Project UnLonely Films

Exciting news: 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Project UnLonely Films! For a decade and counting, we’ve used the power of short films to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of loneliness and celebrate the joy of connection in the United States and around the world. Now more than ever, we all need creative ways to feel more connected to ourselves and each other. Be a part of this important public health movement by submitting your short film to Project UnLonely Films Season 10!

Why submit to Project UnLonely Films?

1. Compensation and Awards
All films selected for Season 10 will receive a cash prize of $150. Those films will be announced in our virtual launch event in June 2026 and will be featured on our website for a minimum of 12 months. We will also recognize three award winners and up to five honorable mentions.

2. Prestigious Collaborators
Project UnLonely Films is supported by luminaries in the filmmaking industry, including celebrated actor and director Steve Buscemi and former President of Production at Lionsgate Films Mike Paseornek.

3. Community Impact
Our selected films do more than just entertain. They become part of local and national social connection programming for community-based organizations, government agencies, libraries, colleges, and more.

Submitted films do not have to be recent—we are interested in any film under 20 minutes that showcases the ways people navigate loneliness and embrace the joys of connection.

Whether you’re new to Project UnLonely Films or returning after many years of participation, we’re glad you’re here. Created by The Foundation for Art & Healing, a nonprofit public health organization, Project UnLonely Films is a global initiative designed to increase the visibility of the loneliness crisis, reduce loneliness stigma, and connect populations at risk for loneliness to arts-based social connection programming.

Our growing collection of more than 150 short films has made a tremendous impact for people struggling with loneliness and disconnection. Community-based organizations, government agencies, libraries, colleges, and universities have incorporated our films into local and national program efforts. Past submissions have included films that premiered at Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Spring Film Festival, and DOC NYC. One has even been nominated for an Academy Award!

Why short films to address loneliness? They’re a popular, inclusive art form, they’re easy to watch and share, and they can measurably increase empathy, helping people relate to those whose life experiences are different from their own. When watched with others, films can lead to the often messy but essential conversations that let us see the world as seen by others, opening possibilities for authentic connection.

People from all communities face loneliness, so we encourage filmmakers to share short works that help to explore this timely topic from diverse points of view. From drama to comedy, live action to animation, our short films offer a range of perspectives on loneliness and social connection. Our Project UnLonely Films portfolio features stories that span the "5 territories" of loneliness:

1) Trauma: Trauma can lead us to self-isolate and create a smaller world for ourselves in an effort to protect our mind and body. These films showcase the resilience and healing of survivors, through stories of connection.

2) Illness: Physical or mental illness can isolate us and make it harder to relate to others. Stories about navigating illness inspire compassion and understanding by normalizing a common human experience.

3) Aging: Getting older comes with wisdom and gratitude, but it can also lead to challenges, including - and exacerbated by - feelings of loneliness. In these short films, people find unique ways to connect with themselves and others as they age.

4) Difference: The experience of feeling different, not belonging, or not being part of a group can lead to loneliness. The characters in these films are searching for a sense of belonging, finding their community, or discovering ways to connect to their identity.

5) Modernity: Our world is at once highly connected and uniquely disconnected. The films in this category explore the ways we interact with one another – and find community – in our modern world.

In a fragmented world, it’s imperative that we all use the arts as a way to improve health and wellness, advocate for vulnerable populations, and address public health issues. Project UnLonely Films represents an exciting opportunity to amplify the ways short films—and their creators—can engage, inspire, empower, and connect us.