Beloved by filmmakers and alumni, Salute Your Shorts curates a collection of the best short films from around the world in every genre, showcasing them to a community of artists seeking inspiration and conversation. Selected films will enjoy an audience of working entertainment industry professionals and compete for a cash prize.

We are seeking accessible, thought provoking stories whether they are shot on the iPhone or the Alexa. We know it can be hard to compare an artfully drawn and important film about a social issue, against a delightful romantic comedy or even a progressive horror film. We believe that excellence in every genre should be rewarded and seek to program a slate of films that represents the diverse voices in our world today.

Salute Your Shorts Fest runs after the Los Angeles Oscar-Qualifying festivals for short films (Hollyshorts and LA Shorts Fest).

Awards & Prizes

Each award will be determined by a different member of our jury which is made up of Industry power players as well as working and recognizable Hollywood actors.

Judges from past years included:
- TONY HALE - Emmy Winning Actor (Veep, Arrested Development)
- DAN LIN, Producer of the Lego Movie Franchise
- EMILY BEST, Founder and CEO of Seed&Spark
- JACKIE TOHN (Glow)
- JEREMY HOWE, writer/producer on The Big Bang Theory
- DOUG JONES (Shape of Water, Pans Labyrinth)
- WYNN EVERETT (HBO's The Newsroom, Agent Carter)
- PAUL SLOOP (Shorts Programmer, Cleveland International Film Festival)

In addition to our "BEST OF THE FEST" we will award WINNERS, RUNNER-UPS, and HONORABLE MENTIONS in the following categories:

- AUDIENCE AWARD
- DRAMATIC SHORT
- DOCUMENTARY SHORT
- EXPERIMENTAL SHORT
- COMEDY SHORT
- GENRE SHORT
- ANIMATED SHORT
- STUDENT SHORT
- SALUTE YOUR SUPER SHORT SHORT (UNDER 3 MINUTES)
- FEMALE DIRECTED SHORT (In your cover letter, please make note to be eligible)

We also award one "BEST PILOT" or "ORIGINAL SERIES" episode.

We offer a cash prize to our "BEST OF THE FEST" short film.

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY:

This year, we are accepting films completed on or after January 1, 2017.

We do not require premiere status and will consider shorts which have been made available for online viewing.

Every submitted film will be viewed in its entirely by member(s) of our selection team.

Students are welcome and should include school information in their cover letter.

All submitted material must be the original work of the author(s) aside from copyrighted music (which we accept).

Music videos, screen-dance, and experimentally constructed films should be submitted under the experimental category. Music videos may be spec.

We accept material from anywhere in the world. All submitted material must be in English or with english subtitles.

Entry fees are non-refundable. No refunds will be issued for any reason.

Contest applicants must accept without reservations the decisions rendered by the competition.

Festival cannot provide lodging or travel stipends, but we will put traveling filmmakers in touch with affordable options.

Upon invitation, participants will be contacted via email by the Print Traffic Coordinator with format confirmation, exhibition details, and delivery instructions.
11 Reviews
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Networking
  • Ursula Taherian

    Great festival all around! Very well organized, excellent programming, and really cool screening venues with so many special touches! This festival clearly loves its filmmakers. Met so many great people that I've continued to stay in touch with. Thank you for including The Brownlist!

    October 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Ursula! It was a pleasure to have you and The Brownlist be part of our 2nd season!

  • Gary Jaffe

    A lovely, intimate, warm festival. Great films, great people. Exciting to see what it will grow into!

    August 2018
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  • FABIO LEONE

    very intresting film festival!
    opened to all world it gives opportunities to all.
    I will partecipate again next year.

    August 2018
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  • Ron Morehouse and Emily Bell

    This is the festival you have been wanting! After being on the festival circuit for the last year (and attending top top festivals) I was shocked at the quality of selections Salute Your Shorts had. Impeccably curated, it is an honor to show with so many great films. The team is amazing and the festival feels like a homecoming making you feel like a star!!

    August 2018
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  • Sherry Berg

    The most personable, caring, and professional. This fest is going places, and I"ll surely ride on its coattails.

    November 2017
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