Palm Springs International ShortFest

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.

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 open to accredited 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.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: What is your submission refund policy?:
A: Submission fees are non-refundable. If you have additional questions regarding a refund or the festival’s policy, please contact us at info@psfilmfest.org

Q: Will my film be screened by a programmer or a pre-screener?
A: All films submitted to ShortFest are watched & rated by a programmer that works directly with the programming department! Pre-screeners are only utilized on a case by case basis.

Q: Is my film eligible for ShortFest 2025?
A: ShortFest 2025 eligibility requirements are as follows:
o Films must have been completed in 2024 or 2025
o Films must be no more than 40 minutes in length, credits included. (If a film’s runtime is 40:01, it is not eligible for ShortFest)
o If selected, films must be available for projection in DCP. All non-English-language shorts must have English subtitles.

Q: What are the submission requirements?
A: Requirements are as follows:
o Completed entry on FilmFreeway
o Digital screener - Vimeo link or Secure Online Screener
o Submissions must be uploaded and submitted no later than the deadline date to qualify for the respective entry fees.
o Films must be no longer than 40 minutes and zero seconds in length, and must have been completed in 2024 or 2025.

Q: Do you have a premiere requirement?
A: Nope! While we recognize World, North American, US, and California premieres, a premiere is NOT required to be selected.

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

Q: If I submitted my film last year (2024) but it wasn't accepted, am I eligible to submit it again this year?
A: Yes! You can submit your film again if it wasn't accepted last year but ONLY if it was completed in 2024. No prior year (2023) is eligible.

Q: Do you accept works-in-progress?
A: We accept work-in-progress cuts that are picture locked and includes 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: I have an updated link - can you update my submission?
A: You will need to update your submission via FilmFreeway directly. If you have any questions on how to do this, you can reach out to FilmFreeway directly at support@filmfreeway.com

Q: If my short fits 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.

Q: Can I submit multiple projects?
A: Yes. However, each film must be submitted and paid for separately.

Q: Do I need to submit a DCP?
A: You do not need to submit a DCP at the submission phase, however, if selected, a DCP will be required.

Q: What do you consider a student film?
A: The director must be/have been enrolled in school while the film was being made & are able to provide the name of the school upon submission. The cast being made up of students does not count as a student film.

Q: I already graduated but I just completed the final cut of my short. Can I still submit this under the Student Film category?
A: Yes. If your project was filmed during your enrollment in school but final edits were done after your departure from school you may still submit in the student category.

Q: Is my student film eligible for awards outside of the “student” category?
A: Yes. Student films are eligible for all award categories.

Q: When will I know if I’ve been selected?
A: Final notifications are sent via FilmFreeway in May. Please check your messages on FilmFreeway and in your spam folder if you do not hear from us by May 19, 2025.

Q: What is the Video Library?
A: The Video Library runs concurrently with ShortFest, as part of the Film Market, and consists of thousands of titles available for digital viewing to accredited sales agents, distributors and other industry representatives.

Q: Does participating in the Video Library affect my premiere status?
A: No. The Video Library isn’t considered a public screening so it won’t affect a film's premiere status.

Q: How do I opt-in to the Video Library?
A: All films that are officially submitted to ShortFest via FilmFreeway will receive an invitation to have their film participate in the Video Library. The invitation will be included in FilmFreeway’s notification message, which you will receive on our before our notification date of May 16, 2025. You will need to fill out and submit the form before June 2, 2025 for your film to be included in the Video Library.

Q: How do I opt OUT of the Video Library?
A: You don’t need to do anything to opt-out of the Video Library. The Video Library consists only of films that have opted-in to it.

Q: Is the Film Market Video Library the same as Official Selection?
A: No. The Film Market includes most of the Official Selection as well as films that were submitted to the festival for consideration and have decided to opt into the market.

Q: Are there laurels for films in the Film Market Video Library?
A: No.

Q: Is the Film Market Video Library free/ are there any fees associated with participating/opting in?
A: The Film Market Video Library is free to opt-in.

Q: Can I buy tickets to the Film Market Video Library?
A: No. The Film Market is open only to accredited ShortFest industry.