IMDb qualifier Independent Shorts Awards is a Los Angeles-based international film festival, with monthly live screenings at the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA, along with a major annual awards event at the same venue every August.
Besides the premiere screenings at one of the most prestigious venues of Hollywood, Independent Shorts Awards offers a distribution deal to all award winners through its streaming TV channel.

Important note on COVID-19: Although currently postponed but about to be resumed, all of the screenings and Q&As will be rescheduled for the first safe opportunity, merged in extended events.
This means that our event dates designate, at this temporary stage, the day for the announcement of the award winners of each season. The respective live events will take place as soon as possible.
Everything else is working as usual.

Independent Shorts Awards is looking for independent projects from all genres, particularly low or no-budget ones, as well as from all countries, especially from those traditionally underrepresented in the global film industry.

Each round, the submitted projects are judged by a random team of invited experts from academia and film industry, against a high standard of merit.

Every submission can add additional judging categories (via multiple submissions). The name(s) to be credited should be included in the cover letter or sent by email.

Awards & Prizes

All entries are promoted through our social media and website with a featured page with synopsis, film stills and trailer.
For this purpose, we recommend that projects must be fully entered on FilmFreeway, including film stills, production pictures, downloadable poster, and trailer or teaser.

All projects officially selected in each season receive the Independent Shorts Awards laurel and custom digital certificate. Some of the award-winning films are screened at the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA, and their crews invited to attend and participate in a public Q&A. Independent Shorts Awards accept mov and mp4 files that are converted in DCP with no fees.

Based on the highest rates, the pools of monthly Platinum and Gold Awards given during the annual cycle are eligible for the nominations for the annual awards. Our judges' committee can decide to nominate also other award-winning or finalists projects.

As an additional reward, the highest-rated projects from all categories receive a 12-month free subscription to IPitch and special discount waivers to submit to our associate film festivals.

Finally, the most competitive films are invited to join our exclusive streaming channel.

At the annual events, award winners receive also the official Independent Shorts Awards trophy. These trophies can be ordered by any award winner from the monthly rounds.

Judges score quality and creativity of entries on a performance scale and winning entries are recognized and awarded monthly at four levels:
Platinum Awards, Gold Awards, Silver Awards, and Bronze Awards.

It can be given also Honorable Mentions and Outstanding Achievement Awards (special jury mentions).

Some categories or level of awards can have no winners if there are no submissions meeting the requirements.

The awards by category:
Best Short Script
Best Indie Short
Best Student Short
Best Animation Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Microfilm
Best Music Video
Best Drama Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Dark Comedy Short
Best Thriller Short
Best Parody Short
Best Horror Short
Best Crime Short
Best Film Noir Short
Best Mystery Short
Best Fantasy Short
Best Sci-Fi Short
Best Western Short
Best Children Short
Best LGBTQ Short
Best Women Short
Best Screendance Short
Best Web Series/TV Pilot
Best Web and New Media
Best Mobile Short
Best First Time Director (Female)
Best First Time Director (Male)
Best Young Filmmaker
Best Director (Female)
Best Director (Male)
Best Student Director (Female)
Best Student Director (Male)
Best Ensemble Cast
Best Acting Duo
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Child/Young Actor
Best Child/Young Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Sound Design
Best Original Score
Best Original Story
Best Special FX
Best Visual FX
Best Production Design
Best Trailer/Teaser

Rules & Terms

All genres are accepted with a maximum length of 60 minutes.
All short scripts should have a maximum of 50 pages.
For student fees, it is mandatory the student status evidence (e.g copy of student card included in the project).

The films must include English subtitles (unless the spoken language is English).

By submitting your film, you agree that:
1. Independent Shorts Awards can use parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/film poster) for promotional purpose.
2. Entry fees are non-refundable.
3. You own all the rights to the film.
4. You cannot withdraw your submission after the official selection announcement of each round.

Independent Shorts Awards 2018 - 2021 © All Rights Reserved
1091 Reviews
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  • Julia Gaydina

    Thank you very much for highlighting our work. We are extremely pleased with the selection!
    This is our first submission to festivals and extremely grateful to receive positive feedback!
    Great communication!

    September 2021
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  • Robin Kirwan

    From my initial contact through to being selected and receiving an award for my first film 'Dragunov', the team at Independent Shorts Awards have been great. I highly recommend them to all filmmakers out there :)

    September 2021
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  • Nitin Patil

    Thank you for selecting our English short movie, The String of Heart, as a Finalist. This movie intends to increase awareness about cardiovascular diseases, and this is a good recognition of our effort.

    September 2021
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  • Marcelo Mattina

    Great communication and hospitality. Loved having our little indie film screening at the festival and even won a couple of awards. :)
    looking forward to participate again very soon.

    September 2021
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  • Sandra Cruze

    We have won 2 finalist awards. For our Web series We’ re Not Dead Yet and our Short The Physics of Killing. Thanks Independent Shorts. We hope to show in your studio soon. Great festival. We will certainly be back. Stay safe film makers. Our voices are more important than ever.

    September 2021
    Helpful