Welcome to the Venice Shorts of Los Angeles, an annual and IMDb qualifying seasonal competition devoted to the promotion and screening of international and American short films of all genres. Every year, we screen the finalists of the year in various cinemas of LA such as the Fine Arts Theater.

It is important for our team to recognize and promote the power of short filmmaking. We are dedicated to short films of all genres and independent artists from all over the globe. Our seasonal indie festival is a very popular competition which offers ongoing promotion and screening to the official selections and nominees of each season.

“Venice Beach’s birth in 1905 couldn’t come at a better time for Hollywood. Abbot Kinney’s “Fantasy By The Sea”, was just starting out when the brand-new movie industry came to California for its year-round sun. For the next hundred years, Hollywood’s love affair with Venice would bring entertainment to millions all over the world.”
—Edward Thomas Company

Venice Shorts has also featured some of the most well-known names in the film industry together with emerging U.S. and international talents. The festival alumni include Oscar winners and nominees such as Gus Van Sant, Jeremy Irons, Eric Roberts, Ross Kauffman and Jessica Chastain. The festival aims to discover indie film projects but also encourages established names in the industry to take part in creation of short films as producers, directors, actors and writers.  

We also promote our award winners through various film magazines and social media to thousands of film industry professionals and other artists working in media.

Read more about our screenings at the Fine Arts Theater:
https://www.laindiesmagazine.com/post/venice-shorts-fine-arts-theatre-of-beverly-hills

Best Narrative Film
Best Documentary
Best Indie Short
Best Director
Best First Time Filmmaker
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Experimental
Best Animation
Best Web/TV Pilot-Series
Best LGBTQ
Best Thriller
Best Science Fiction
Best Music video
Best Horror
Best Comedy
Best Producer
Best Cinematographer
Best Editor
Best Composer
Best Youth Actor/Actress
Best Student Film
Best Screenplay (Produced)
Best Screenplay (Unproduced)

Films must have been completed in the past 3 years.
All genres are accepted with a maximum length of 50 minutes.
Multiple entries are accepted.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
If the film is released online, it is still qualified to enter the seasonal competition, but it is not eligible for annual cinema screening.
A minimum of LA premiere is preferred for the annual screening of Fine Arts Theatre.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Zac La Roc

    Really cool festival. Thank you for having us. - Dizzy

    April 2025
  • Jay Bogdanowitsch

    Venice Shorts is an amazing Film Festival for your next Short Film Project. I had the honor of receiving the Award for "Best Comedy" for my Short Film Comedy FAMILY TRADITIONS. Venice Shorts is more than just a Film Festival, but a Community of Independent Filmmakers sharing their unique visions on Film. Highly recommend Venice Shorts to any Filmmaker looking to showcase their next Short Film. Thank you!

    March 2025
  • Movi Production

    We, as the production team, would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire Veniceshorts team for awarding our director, Jacopo Marchini, the Best Director prize for Our Days. This recognition is a significant milestone that inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries of our creative vision. We are eagerly looking forward to bringing the film to local cinemas and sharing this incredible journey with our audiences. Thank you all for your unwavering support and trust!

    February 2025
  • Vaja Music

    Massive thanks to the Venice Shorts Film Festival for giving independent filmmakers a chance to show the world how we see things through our eyes. I am beyond grateful for the nomination of my award-winning music video "People Are People," my cover of Depeche Mode's classic song. Venice Shorts is more than just a festival; it's a community that champions creativity and diversity in film & music videos alike. I deeply appreciate Venice Shorts for supporting Artists like myself and for their commitment to sharing powerful stories with the world ⚡️🤘🏽⚡️ Cheers, Vaja

    October 2024
  • Great Festival! Thank you so much! It is an honor!

    October 2024