the intersection of art, politics, and global storytelling.