Picture - Velokonzept Saade GmbH, created by Selina Bauer

The online vote has begun for VELOBerlin Film Award 2015: Giving bicycle culture a frame.

Berlin, 16th February 2015 – The international online award for short films about cycling, the VELOBerlin Film Award, has just kicked off its third round. Until the 21st of March 2015, 18 nominated shorts from 11 countries will compete for the favour of the world-wide, cycle-mad online audience. 

Within just two months, more than 120 short films from 30 countries were submitted, viewed and appraised, with 18 finalists from 11 countries selected to compete in the online competition. Boasting highly diverse emotions, humour and charm, the films reveal what cycling and cycle-culture means the world over. 

Featuring music videos with bikes, like the haunting “Ghostriders II” from France, or the animated historical bike race in “Cyclopedes” from Switzerland, to a documentary about the challenges faced by a Cuban bike mechanic in “Havana Bikes” and the love expressed by a group of young Australian women for their scene in “Fixed on Fixed”- regardless of which part of the world the films are from, and whether they are liveaction, animation, documentary or experimental video – they provide cycling culture with their respective frame. 

Two Berlin entries are also in the running to receive prizes valued at over €2000: “Mianzi Rei – My Legs My Gears” is an aesthetic documentary that reflects on the love of track cycling, while in “Berlin to Prague without a Map”, two young men take on the challenge to navigate their way cross half of Central Europe without the aid of technical gadgets. 

All 18 nominated films can be viewed and appraised until 21 March, 2015 on www.veloberlinfilmaward.com. The decision about who wins and loses is met by the world-wide, cycle-mad online public – you!

 Bike-film fans in Germany can enjoy the films in their entirety on the large screen at the cycle trade fairs f.re.e München (18-22 February), RAD + OUTDOOR Bremen (7-8 March) and VELOBerlin (21-22 March).

There are a number of other highlights awaiting interested visitors too, such as the “Nightride & Movies” in Bremen (Friday 6 March, 7:30 pm) and Berlin (Saturday 21 March, 6:30 pm) where the respective cities will be explored via pedal with the inimitable Rostocker Radkino who will show the competing films at various diverse urban locations.

The VELOBerlin Film Award is presented by Europe’s leading bicycle tyre manufacturer SCHWALBE and CRUMPLER – gear for urban living. Prize sponsors are Riese & Müller, Auguste86 and CarryFreedom.