Queer Winterpearls 2025:
Short Films for the Shortest Day of the Year
Our winter special exclusively at the Kommunales Kino Hannover!
21st December 2025 at 6:30 PM
Great film gems just before Christmas!
On the shortest day of the year, the PERLEN - Queer Film Festival Hannover celebrates the queer NOW! The PERLEN team brings its passion for short films back to the big screen after the autumn festival, showcasing a curated program featuring 7 queer short films from around the world – fresh, diverse, and emotional. All films will be lovingly subtitled in German.
The stories tell of love and courage, of change and visibility, of what drives us to live, love, act, fail – and to rise again.
At the Kommunales Kino (KoKi) Hannover, we invite you to a special evening on 21st December 2025, at 6:30 PM that goes beyond just watching films. The PERLEN Short Film Night "Queer Winterpearls – Short Films for the Shortest Day of the Year" is about encounters, atmosphere, and a sense of community: the moment to consciously take the time to go to the cinema, to immerse oneself in different countries and stories, to engage in conversations after the films – and the feeling of being part of something communal for a small, but wonderful moment amidst the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle.
The motto of this year's Short Film Day – "NOW!" – we take literally: We celebrate the moment when queer life becomes visible in all its facets and colors. And we say: Now is the time to tell queer stories. Now is the time to listen, and now is the time to show ourselves.
BABA
Sam Arbor/Adam Ali, UK 2021, 18 min
Arabic/English with German subtitles
Tripoli, Libya. The teenager Britannia lives with his queer chosen family underground, constantly in fear of persecution by the state authorities. When the opportunity arises to realize his dream of emigrating to the UK, he needs his passport, and so Britannia sneaks back into his parents' house one last time.
THE WASH (In Love)
Original: Colada
Ibon Hernando, Spain 2020, 10 min
Without dialogue
Maria is fascinated by her neighbor Susana. But how can she get closer to her when they only meet briefly while hanging up laundry? Charming, colorful, and entirely wordless, this short film shows that even chores can have their allure.
THEIR VOICE
Megan Rossman, USA 2024, 14 min
English with German subtitles
This short documentary highlights the artistic work of singers in the opera and theater world who evade conventional gender norms. Non-binary and trans* individuals share their experiences as they advocate for greater equality in the opera scene.
THE LITTLE ASTRONAUT
Original: De Kleine Astronaut
Kuba Szutkowski, Netherlands 2022, 8 min
Dutch with German subtitles
A male couple wants to donate a box of old books to the local reading club. But it's not so easy to let go. The touching short film was created as part of a competition in just 48 hours and has won several awards.
LITTLE MOUSE
Lena Kaminsky, USA 2022, 13 min
English with German subtitles
The world suddenly turns upside down, and all of a sudden, life is not as Betsy had imagined. And then a mouse appears in her kitchen. The short film depicts the phases of separation and pain that many people have had to endure at some point in their lives.
HUGO 18h30
Simon Helloco/James Maciver, France 2020, 13 min
French with German subtitles
Es war ein langer Tag. Der junge Schauspieler Hugo erscheint als Letzter zu einem Casting und wird gebeten, vor der Kamera eine Geschichte zu improvisieren. Hugo beginnt mit einer Performance, bei der schnell die Grenzen von Fiktion und Wirklichkeit verschwimmen.
NIGHT RIDE
Original: Nattrikken
Eirik Tveiten, Norway 2020, 15 min
Norwegian with German subtitles
An icy December night. Ebba seeks refuge from the cold in an empty tram, but it suddenly starts moving, and so Ebba tries her hand as the driver. The original short film combines comedic elements with serious themes such as sexual harassment and transphobia and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Short Film in 2023.