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, screening annually more than 330 shorts from approximately 60 countries in series of 90-minute programs. ShortFest accepts submissions up to 40 minutes in duration, in the form of both fiction and non-fiction shorts. Categories include Animation, Documentary, Episodic Pilots, Live Action and Music Video.

Official Selection
The ShortFest Official Selection comprises the 330+ shorts—selected from the thousands of submissions received—projected theatrically in front of public audiences during the festival. The shorts are 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 concurrent to the festival, the ShortFest Film Market provides accredited industry, media and filmmakers with the opportunity to watch, learn and collaborate at our Forum, Marketplace and Video Library.

*** Each filmmaker who submits a short that is not selected to screen as part of the Official Selection will still receive 2 complimentary Market Badges, guaranteeing access to all regular screenings, the Video Library, the Filmmaker & Industry Lounge, the Awards Brunch and all panels, classes and roundtables at the Forum. ***

Forum
The ShortFest Forum consists of 3 days of roundtables, interactive events, panels, classes and pitching opportunities for attending filmmakers. Over 75 industry professionals lend their knowledge and expertise at this unique gathering.

Marketplace
Located adjacent to the Filmmaker Lounge, the ShortFest Marketplace offers designated table exhibition space to production/streaming/rental companies, talent agents, distributors and other short-form interested parties to advertise, promote and interact face-to-face with filmmakers and industry players.

Video Library
All submitted shorts—regardless of whether they are ultimately selected to screen in the Official Selection—are automatically included 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.

If you would like to opt out of the Video Library, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/afkQMYDAdCPLM9Eq5