IMDb qualifier's Independent Shorts Awards (ISA) is an international film festival, with monthly live screenings in Burbank, CA, and an annual live screening and awards event in North Hollywood, CA.

Each month, 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 be screened at ISA annual event. Some of them are invited to be screened at the monthly event.

Every submission can add numerous additional judging categories. The name(s) to be credited should be included in the cover letter.

Submissions are accepted exclusively through FilmFreeway.

Awards & Prizes

All entries are promoted through our social media and website with a dedicated page.
For this purpose, we recommend that projects must be fully entered on FilmFreeway, including downloadable poster and trailer.

All projects officially selected in each month receive the Independent Shorts Awards laurel and certificate and are rated at their IMDb pages (if applicable). Also, some selected works will be reviewed by ISA team. These reviews are published on ISA website and shared at each film IMDb page (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.

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 LGBT Short
Best Women Short
Best Web Series/TV Pilot
Best Web and New Media
Best Mobile Short
Best Drone Short
Best First Time Director
Best Young Filmmaker
Best Director (Male)
Best Director (Female)
Best Student Director
Best Acting Ensemble
Best Acting Duo
Best Actor
Best 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

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).

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).

Independent Shorts Awards 2018 © All Rights Reserved
254 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Beka Jean

    Something About Henry was very happy to be selected for November and Communication on every level at every step was beyond excellent!

    November 2018
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  • Fiona Lincke

    Wonderful communication... nice to be acknowledged on webpage and with awards. Personal and professional. Thank you! Fiona Lincke, Rip Roarer Productions xo

    November 2018
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  • Sage Drake

    This amazing film festival is the best. Really and truly, they inspire me to become a better filmmaker and to make better films. I have so much respect for them. Thank you so much for selecting our film CALLMEISTER and winning the silver award for Best Microfilm.

    Plan to send more of my work soon!

    November 2018
    Helpful
  • Rachele Wildmare

    We were honoured that The Paper Boat was selected and thrilled to win the silver award for Best Original Score. Communication was A1 and it was a very positive experience to be involved.

    November 2018
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  • paula jean hixson

    Fantastic communication, genuinely nice people who actually watch the films! A pleasure to deal with. So honoured to have our work acknowledged, and thrilled to be award winners. Thank you!

    November 2018
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