Germany's Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is to be one of the opening speakers at the 50th edition of the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival (April 29 - May 4)

The opening event will also see filmmakers Wim Wenders, Soenke Wortmann, Romuald Karmakar and Eija-Liisa Ahtila presenting short films which were screened at past editions of the internationally renowned festival.

5,256 shorts were submitted this year for the four competition sections, with 68 selected for the International Competition.

This year's International Competition includes such titles as Mu by Fu Dong Yang (China), The Interview by Ross Lipman (USA), WASP by Andrea Arnold (UK), Siyamo by Mahmoud Reza Sani (Iran), The Epilogue by William Owusu, Elevators by Avner Shaked (Israel) and Two Cars, One Night by Taika Waititi (New Zealand).