The 20 SECONDS FOR ART short film competition was launched by INFOSCREEN and KÖR Wien in 2013 and took place for the seventh time this year. Artists were invited to explore the theme ‘Humans and the intelligent Machine’, which they were asked to visualise in the form of 20-second silent short films. The call for entries was open to artists, students or graduates of art, graphic design or film courses, as well as to people working in the arts, both from Germany and abroad (aged 18 and over).

Artificial intelligence is regarded as a key technology of the 21st century. It already permeates many areas of our lives today – from scientific research through industry and business to the day-to-day world of work: computer-based systems analyse unstructured data, identify correlations and patterns, and use these to derive information and make decisions that are relevant to us.

Thinking artificial beings have accompanied humankind since ancient times and reached their peak in 20th-century science fiction. Furthermore, the theme of ‘Man & Machine’ has been closely interwoven with the history of film from the very beginning, for example in Fritz Lang’s 1927 film *Metropolis*, in which, in this classic of
Expressionist cinema, he creates the female character of the ‘human machine’.

The digital revolution has brought about social changes. Among the opportunities are the democratisation of knowledge and the resolution of complex problems, as well as the potential for innovative products and increased efficiency. At the same time, the development of ‘artificial intelligence’ presents humanity with major moral and ethical questions and has sparked a critical debate, particularly regarding its commercial use and the implications for security, democracy and resources.

From 91 entries, the 20 SECONDS FOR ART jury ultimately selected five prize-winners. This year’s jury consisted of the following members:

• Cornelia Offergeld, Artistic Director, KÖR Vienna
• Stefanie Paffendorf, Programme Director, INFOSCREEN
• Erich Prem, AI ethicist, Digital Humanism Association
• Nadim Samman, Curator, Vienna Digital Cultures 2026
• Eva Sangiorgi, Director of the VIENNALE. Vienna International Film Festival

The selected short films will be shown across Austria from 6 July to 30 August 2026 on around 4,800 INFOSCREENs in underground trains, trams and buses, as well as on screens at bus and tram stops (in Vienna, Linz, Wels, Steyr, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Bregenz, Klagenfurt and Eisenstadt).

Statements

Cornelia Offergeld, Artistic Director of KÖR Vienna: “Thinking artificial beings have fascinated people for ages. What was once confined to the realm of science fiction is now making a massive impact on our everyday lives as a new digital revolution. This also applies to art. AI is no longer merely a tool, but a material from which the society of the future will be shaped. The “20 SECONDS FOR ART” film competition offers the winners a platform for public artistic reflection on AI that reaches many people in their everyday lives.”

Sascha Berndl, Managing Director, INFOSCREEN Austria GmbH: “Hardly any topic is more controversial and topical than ‘Humans and Intelligent Machines’. The very question of whether machines are truly intelligent – that is, whether they can think abstractly and rationally – is a matter of debate. This makes the perspectives, visions, hopes and fears that the filmmakers present to us all the more interesting. The fact that we can show this intelligent, colourful, witty and thought-provoking perspective on our society on INFOSCREEN is a valuable addition to our programme and a welcome food for thought for our viewers.”

Veronica Kaup-Hasler, Executive Councillor for Culture and Science: “Public space is a place for social interaction and negotiation – and it has long since expanded into the digital realm. At a time when artificial intelligence is bringing about lasting changes to our everyday lives and our perceptions, art and film provide key forums for examining and exploring these developments. I would like to thank all the participants and winners of the ‘20 SECONDS FOR ART’ competition, who, in their films, present powerful, artistic explorations of the relationship between humans and intelligent machines: They open up new perspectives, shed light on power dynamics and raise questions about responsibility and ethics."