Five Short Stories by Five Authors

Look forward to high-quality literary short stories in a relaxed atmosphere—right where the stars of the film world usually flicker across the screen!

“Short story” is the English term for a short story—a distinctive literary form whose defining characteristic is that it can be read in one sitting. Emerging during the magazine boom of the 19th century, the short story has since established itself as a narrative form and, thanks to its brevity, has offered many authors who went on to become famous the opportunity to experiment with literature.

Evening Lineup

Yannic Han Biao Federer

Yannic Han Biao Federer lives and works as a freelance writer in Cologne. His books are published by Suhrkamp Verlag, his plays by Schaefersphilippen, and his radio scripts are broadcast on WDR, SWR, and DLF. In the spring of 2025, his third book, *Für immer seh ich dich wieder* (I’ll See You Again Forever), an autobiographical narrative about the loss of his son, was published. Shortly thereafter, his play *ASIAWOCHEN* was awarded the Author’s Prize, the SWR Radio Play Prize, and the Audience Choice Award at the 42nd Heidelberg Play Market. He is a member of PEN Berlin as well as the Young Scholars’ College at the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Jasmina Kuhnke

Jasmina Kuhnke (born in 1982 in Hagen) is a writer, screenwriter, actress, and activist. She first gained recognition for her anti-racist work on social media under the pseudonym “Quattromilf.” As a writer, she has contributed to television programs such as the award-winning series *Andere Eltern* and the Grimme Prize-winning special episode on racism of the *Carolin Kebekus Show*.

In 2021, her bestselling debut novel *Schwarzes Herz* was published, an autobiographical work about racism, violence, and self-assertion. This was followed by further literary works, including the novel *White Lives Matter*. In addition to her artistic work, she is actively involved in the fight against racist violence and founded the SHEROES Fund in 2021 to support victims of online hate speech.

Sina Scherzant

Sina Scherzant (born in 1991 in Menden) is a writer, podcaster, and screenwriter. After studying education and educational sciences in Marburg and Hamburg, she worked in the education sector, as a copywriter, and in theater, among other roles. She first gained recognition as a co-founder of the successful satire account “alman_memes2.0,” which led to several book publications.

In 2023, she published her literary debut, *On the Day of the Apocalypse, the Wolf Devoured the Sun*, which was nominated for the Ruhr Literature Prize. With her second novel, *Taumeln*, she established herself as an important voice in contemporary German-language literature. In her writing, she combines social observation with great emotional precision, exploring themes of belonging, loss, self-discovery, and the upheavals of growing up. Scherzant lives in Munich.

Marie Menke

Marie Menke (born in 1997 in the Sauerland region) is an author. She studied politics, media, and sociology in Bonn, Taipei, Cologne, and Paris. Her prose has appeared in literary journals and has been honored with awards including the OffSpring Award from lit.COLOGNE.

Sebastian Hotz

Sebastian Hotz (born in 1996 in Forchheim) is a writer, satirist, and columnist. He became known under the pseudonym El Hotzo for his incisive observations on politics, society, and digital culture. In 2023, his debut novel *Mindset* was published, a satirical exploration of self-improvement promises, neoliberal success narratives, and contemporary notions of masculinity. The novel was also adapted for the stage. In 2026, he followed up with *Sidekick*, another novel that explores media exposure, fame, and the mechanisms of the entertainment industry. In his literary work, Hotz combines humor and social criticism with a keen sense of the contradictions of the present day.

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Short Story Night is organized by LAND IN SICHT e.V., a nonprofit cultural association based in Cologne that has been working since 2014 to raise public awareness of literature. In addition to readings, the association’s projects include the Hörspielwiese Köln, the Auftakt Festival for staged texts, and the Cologne Literature Award. Project Directors: Kevin Kader, André Patten

Sponsors of Short Story Night: Cultural Affairs Office of the City of Cologne, Kunststiftung NRW, State of North Rhine-Westphalia

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