Welcome to SoCal Summer Camp for filmmakers!

Named one of "50 FILM FESTIVALS WORTH THE ENTRY FEE 2025" by "Movie Maker" magazine, and now one of "THE 25 COOLEST FILM FESTIVALS IN THE WORLD 2025", we curate an intimate lineup of stellar shorts 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 cash and prize packages and an Academy Award®-Qualifying Theatrical run.

Our festival was started by filmmakers for filmmakers. Every decision is steeped with intention and care - from the programming, to the parties and the marketing. The entertainment industry can be a cold and competitive place, and we seek to combat that through genuine care and connection. Community is one of our core values and thus, selected filmmakers are adopted into our filmmaking family. Notable alumni include Jim Cummings (Thunder Road), Mark Duplass (The Morning Show), Katie Aselton (The Freebie), Ursula Taherian (United States of Al), Ben Brewer (Everything Everywhere All At Once - VFX), David Fried (True Colors), and Danny Madden (Beast Beast).

We are seeking thought-provoking, conversation-starting stories that align with our mantra: Films with an Aftertaste. Whether they are shot on the iPhone or the Alexa, we seek to program a slate of films that represents the diverse and distinct voices in our world today.

Our lineup will feature top films from the festival circuit, as well as hidden gems we uncover in the screening process.

You can read reviews from our alumni below.

Awards & Prizes

Salute Your Shorts is proud to present an Academy Award®-Qualifying theatrical run as a top prize. Every film in our lineup is eligible for this award, as long as the film has not received Academy qualification through another event.

In 2025 we gave more than $30,000 away in cash and prize packages combined.

"Best in Category" awards are determined by jurors. We recognize WINNERS and HONORABLE MENTIONS in the following categories:

- DRAMATIC SHORT
- DOCUMENTARY SHORT
- EXPERIMENTAL SHORT
- COMEDY SHORT
- GENRE SHORT
- ANIMATED SHORT
- SUPER SHORT FILM (UNDER 5 MINUTES)**
- LOCAL SHORT
- PROGRAMMERS CHOICE
- AUDIENCE CHOICE
- BEST OF FEST

Jurors from past years have included:
- TONY HALE - Emmy Winning Actor (Veep, Arrested Development, Toy Story)
- DAN LIN, Head of Netflix; Producer (Lego Movie Franchise)
- JACKIE TOHN (Glow)
- ANIA TRZEBIATOWSKA (Programmer, Sundance Film Festival)
- TROIAN BELLISARIO - actress/director (Pretty Little Liars, Good Trouble)
- KABIR AKHTAR - director (Grownish, Crazy Ex Girlfriend)
- JEREMY HOWE, writer/producer (The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon)
- DOUG JONES (Shape of Water, Pans Labyrinth)
- INA PIRA (curator at Vimeo)
- MATT FAGERHOLM (film critic, Rodgerebert.com)
- PAUL SLOOP (Shorts Programmer, Cleveland International Film Festival)
- GREG SORVIG (Artistic director, Heartland Film Festival; Associate Programmer, Tribeca)
-CÉLINE ROUSTAN (Programmer, Short of the Week, SXSW)
- ABIRAM BRIZUELA (composer, former director of Artist Development -Sundance Institute)

Panelists and Moderators have included:
- DANIEL SCHEINERT and the "Everything Everywhere All At Once" VFX Artists.
- JENNI KONNER (HBO's Girls)
- RYAN HEFFINGTON (Emmy-Winning Choreographer)
- BEN PROUDFOOT (Academy-Award Winning Doc Director)
- JIM CUMMINGS (Sundance & SXSW Winning Filmmaker)
- JACOB KRUEGER (Emmy-Winning Screenwriter and Writing Coach)
- SUJATA DAY (Sundance Lab Fellow and HBO Visionaries Ambassador)
- ANNA BAUMGARTEN (Austin Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Winner)
- EMILY BEST, Founder and CEO of Seed&Spark
- DARIOUS BRITT (D4Darious on Youtube).

Rules & Terms

We DO NOT require premiere status and will consider shorts that have been made available for online viewing or have screened in Los Angeles.

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

** Shorts vying for the "best super short film" must have credits rolling by 4:59. If your credits sequence pushes your film past 5:00, please submit it in its appropriate category (i.e., animation, comedy, drama, etc...). It will still be considered for the super short award.

Directors living in Southern California are eligible for the local film award.

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.

We do not provide screening fees.

Since 2022 we have been able to provide some traveling stipends for select visiting filmmakers traveling long distances. We will make our best efforts to expand upon this offering in 2026. However, Salute Your Shorts Film Festival cannot guarantee lodging or travel stipends. We will put traveling filmmakers in touch with affordable options if requested.

Upon invitation, participants will be contacted via email by the Print Traffic Coordinator with format confirmation, exhibition details, and delivery instructions.

We have the right to NOT award in any category if we are unable to make a selection based on our panels scores.

This year, we are accepting films completed on or after January 1, 2023.

71 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Nick Hartanto

    I had heard how special SYS was from friends but was still caught off guard when I finally experienced it for myself. Every aspect of the festival is so intentional...from the personal write-ups created for every film, to the single venue which encouraged everyone to watch each other's work, and to the magic filled panels. You can definitely feel that it's a festival made by filmmakers. Highly recommend experiencing it for yourself!

    September 2025
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  • Catie Skipp

    Salute Your Shorts was an incredible experience. True to their word, it’s a truly filmmaker-friendly festival, and I was honored to be included in a program with such a high caliber of films. The team was communicative, supportive, and generous throughout, and their care for both the filmmakers and the work really stood out. Winning Best Documentary was such an honor and a wonderful way to cap off the experience!

    August 2025
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  • Michael Beeson

    The staff is amazing, they clearly worked their pants off to put on this great festival. Tip top programming and the venue is a hidden gem in LA. Personally, I'm very food motivated and they kept the snacks rolling. Can't wait to see how well this one grows in the future, would love to come back!

    August 2025
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  • Zoe Davidson

    SYS is one of the best festivals I have been to, both as a filmmaker and a patron! It's well curated and ran by a team of lovely, kind, and smart individuals. I had a wonderful experience at all the events I attended and would recommend it to all filmmakers.

    August 2025
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  • Christian Loubek

    How great was it receive a personal phone call announcing the inclusion of BELIEF in this wonderful film festival. Salute Your Shorts is a powerful network of filmmakers here in the industry's capital. Thank you Lauren and Erin. So grateful to be a part. If you get the opportunity, do all you can to be a part!

    August 2025
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