Bolzano ShortFilmfestival was first organized in 1968 under the name Opere Nuove and it was basically a national festival dedicated to short films. This competition still exists as the national section of the Festival.
In 2004 an international section called No Words was introduced dedicated to short films without dialogues. These two different competitions has become part of an unique Festival since 2007 under the name Bolzano ShortFilmFestival.