The SAG-AFTRA Foundation announces the relaunch of its Shorts Showcase featuring presenting sponsor City National Bank, and introducing two new grand prizes for Excellence in Creativity and Excellence in Performance. Submissions are now open through June 22, 2026.

The Shorts Showcase includes two evenings of screenings at the Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists is Los Angeles and the Robin Williams Center in New York, featuring the Official Selections, chosen by a jury of SAG-AFTRA members. All short films must be made under SAG-AFTRA contract.

In 2026, the Shorts Showcase will introduce an independent grand jury which will recognize two Official Selections for Excellence in Creativity and Excellence in Performance. Each honor carries a $5,000 grand prize.

Leading up to the showcase, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation will present free educational panels and classes around short filmmaking, to provide SAG-AFTRA performers with requisite knowledge and a toolkit to get started as short-form creators.

SAG-AFTRA member jury select a slate of exceptional short films as the Official Selection of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Shorts Showcase. These exceptional works will screen over two evenings, followed by in-depth moderated conversations with the filmmakers and performers. These conversations will be published on the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s YouTube channel.

The Shorts Showcase culminates in a live presentation in Los Angeles where an independent grand jury will present top honors to two shorts for excellence in creativity and performance.

Awards & Prizes

Excellence in Creativity recognizes a film made under the SAG-AFTRA Micro-budget Agreement, with a budget of less than $20,000, distinguished by its ingenuity, innovation and creativity.

Excellence in Performance recognizes a film with a resonant and standout performance by an individual or cast.

Each honor comes with a $5,000 cash prize.

Rules & Terms

Please note that rules and policies may change up to the submission opening date.

Short Films must be no longer than 30 minutes including credits.

All projects must have been made under a SAG-AFTRA contract.

Works in progress may be submitted, but they must be fully completed by the notification deadline.

All films submitted must be completed between January 1, 2025 - June 16,2026 to be considered. Any submissions completed outside of that date range will be not considered.

SAG-AFTRA Foundation and SAG-AFTRA staff members are ineligible from receiving official recognition in the Showcase for Shorts.
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  • Bella Zoe Martinez

    It was such a honor being one of the five short films recognized in the SAG-AFTRa Short Film Showcase for Excellence in Filmmaking! The event was just - classy and well done. They had additional panels during the week that were amazing - like on Navigating Film Festivals, with programmers and directors from festivals like Sundance and Newport Beach, and Rebekah Smith, the Festival Doctor. (Yeah, that’s a thing, and I recommend any filmmaker wanting to get the most of out of your festival run to give her a call - or look for someone like her!).

    July 2025
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  • Aaron Goffman

    Thank you for inviting our film “Darcine’s Day” to participate in the 2025 SAG-Aftra Short Film Showcase. We were very pleased to be recognized by our peers, and very proud to have made a connection with the SAG membership. The organizers were very welcoming and professional, the event was top-notch, and fun. The Q and A was meaningful and we felt like we really connected with the audience. Also, the screening theater is state-of-the-art: crystal clear LED picture screen, and we heard subtleties in our sound mix that we had never heard before in other theaters. Highly recommended. Highly satisfying. Thank you ~!@ Aaron Goffman, writer, director, "Darcine's Day."

    June 2025
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