8th Annual Independent Shorts Awards International Film Festival
September 19, 2026
Regal LA Live · Downtown Los Angeles
Independent Shorts Awards International Film Festival will return to Regal LA LIVE on September 19, 2026, for the 8th Annual Awards and Live Showcase, bringing filmmakers, cast and crew, industry guests, and audiences together for an in-person celebration of international short filmmaking in Los Angeles.
Full Festival Schedule Now Live
The official program for the 2026 Annual Awards has now been announced.
The live showcase features 71 films from 27 countries across 11 screening blocks in three auditoriums, including 26 films screening with premiere status, alongside an Industry Panel, Cocktail Reception, Red Carpet Photocall & Press Interviews, and the Annual Awards Show.
The screening lineup brings together films nominated through the 2026 annual competition and a curated selection of invited works presented as part of the festival’s Non-Competitive Section.
Cast and crew representing most of the films are confirmed to attend, with filmmakers and guests traveling to Los Angeles from across the United States and around the world.
Explore the complete 2026 Annual Awards program:
Full Festival Schedule | All Films (A–Z)
2026 Annual Nominees
The nominees for the 2026 Annual Awards have been announced.
Following the final round of judging, 71 films from 25 countries received nominations across this year’s award categories. The nominations recognize outstanding achievements in filmmaking, directing, performance, storytelling, and technical and creative craft across the festival’s competitive categories.
The winners will be revealed during the Annual Awards Show.
Explore the 2026 Annual Awards nominees:
Nominees by Category | All Nominees (A–M) | All Nominees (N–Z)
From 3,409 Submissions to 71 Nominees
The 2026 Annual Awards feature the strongest projects recognized across the festival’s 12 monthly qualifying rounds held between July 2025 and July 2026.
From the original 3,409 submissions representing 73 countries, 120 projects from 34 countries advanced to the Annual Finalists, the official long list representing the top 3.52% of all submissions received during the qualifying cycle.
Following a new comparative review by the annual judging committee, the field was narrowed to 71 nominated films from 25 countries, now competing for the festival’s 2026 Best of the Year honors.
The complete 2026 Annual Finalists list can be viewed here:
Annual Finalists — Long List A–Ma | Annual Finalists — Long List Mo–Z
The Live Showcase
The 8th Annual Independent Shorts Awards is designed as a full-day festival experience, combining theatrical screenings with opportunities for filmmakers, audiences, and industry guests to meet and celebrate independent short filmmaking.
Screenings & Industry Panel
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Cinemas 8, 9 & 10
Cocktail Reception · Red Carpet Photocall & Press Interviews
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM · Mezzanine
Annual Awards Show
7:30 PM – 8:45 PM · Cinema 8
The Awards Show will culminate the 2026 annual competition with the presentation of the festival’s Best of the Year honors.
Event Information
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Event Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Venue: Regal LA LIVE
Location: 1000 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Annual Finalists: Announced — View the A–Ma and Mo–Z lists
Annual Nominees: Announced — 71 films from 25 countries
Official Screening Lineup: Announced — 71 films from 27 countries
Screening Program: 11 blocks · 3 auditoriums
Festival Passes: On sale now
Screening Block Tickets: On sale now
Official Program: View the Full Festival Schedule
Previous Annual Edition
Explore the 2025 Annual Awards, including the award winners, official festival program, nominated films, interviews, red carpet, Spotlight Q&A, Awards Show, and event highlights.
Explore Previous Annual Editions
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