The Palm Springs International ShortFest is one of the largest showcases of short-form cinema in North America. The seven-day competitive festival is Academy Award, BAFTA and Goya-qualifying, annually screening hundreds of shorts from approximately 60 countries. ShortFest accepts submissions up to 40 minutes in duration, in the form of both fiction and non-fiction shorts. Categories include Animation, Documentary, and Live Action.

Official Selection
The ShortFest Official Selection comprises the approximately 300+ shorts curated thematically into programs of approximately 90 minutes in duration which aim to bring together a diverse cross-section of contemporary cinema. Distinct works from filmmakers of various international backgrounds come into conversation with one another in unexpected and exciting ways. ShortFest maintains an inclusive attitude toward presenting short-form moving image work, with a variety of genres and forms converging throughout the Official Selection.

Film Market
Running concurrently to the festival, the ShortFest Film Market provides accredited industry, media and filmmakers with the opportunity to watch, learn and collaborate.

Forum
The ShortFest Forum consists of roundtables, interactive events, panels, classes and networking opportunities with industry professionals who lend their knowledge and expertise at this unique gathering.

Video Library
All submitted shorts—regardless of whether they are ultimately selected to screen in the Official Selection—will be invited to participate in the ShortFest Video Library. The Video Library consists of secure viewing stations open to accredited sales agents, distributors and other industry representatives. A short's inclusion in the Video Library is not considered a public screening and does not affect a short's premiere status. Please note that the digital screener you include in your submission will be the one available to view at the Video Library.

Awards & Prizes

First-place winners in the Non-student Animation, Non-student Documentary and Non-student Live-Action categories, as well as the Best of the Festival Award winner will automatically become eligible to submit their shorts to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscars consideration.

Oscar® Qualifying Awards:
Best of the Festival Award
Best Animated Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes
Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under

Special Jury Awards:
Best International Short
Best U.S. Short
Local Jury Award
Young Cineastes Award
Best Comedy Short
Best LGBTQ+ Short
Best Midnight Short

Student Short Awards:
Best Student Animated Short
Best Student Documentary Short
Best Student International Short
Best Student U.S. Short

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed entry on FilmFreeway
- Digital screener – Vimeo link (preferred) or Secure Online Screener
- Submissions must be uploaded and submitted no later than the deadline date to qualify for the respective submission fees
- Submission fee paid

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Shorts must have been completed in 2021 or 2022.
- Shorts must be no more than exactly 40 minutes in length, credits included.
- If selected, shorts must be available for projection in DCP.
- All non-English-language shorts must have English subtitles.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Are student shorts eligible for non-student awards?
A: Yes, student shorts are eligible for all awards.

Q: Do you accept works-in-progress?
A: ShortFest accepts work-in-progress cuts that are picture locked and include an opening slate listing what still needs to be completed (color-correction, sound mix, special effects, etc.). Please note that we will only review one cut.

Q: Do you accept shorts that are already available online?
A: Yes! ShortFest does not require a premiere status, so online shorts are eligible.

Q: If my short could fit into two categories, such as an animated documentary, how do I choose which category to submit to?
A: Submit to the category that you feel best represents your short. If accepted into the Official Selection, it is likely that the short will be included in all the applicable categories.
69 Reviews
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  • Ricardo Varona

    Felt so taken care of by the festival staff. Truly a festival that goes above and beyond for the filmmakers. Absolutely stunning work back to back to back.

    Hope to be back soon!

    August 2021
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  • Lincoln Robisch

    Amazing festival! Fantastic curation and an incredibly welcoming staff!

    July 2021
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  • Isak Kohaly

    The ShortFest team was very responsive, very nice and just a pleasure to work with. The festival was naturally in reduced capacity compared to non-Covid years but they still did their best to make everyone feel welcome. I met a ton of amazing people and it was a great experience.
    Thank you very much!

    July 2021
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  • Erica Eng

    Great festival! Super organized with an amazing team. Very responsive. All the films were of high production quality which was really impressive. I met a lot of great filmmakers there, but what was the most helpful was the industry events: one-on-ones with people in the industry, or the Agents/Managers round table where you get 15 min of their time to chat. I'd highly recommend signing up for the filmmaker events if you go. I can't wait to play here again!

    July 2021
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  • Xiaowen Wang

    Great festival hosted by really nice people all around! The Palm Spring Shortfest team was able to pull off an incredibly well put together festival! They were also incredibly professional, easily accessible, always answering as fast as possible and keeping the communication going with the filmmakers. Thanks for having us with our short "Cocoon Love"!
    Hope still have another chance to join again. And no one wants to miss it. Highly recommended!

    July 2021
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