Florida Shorts is a seasonal IMDB qualified festival dedicated to short films from around the world.

Inspired by cosmopolitan mentality, we encourage diversity and multi-cultural short films. We want to truly reflect the international filmmaking community and showcase fresh talent from all filmmakers - no matter the age or the subject matter. With this in mind, we encourage filmmakers from all backgrounds to submit their projects. Furthermore, we genuinely believe that good filmmaking is an actual result of a good story. We hope to find new voices and perspectives to celebrate the power of a good story.

Florida Shorts is a seasonal competition dedicated to short films of all genres from the U.S. and international filmmakers. In the first step, our professional screeners will privately review your film each quarterly season, and the highest scored films will become the semi-finalist . The semi-finalist of the seasonal editions are screened privately to jury members of each edition in various categories. All the award winners are then considered for the online festival.

Join us for Florida Short's events this year!

Awards & Prizes

Best US Narrative Short
Best US Documentary Short
Best International Narrative Short
Best International Documentary Short
Best Experimental
Best Micro Short
Best Animation
Best Male Director
Best Female Director
Best Producer
Best Cinematography
Best Editor
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Script
Best Unproduced script
Best TV Series/Pilot/Web
Best Science Fiction
Best Horror
Best Erotic
Best Comedy
Best Dance Short
Best Student Film
Best Women Empowerment Short
Best Music Video
Best Thriller
Best Trailer
Best Composer
Best First Time Filmmaker

Rules & Terms

Florida Shorts

1. We select films for the Festival that have been made since 2022
2. For short films, the maximum time is 40 minutes.
3. Micro-short film is considered a film that is less than 5 minutes.
4. By sending the film to our Festival, the filmmaker undertakes to have all the film's rights and present it in the festival environment.
5. If you register for the Festival, your money will be non-refundable.
6. The Festival has complete independence and freedom in choosing films. If a movie is selected, the Festival office will contact the entrant by phone or email. The Festival does not provide feedback or screening notes to entries that are not selected.
7. This Festival is held voluntarily by a group of volunteers. Its members' goal is to respond to filmmakers in the shortest possible time within a maximum of three days.
8. We accept films of all genres.
9. Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted. A separate submission and a separate entry fee must accompany each entry.
10. All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English. Dialogue lists are not accepted..
212 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Mira Kim

    Thank you so much for this meaningful recognition. Joining from Korea, even from afar, I feel deeply connected to everyone who made this festival possible. My childhood memories come from a Korea still living with the scars of war and severe poverty. Yet what I remember most is how people survived through love—within families—and through kindness—between neighbors. This award encourages me to keep restoring human stories with care and sincerity.

    March 2026
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  • Lynwood Shiva Sawyer

    As this is our debut short, we are very chuffed to be awarded Semi-Finalist. It will definitely be a nice boost to our brand recognition.
    thank you.
    Ellie, Hope & Dines
    Film Department
    University of Winchester

    March 2026
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  • Jennifer Booth

    Honored to be an Award Winner at Florida Shorts Film Festival.
    Thank you for supporting independent storytelling and recognizing Notes for Tomorrow and our Best Actor, Steve Lesser!
    Jenn Booth

    March 2026
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  • gilbert sommerville

    Thank you for the opportunity to have our short discussion-starter film "WHY?" included in the festival. "Semi-finalist" is a "big deal" for this small production company!

    March 2026
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  • Elvis Maleko

    Thank You to the Florida Shorts Film Festival for the honor. We are truly grateful to win the US Narrative Short award. Thank you for taking the time to look at our short film. From the bottom os our hearts, we say "Aloha!"

    January 2026
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