Pittsburgh Shorts and Script Competition presents the best contemporary short films from around the world and around the corner. The festival has gained a reputation for curating an extremely high caliber of films, including those that have gone on to be Oscar nominees and winners. With a well-respected short script competition and new filmmaker conference, Pittsburgh Shorts has become a destination festival for creators from around the world.
Pittsburgh Shorts includes well-attended screenings, thoughtful filmmaker Q&As, live script readings by professional actors, generous cash awards, and networking events including a well-stocked filmmakers’ lounge and super fun after parties!
The festival also includes a can’t-miss filmmakers' conference with talks, workshops, and panel discussions led by industry pros.
Our 2021 festival was presented in person and we plan to do the same in 2022. However, due to the ever-changing nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, we will remain flexible. Should circumstances require us to present the 2022 festival virtually, we will update this listing and contact filmmakers by early October.
We hope you’ll submit your project and experience the festival other filmmakers have raved about. As a previous attendee said, "The Pittsburgh Shorts festival is one of the most professionally and thoughtfully run festivals I have had the pleasure of attending as a filmmaker and guest. Having had films in other festivals, including Sundance and Tribeca, I can confidently say that Pittsburgh Shorts is run as well as those, and with the character of Pittsburgh. The staff did an incredible job of attracting real talent to submit and attend. They kept the filmmakers networking all day and night, and we closed the bars with our after parties each night.”
You won’t want to miss it!
The festival culminates in a ceremony where prizes of $1,000 each and beautifully designed trophies are awarded for Best Narrative, Best Documentary, and Best Animated films as determined by our diverse jury of industry experts, and a Programmer's Choice award.
Our script competition showcases the top four scripts with live staged readings by professional actors and awards these prizes:
• First place - $500 and a 1-hour consultation with a Roadmap Writers executive of their choice
• Second place - $250
• Third place - $150
• Fourth place - $100
And all writers who submit a script to the competition will receive a free educational webinar from Roadmap Writers.
Audience Awards are voted on for Best Narrative, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best Comedy, and other categories and announced on closing night.
The winner of our Filmmakers’ Conference Pitch Competition receives three free pitches with written or verbal feedback from an executive of their choice from Roadmap Writers.
Pittsburgh Shorts offers travel assistance to accepted filmmakers on a first-come, first-served basis.