CONNECTING CULTURES:

EXPANDING EUROPEAN SHORT FILM HORIZONS

The Connecting Cultures: Expanding European Short film Horizons or CC ITP is a project which promotes European audiovisual artworks, Including heritage works, and supports the audience development and engagement processes for all ages, especially young people across Europe and beyond. 

By leveraging  the environment of the International Short Film Festival "In the Palace" and its established reputation, the project aims to enhance the appreciation and understanding of European cinema, foster cultural exchange, and strengthen the European short film sector. The project will promote competitiveness, scalability, cooperation, innovation, and sustainability, including through mobility in the European audiovisual sector.

The project is supported by MEDIA Sub-programme of the European Commission and it refers to an audience development, culture enrichment and short film promoting initiatives.

Project objectives

• Stimulate competitiveness, scalability, cooperation, innovation and sustainability of the European audiovisual sector by increasing appreciation and understanding of European short film, new media, and digital arts, including heritage works.
• Encourage audience engagement and development through film education initiatives, workshops, and interactive discussions with industry professionals, in order to support the engagement and development of audiences
• Facilitate collaboration and networking among European filmmakers, industry professionals, and organizations and institutions involved in supporting the sector to strengthen the European short film sector and increase pan-European impact and audience outreach
• Utilize new digital tools to reach a wider audience and promote film literacy and education across European and non-European territories, in order to promote and increase the contribution that existing European films and audiovisual works, including curated catalogues of films, make towards audience development, film education, and film literacy

Impact and significance

The expected impact of the project activities is to increase audiences' interest in and knowledge of European cinema and audiovisual arts; strengthening pan-European cooperation for the innovative development of audiences and film education programs and projects, especially through the use of new digital tools and technologies; increasing the pan-European impact and reach of audiences and film education on a global scale.

CC ITP project aims to promote, stimulate, and increase audiences’ interest in European films and audiovisual works, incl. non-national films, through various means:

• Connecting Culture Caravan (CCC)
  The traveling cinema with an outdoor screen, audio system, and projector will bring European films and audio-visual works to remote and underserved areas.
• Diverse film screenings
  By offering a wide range of film screenings, including online, onsite, and during festivals, the project provides audiences with multiple opportunities to access and discover European films and audiovisual works.
• Educational activities
  The project incorporates a range of educational activities, such as podcasts, school programs, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
• Involvement of Changemakers
  By empowering Changemakers from low capacity audiovisual production countries the project supports individuals who have the potential to make a significant impact on their local audiovisual sectors.
• Focus on non-national films:
  The project specifically targets the promotion of non-national films, encouraging audiences to explore and appreciate the rich diversity of European cinema.

The CC ITP project specifically aims to engage new and young audiences by offering age-appropriate screenings and educational activities. This targeted approach will help cultivate interest in heritage films and create a lasting appreciation for the diverse cultural landscape of European cinema. 

In a world increasingly shaped by screens, stories told through film are not just entertainment — they are tools for understanding, empathy, and transformation. Films help us see the world through someone else’s eyes. They challenge perspectives, evoke emotions, and spark dialogue. This makes them one of the most effective educational tools available today — especially for young audiences, who engage more readily with visual narratives than traditional texts.

The “Connecting Cultures” project uses film education as a vehicle for cultural exchange — allowing young people from one country to witness the everyday lives, hopes, struggles, and humor of another. A short film made in Estonia might speak directly to a teenager in Portugal. A story from North Macedonia might spark a discussion in a classroom in Finland. In this way, cinema becomes a language of solidarity.

Connecting Cultures: Expanding European Short Film Horizons promotes European audiovisual culture, engages and develops audiences, improves the environment for film literacy and education, and encourages pan-European cooperation and impact. Through “Connecting Cultures,” we’re not just watching films. We’re learning to see each other. And when we do that, we build the kind of Europe we want to live in.