Since the launch of the "No Budget" short film festival in 1985, the International Short Film Festival has grown to become one of the major festivals on the international short film circuit.

The festival holds an "International Competition" for new, high-quality short film productions and a competition for international "No Budget" films made without public funding. Among the various awards are the "Hamburg Short Film Prize", sponsored by Premiere, the "François Ode Prize", a special-category jury prize awarded in memory of the founder of the Paris-based Agence du Court Métrage - who was also a supporter and friend of the ShortFilmAgency Hamburg.

The festival can also boast unique features of its own invention, such as the "Three-minute Quickies" In various special programmes the festival features filmmakers, particular themes and the cinematic output of selected countries.

On monitors in the festival's "International Hamburg Short Film Market" professional visitors will be able to view all the short films contributed to the festival.