In the page's words:

The annual festival for up-and-coming filmmakers gives young filmmakers the chance to present their films and talk to like-minded people and film experts. Visitors can watch a wide variety of productions and gain an insight into film work through film talks, workshops and impulses.

"Films belong on the screen" - this has been the motto of Hamburg's newcomer film festival abgedreht! Films need size. They need an audience that can watch them together and exchange ideas. Filmmakers need feedback, direct feedback, applause, criticism, discussion, otherwise they cannot grow as filmmakers.

The core of all newcomer film festivals is the idea of showing and discussing films, but abgedreht! goes one step further. By networking with other filmmakers, festivals and nationwide media centers, young film enthusiasts whose productions are shown at abgedreht! have many other opportunities. They can be nominated for the international up-and-coming film festival, they can take part in projects and film seminars. All in all, abgedreht! is intended to give those who want to continue making ambitious films a good chance to get started.

The dedication with which the festival organizers have organized the festival from the very beginning is the foundation for many film careers. Janek Riecke, Angelina Maccarone, Özgür Yildirim and Fatih Akin are just a few of the many filmmakers who started out at the festival and saw it as an opportunity to showcase themselves and their debut works. They were just a few of many. The festival showcases the wide range of productions made in Hamburg. These are films that may have been made in art classes at school, in youth facilities, by independent groups or at universities. They have all tried their hand at using the medium of film to tell a story and have discovered it as a means of expression.

abgedreht! started in 1988 under the name abgezoomt. Numerous media educators and filmmakers who now work in Hamburg or elsewhere started out in the abzoomt team.

abgedreht! shows short films of all genres made by Hamburg residents or in Hamburg (including the metropolitan region). It is important to us that the filmmakers, from primary school pupils to 27-year-old young adults or film students, are present at the screening. Each film shown is moderated and discussed. The audience gets to know the creators and learns about the background.