International short film festival and live event series based in Los Angeles
Learn more about the 10 nominees for Best Short of June-July 2026, contenders for the special jury awards of this season. Winners across all competition categories will be officially announced soon.
Independent Shorts Awards expands its filmmaker support with FilmVault and Dehancer, offering every monthly Best Short of the Season winner a professional prize package valued at over USD $1,000.
A contemplative journey aboard a historic tall ship becomes a meditation on time, purpose, and humanity’s increasingly distant relationship with the natural world.
From social realism and absurd comedy to psychological drama, this season’s Awards of Excellence honor three outstanding achievements in independent short filmmaking.
Five exceptional screenplays are recognized for their cinematic ambition, emotional depth, and outstanding storytelling.
Independent Shorts Awards is proud to announce the award winners for April-May 2026. This month’s selections were chosen from a
Learn more about the 8 nominees for Best Short of April-May 2026, contenders for the special jury awards of this season. Winners across all competition categories will be officially announced soon.
On New Year’s Eve, a debt-ridden worker takes a shift at a neighborhood churro shop, where mounting pressure and shared struggles turn a routine night into a chaotic test of endurance.
March 2026’s Awards of Excellence highlight two distinct voices: one bold and transgressive, the other intimate and emotionally grounded, each pushing storytelling in a different direction.
From emotional repression to generational trauma, five distinctive scripts showcase strong formal control and character-driven storytelling.
Independent Shorts Awards is proud to announce the award winners for March 2026. This month’s selections were chosen from a
Learn more about the 6 nominees for Best Short of March 2026, contenders for the special jury awards of this season. Winners across all competition categories will be officially announced soon.
A boy growing up on a Zimbabwean rubbish dump convinces a reclusive boxing coach to train him, discovering strength, mentorship, and a place to belong.
February 2026’s Award of Excellence winners—“Edgar: Enhanced Data Gathering Analysis Robot” and “Five Things to Love”—highlight two distinct storytelling approaches, from reflective science fiction to an intimate journey through addiction and recovery.