Established in 2012 as a quarterly screening series in Toronto, Canada, Shorts Not Pants is now a festival weekend held each November.

We've screened more than 600 films from more than 40 countries so far, and we're looking for more undiscovered gems to show our shorts-savvy Toronto audiences. Members of our programming team have experience working for some of the biggest and best festivals in the world (TIFF, Sundance, Hot Docs, Cannes) and travel to festivals around the world seeking out the best films and the brightest filmmakers to support.

Your submission will be evaluated by our team and if chosen, will screen at our festival in November 2023. We have more than a decade of great programming experience behind us, with lots of audience momentum.

See some of the nice things filmmakers have said about us here: http://www.shortsnotpants.com/testimonials/

Awards & Prizes

Awards for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Animated Short, Best Canadian Short as well an Audience Award. Each award comes with a cash prize of US$250.

Important note: a film can only compete in the category in which it is submitted (ie. Narrative, Documentary, or Animated).

Rules & Terms

We are currently accepting submissions of short films up to 20 minutes in length. All genres are welcome, and we don't disqualify films that are already available online, though we do look favourably on films that want to premiere with us.

We screen from digital files ONLY. Films not in English must contain English subtitles.
19 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jeffrey Ulrich

    Really well curated short film festival! It was a privilege to show my film alongside such talented creatives. Kudos to James and the entire Shorts Not Pants team for putting on an exceptional weekend.

    March 2023
    Helpful
  • Luis Puente

    It's a very well curated festival. I got to premiere a short there that later played Sundance with another short that played at Shorts Not Pants! We established a great connection with Canadian Filmmakers because of this festival.

    March 2023
    Helpful
  • Nina Ross

    Really great festival, with a lovely collection of films. Would definitely enter again!

    December 2021
    Helpful
  • NewBorn Short Film Agency

    Great festival! we were honoured to have our film selected to Shorts That Are Not Pants!

    December 2021
    Helpful
  • Filmes do Gajo

    It made us very happy to have our Canadian premiere at your festival. Our film Circus Movements most certainly isn't a pant, but a movie that combines fascinating circus acts with emphatic music from Africa and around the world. Thanks for giving us the possibility to share it with your great audience! Chapeau!

    February 2021
    Helpful