Independent Shorts Awards is a Los Angeles-based international short film festival, hosting monthly editions that serve as qualifiers for its Annual Awards.
Each year, the Annual Awards event showcases 70/80 outstanding short films selected from the monthly competition, including official nominees in contention for the annual awards, as well as a curated non-competitive section.
At the 7th Annual Independent Shorts Awards in 2025, the showcase presented 70 films from 19 countries — including 48 premieres — and gathered a distinguished community of filmmakers, actors, and industry figures at Regal LA Live. Among those honored were industry-recognized professionals Tate Donovan, Michael Paré, Madison Wolfe, and David Alan Graf, whose presence underscored the festival’s growing reputation as a platform where established talent meets emerging voices. Alongside the screenings and red-carpet moments, a special Spotlight Q&A panel brought together this year’s guests to reflect on the craft of storytelling and the evolving role of independent short films in the global industry.
To explore highlights from the event, visit 2025 ANNUAL AWARDS.
Notable Films from Previous Competitions
Independent Shorts Awards has previously featured in competition several notable projects such as Academy Award nominee One Small Step (USA), Student Academy Award winner A Dream Called Khushi, Happiness (India), Oscar-shortlisted short live action Edge of Space (USA), Oscar-longlisted animated short Umbrella (Brazil), Oscar-longlisted documentary short After Skid Row (USA), Oscar-longlisted live action short Cognition (UK), BAFTA award winner The Inescapable Arrival of Lazlo Petushki (UK), DGA Student Film award winner Spaceship (USA), and One Last Last Heist (Canada) acquired by Sony.
Industry-Recognized Talent
One of Los Angeles’ leading international festivals for indie short films, Independent Shorts Awards is proud to count among its past winners and honorees Academy Award winners Joel Harlow, Laura Dern, Nick Vallelonga, Rayka Zehtabchi, Robert Zemeckis, and Ross Kauffman; Academy Award nominees including Andrew Chesworth, Diane Ladd, Eric Roberts, Jeremy Renner, Michael Shannon, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Conti; as well as BAFTA, Emmy, SAG, César, Grammy, and Sundance award-winning artists. The festival has also welcomed celebrated names such as Tate Donovan, Michael Paré, Madison Wolfe, Charlene Tilton, Debbie Pollack, Arthur Roberts, and Keith Jardine.
Student and Newcomer Participation
Independent Shorts Awards has a special focus in supporting student films. The festival boasts categories like “Best Student Short” and “Best Student Female/Male Director,” highlighting its commitment to nurturing new talent. Past winners include Student Academy Award winner Rishabh Raj Jain, Sundance Special jury Award winner Masha Ko, and ADG award winner and Crystal Bear award nominee Lucy Knox, to name a few.
Diversity and inclusion
Independent Shorts Awards is looking for independent projects from all genres, particularly low or no-budget ones, as well as from all countries, especially from those traditionally underrepresented in the global film industry.
Monthly competitions
Each monthly season, the submitted projects are judged by a random team of invited experts from academia and film industry, against a high standard of merit. The monthly award winners are considered for the annual nominations. All annual nominees are screened at the annual event.
So, EVERY MONTH, Independent Shorts Awards establishes a comprehensive hierarchy of the most important films in the festival circuit, awarding a considerable number of projects in several different categories. A monthly breakdown, listed by IMDb, that allows you to be, at the same time, in a TRADITIONAL ANNUAL FESTIVAL competing for a spot among the world’s best short films of the year to be screened in Los Angeles.
Annual international stage
Our annual stage, showcasing some of the best independent short films curated from around the world, with most being represented by their cast and crew, brings together in Los Angeles a vibrant community of filmmakers and provides a unique opportunity for global interaction and networking.
To learn more about awards, events, and rules & terms, please visit our page in Filmfreeway.
Submissions are accepted through FilmFreeway.
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