Remembering Walter Koenig (1936–2026)
Independent Shorts Awards pays tribute to the legendary actor, recognized as Best Actor at the festival’s 2026 Annual Awards.
Colombian Drama “Behind the Curtain” Named Best Short of September 2026 at Independent Shorts Awards
In a Colombian village, a grandmother’s daily search for water leaves her grandchildren in their uncle’s care, as unsettling silences and gestures hint at something hidden within the home.
“Child of the Rouge” and “The Third Dream” Receive September 2026 Awards of Excellence at Independent Shorts Awards
A child’s birth amid Cambodia’s historical upheaval and a dreamer’s interrogation in Iran bring two distinct visions of vulnerability and power to September’s Awards of Excellence at Independent Shorts Awards.
Brazilian Drama “The Tempest” Named Best Short of August 2026 at Independent Shorts Awards
In rural Brazil, a solitary aging farmer’s life is upended by the arrival of a trans woman fleeing violence, opening an unexpected path toward healing, reconciliation, and belonging.
“Stolen Reins” and “Table Read” Receive August 2026 Awards of Excellence at Independent Shorts Awards
An atmospheric American Western and a playful Taiwanese comedy receive the August 2026 Awards of Excellence at Independent Shorts Awards.
Red Carpet Interviews from the 8th Annual Independent Shorts Awards
Watch 24 red carpet interviews hosted by Olivia Lyle at the 8th Annual Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles, now available on YouTube.
Zimbabwean Drama “Rise” Leads the 2026 Independent Shorts Awards with Five Wins
Jessica J. Rowlands’ directorial debut “Rise” led the 2026 Independent Shorts Awards with 5 wins, including Best Indie Short of the Year, as “Malka” and “Boatlift 9/11” each earned 3 awards.
Date Night
An unsuspecting Knucklehead goes on a date with a Satanic Witch in her lair. They drink-watch a movie, much like
Leeward
Sunrise spills across the worn floorboards of an open forest kwoon. Wing Chun master Sī Jé Sīfuh Rania Vernelle cradles
The Time We Choose
A filmmaker builds the emotional architecture of a story before reality unfolds — through words, music, sound and silence. As
Drowning
Young nurse Elle battles her unravelling mind as she fights for her patients in a broken system. Directed by Reiff
Paradox
A young boy named A Ran is trapped in the paradox between reality and dreams. Obsessed with images, he longs
Impact
A covert operative infiltrates a high-security corporate facility to extract sensitive data. Hunted through the city and racing against the
Birthday Cake
Directed by Jiaxin He
The Scent
Momoka has spent years trying to forget the humiliation of being labeled “stinky” as a child. Now engaged to a
Brackish
Through intimate conversations with mothers across cultures and generations, Brackish investigates pregnancy as a lived experience shaped by memory, sacrifice,
Han
For years, Han has used his power to see into the future to his advantage, previously as a gambler and
Who’s Afraid
An ordinary middle school student who loves writing but feels too shy to express himself becomes entangled with a group
Where the Autumn Waters Flow East
Seeking to preserve her ailing grandmother through film, a granddaughter finds herself caught in a cycle of love and control,
A Corner of the world
Janice, torn between family and love and afraid to voice her ambitions, faces a rift with her boyfriend when he
Rite of Passage
Directed by Lucy Sugawa (USA)