IMDb qualifier's Independent Shorts Awards (ISA) is a Los Angeles-based international film festival, with monthly live screenings at the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA, along a major annual awards event at the same venue.

ISA is looking particularly 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. The monthly winners are automatically qualified to compete and to be screened at ISA annual event. Some of them, selected by the programmers of ISA, are publicly screened in Los Angeles at the end of each monthly round.

Every submission can add numerous 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 dedicated 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 certificate and are rated at their IMDb pages (if applicable). Some filmmakers, screenwriters and actors/actresses are invited for an interview or to provide ISA with BTS material to be published also in ISA website.

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.

The awards by category:
Best Short Script
Best Narrative Short
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 Web Series/TV Pilot
Best Web and New Media
Best Mobile Short
Best Drone 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 Acting Ensemble
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 Trailer/Teaser

Rules & Terms

All genres are accepted with a maximum length of 55 minutes.
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.

Independent Shorts Awards does not accept the following:

1. Extremist or propaganda content from religious or political organizations.
2. Films which are made before 2000.
3. Films with a poor production standard (bad sound, lack of subtitles/captions for non-English films, or video resolution less than 720p HD).

Independent Shorts Awards 2018/19 © All Rights Reserved
415 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Scott D Clark

    Perfect experience all around. Was an honour for our film to win an award.

    July 2019
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  • Artie Romero

    What a great competition! There were an amazing number of fantastic entries, and we were able to view them all thanks to a feature we've rarely seen: They create a new page on their website featuring each entry immediately. We like that a lot, and their communication was excellent. We were honored to be among the award winners this time around. The reason we entered the festival was because of its reputation, especially that it's listed in IMDb. All in all, we highly recommend this event, giving it five stars. *****

    July 2019
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  • Andrea Vaccarelli

    Best Festival EVER!!! So happy that my short movie "The Family, Your Choice" wins Best Drama Short and Best Acting Ensemble Silver Awards!

    August 2019
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  • Niki Noves

    Our film received 2 awards and we were delighted that the experience throughout the process! Thanks to all the festival team and juries!

    August 2019
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  • Giulia Lupetti

    I have loved the experience with "Independent Short Awards", all the team is very professional and kind. I am really honored about the awards, and I suggest this festival to everyone. Of course, when I will have another short film I will submit again.

    August 2019
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