Hang with us... September 14 -17, 2O26 on the 51st floor of the world renowned City Club Los Angeles and meet new people, network, dine, listen to music, attend amazing panels and most of all... get some popcorn and watch a great movie.

4 Days and 4 nights... get your movie screened at one of LA's "BEST LIVE" premier film festivals. 4O hours of the the most incredible short films the world has to offer. 3 days of panels with the best in the industry... independent and studio.

So, come... and be a part of something special... this is a film festival created by filmmakers for filmmakers... this is a festival for you.

For more information and last year's winners... go to our website: aisffla.org

American International Short Film Festival (AISFF) was founded with the mission to create a platform for filmmakers to celebrate all peoples and their cultures, beliefs , and genders. We invite filmmakers from all walks of life to share their unique perspective as we showcase the best talent worldwide.

Based in Los Angeles, the epicenter of the film industry, AISFF offers filmmakers an opportunity to become part of a supportive and expansive community that is ever-evolving. Our goal is to spotlight burgeoning talent and advance their journey as artists. Along the way, we look to help filmmakers gain exposure through partnerships with streaming services and help them hone their skills by partnering with writing programs and production companies.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS

BEST WORLD SHORT
THE SHAWNA BACA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
THE CITY CLUB LA AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT
BEST FIRST-TIME DIRECTOR SHORT
BEST ACTOR FEMALE
BEST ACTOR MALE
BEST ACTOR SUPPORTING FEMALE
BEST ACTOR SUPPORTING MALE
BEST MUSICAL SCORE
BEST AFRICAN AMERICAN SHORT
BEST LATINO SHORT
BEST ASIAN SHORT
BEST NATIVE AMERICAN SHORT
BEST LGBTQ + SHORT
BEST SHORT BY DISABLED DIRECTOR
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
BEST COMEDY SHORT
BEST DRAMA SHORT
BEST MUSIC VIDEO SHORT
BEST HORROR/ SCFI / THRILLER SHORT
BEST ACTION SHORT

BEST SHORT SCRIPTS

AWARDS & PRIZES:

All awards to be presented in person at The City Club Los Angeles in the Canvas Room 6pm - September 17, 2026. Followed by kickin' party... DJ, live music and food & drinks...

BEST WORLD SHORT $5000
BEST DIRECTOR SHORT SHAWNA BACA AWARD $1000
BEST FIRST TIME DIRECTOR $500

1st Place award winner will receive an all-inclusive scholarship and accommodations to attend the California Rewriting Lab by PageCraftwriting... up by Hog's Island. North of
San Francisco for one week!

* airfare included *value of $8000

2nd Place award winner receives a scholarship to both PageCraft's Concept to Pages and Writing is Rewriting workshops. *value of $1300

3rd Place award winner receives a scholarship to PageCraft's Concept to Pages workshop.
*value of $650

PageCraftWriting.com

Rules & Terms


FILMS MUST BE 40 MINUTES OR LESS.
Films must have been completed in the past 2 years.
Each film must be entered for one of the competitions named in the Awards Categories Section.
Films can be entered in multiple categories.
Not all entries will be screened. Those selected for screening will be notified via email.
Each participant is responsible for the content of his/her work and for any possible copyright problems.
The official language of the festival is English, foreign language films must be subtitled in English.
We retain the right to change the date and venue of the festival under special circumstances.
We cannot provide refunds.
Changes to submitted films will only be accepted if accompanied by a new submission fee. The decision of the selection committee is final.
The festival may use portions of your film (including trailers/teasers/stills and posters) for promotional material.
You must own the rights to your film in order to submit.
We are not liable for any copyright infringements or unauthorized usage and any conflict should be settled by the parties involved thereof.
You are responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity.
Must be over the age of 18 to compete for the screenplay competition
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • The Film 72

    Our team was honored and thrilled to participate in this inaugural festival, and to receive the Best Actress and Best Drama awards. Communication was excellent and the venue for the screenings spectacular. It was a beautiful community gathering event. This is just the beginning for ALIFF which will no doubt gain more and more importance and recognition.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Iris Mangual

    I am deeply honored and grateful to the American Latino International Shorts Film Festival for recognizing my short script, “Rice & Beans.” This award means so much to me—not only as a writer, but as someone passionate about telling authentic stories that celebrate culture, family, and connection. Thank you to the festival judges and organizers for creating a platform that uplifts Latino voices and shines a light on diverse storytelling. I am truly humbled and inspired to continue sharing stories that reflect our community’s heart, humor, and resilience.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Daniel Osorio

    Great event with many great films screened. Thank you for selecting my project as part of the films showcased.

    October 2025
    Helpful