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Official Selection


27 Official Selections from 8 countries

12 Animation, 7 Experimental 8 Narrative/Documentary

Expert Care

Australia

Columbia

France

Greece

Malaysia

Spain

United Kingdom

United StatesO

Screening On-Line in Early October - Stay Tuned


Official Selections 2026

Wish Feather

1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion

1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion

Animation

Wish Feather

03:00

Australia


Ying Lei Zhang, Director, Animator

Sarah Knight, Composer & Sound Designer


A dancer wishes to soar beyond her eternal cage. But the key can only be found from deep within herself.







1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion

1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion

1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion

ANIMATION

1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion

01:49
United States


Director, Olena Kovtash


1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion brings together three animated shorts with black-and-white drawing styles, exploring emotion, energy, and connection through movement and visual rhythm.

Bounty Hunter

1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion

Bounty Hunter

ANIMATION

Bounty Hunter

01:55

United States


Director, Ziqiong Cao


This short film follows a cyborg girl who discovers her true identity during a mission. Set against a future shaped by rapidly advancing technology, the film explores the collision between humanity and technology and questions what it truly means to be human when artificial intelligence begins to develop a sense of self.

Broad Bruno

Cardboard Heart

Bounty Hunter


ANIMATION

Broad Bruno

02:39

United States


Jane Jiang, Director, Writer

Kerry Sun, Director, Writer

Ringling College of Art and Design, Producer

Yanick Welihozkiy, Key Cast

Student Film



The story follows Bruno, a boy born with shoulders broader than a doorframe. As he grows up, he faces a series of challenges, awkward situations, and humorous twists that come with being a little different from everyone else.


Cardboard Heart

Cardboard Heart

Cardboard Heart

ANIMATION

Cardboard Heart

02:00

Colombia


Catalina Ferreira MartÍn, Director

 

Living in a context marked by deep social contrasts made it inevitable to question the place from which we observe, choose, or remain silent. Cardboard emerged as the natural language of the film: a fragile and humble material capable of holding profoundly human stories. Through a handmade universe, the short film seeks to transform reflection into a heartbeat and invite viewers to look at the world with new eyes.


Doggone Wizards!

Cardboard Heart

Cardboard Heart

ANIMATION

Doggone Wizards!

02:06

United States


Directors, Writers, Animators: Blue Summerfield

Christina Imari Alvarez, also Producer 

Additional Animators:

Mori Ortiz

Jenn Li

Diego Armando

Lanaii Canada

Jonathan Yellowhair


Even in magic school, class can be so-o boring. Luckily, two poodle wizards with a knack for shenanigans know just how to fix that! Featuring Rico and Rocco, silly wizard poodles extraordinaire, and the many shenanigans they get themselves into.

Forest Faeries

 Animation

Forest Faeries

02:42

United States


Conni St. Pierre, Director, Writer

What fascinating creatures live here on Mt. Will in my Maine forest that you've never seen? They are generally pretty shy, and adept at hiding in plain sight...but they were pretty determined to manifest through tech magic!


Knight Garden

Animation

Knight Garden

02:30

France

Yann Le Guerroué, Director

Jérémy Ben Amma, rSound Designer and Compositor

After a steep fall, a knight awakens in a vast, mysterious forest.

At its heart stands an abandoned house covered with hundreds of Post-it notes, from which a colossal tree rises.

The knight soon realizes that completing the tasks on each note is the only way to make the tree grow— to reach its summit, the place he came from.



Not a Hero by Accident

Pipasus: The Lost Paradise

Animation

03:00
United States


Adam Ansorge, Director

Nathan Morgan, Sound Design

Emmett Goodman, Creative Consultant


{Created almost entirely with pencils and paper}


The fatal collision with a meter maid puts a truck driver in the hands of the local community to decide his fate.


Pipasus: The Lost Paradise

Pipasus: The Lost Paradise

Pipasus: The Lost Paradise

Animation

Pigasus

03:44

United States


Sean Patrick O'Reilly, Director
Donald James McDowell, Writer


Pigasus is a coming of age adventure story about a unique little pig prophesied to confront the evil Rathvar in the great battle for evermore. But, Pigasus must first find the faith to believe in the loving light of the Presence or the blackness of the darkness will forever rule over what was once Elysium.
A heart-warming story of faith, hope, love & family set in the valley, at the base of the ancient volcano Shasta, home of the Bennett family.


Rockie Run-Thru

Pipasus: The Lost Paradise

The House of Mycellum

Animation

Rockie Run- Thru

03:20
United States
 


Student - Savannah College of Art & Design

Sarah Soriano, Director, Writer

Kimberly Larson, Writer

Jeremy Weaver, Voice of "The Announcer"

Andy J. Garcia, Head of Story, &  Animation Lead, with Grace Stringer.

Haden Herbert, Music

Alyssa Rash, Julia Stieglitz, Producers,

Blu Caruthers, Visual Development Lead,

Carina Miranda, Technical Animation Lead, and many, more...at least 30!


"A new conductor must learn to battle her inner thoughts and fears while leading a marching band for the very first time."

Rookie Run-Thru is a 3D animated short film produced at the Savannah College of Art and Design, telling a simple yet heartfelt story of finding your true “Esprit de corps”: to achieve something greater than ever thought possible. 

Our amazing crew worked diligently to bring this film to life, along with the guidance of mentors, professors, and the contributions made toward our Crowdfundr.com page. Thank you for supporting our march forward! 


The House of Mycellum

Pipasus: The Lost Paradise

The House of Mycellum

Animation

The House of Mycellum

03:00
United States
 


Jordyn Diebolt, Director

 Writer, Animator, Background Painter, and Compositer

Ellen Sturtevant, Effects Animator

Hillary Taylor, Voices

Zee Andrews, Voices


A blossoming flower named Annie confronts her captor, a mushroom-like shadow creature called The Gardener, and makes a daring escape from the dilapidated greenhouse imprisoning her in darkness.

More Official Selections

Daimon

Disjointed

Disjointed

Experimental

Daimon 

01:48

Greece


Michael Tzivleris, Director, Writer, Producer


Daimon
is a poetic short film exploring self-knowledge and transformation through the lens of myth. Set within a symbolic Greek landscape, a young man navigates an inner journey guided by an unseen force, confronting the threshold between fear and becoming. Blending voiceover and visual metaphor, the film reimagines myth as an intimate, psychological experience

Disjointed

Disjointed

Disjointed

Experimental

Disjointed

02:54

United States


Marlene Szczesny, Director, Creator -- video and sound



Disjointed is a visual and sound experience that showcases a series of women in motion, presented through fragmented perspectives. Each segment focuses on different parts of the body—upper body, torso, feet—creating an abstract portrayal of women and movement. The jerky and spasmodic movements reflect the ways in which some women contort themselves to meet social media expectations. Accompanied by purposefully discordant sound effects, these audio elements enhance the disjointed feel, immersing viewers in a thought-provoking exploration of identity, perception, and the pressures of conformity.


IN-PULSE

Disjointed

Sockalypse

Experimental

IN-PULSE

02:50

United Kingdom


Riccardo Tito Pescini, Director, Writer, Producer

Freddie Walker, Writer, Key Cast

Sophie Atherton, Key Cast

Elizabeth Huskisson, Key Cast

Brian Maitland, Key Cast


What if you could live out your worst impulses in a parallel world without them affecting your life? A couple tries out this new government initiative for a happier future.


Sockalypse

Sockalypse

Sockalypse

Experimental

Sockalypse

02:51

United States


Student Film -- Ruby J. Toolan.

Rhode Island School of Design in May of 2026. During her time at RISD she was a dedicated member of both the Brown University Motion Pictures and the Brown University Original Series.  


Ruby Jane Toolan, Director,  writer, cinematographer, Voice Actor

William Zeppieri, Voice Actor

Kea Morshed, Assistant Director, 

Rhiannon Chaston, Grip, Gaffer

Key Cast: Dariana Alvarez-Ortiz,Olivier Almada-Midy, Julian Osorio, Charlie Fitzgerald, Evy Hwangbo, Kea Morshed


This piece served as an experiment into non-linear storytelling and an exploration into the different origins of narratives. Based on a dream I had almost a year before that was then discussed over text , the voiceover in this film is an exact transcription of that conversation in an attempt to source my narrative untraditionally. I wanted the visual experience to echo that of its source: a dream, its fragmented and non-sensical, time and space are unspecific and the images don’t necessarily match the words. There’s also an absurdity to it which lends itself to a commentary on the world we’re living in today. 




 

 

The Backpack

Sockalypse

The Backpack

Experimental
The Backpack

01:00

United States


Tamara Hermandez, Director , Writer

Robert Murphy, Producer

Arden Hughes, Key Cast

Harvey Perr, Key Cast


THE BACKPACK is an experimental one-minute short film that plays on the absurdity of random, everyday encounters. An actor interacts with an unsuspecting stranger on the street, turning an innocent moment into something surreal, and funny. The film explores the chaos and humor that emerge when scripted behavior collides with real-world spontaneity. It's a reminder that life often has a way of surprising us.

Tail

Sockalypse

The Backpack

Experimental

Tail

02:27

United States


Godfred Bosumtwe, Director, writer, producer

Joseph Arning, Producer, Key Cast


It's a man on the run.


Days Chased by a Ghost's Shadow

Days Chased by a Ghost's Shadow

Days Chased by a Ghost's Shadow

Experimental

Days Chased by a Ghost's Shadow

03:20

Taiwan


Mio Haung, Director

Akito Huang, Key Cast

Ching-Yao Huang, Producer



Dongdong is a bright, cheerful child. But after starting elementary school, bullying made him shut himself off. Through books, drawing, sports, and the support of old friends and kindhearted people, he slowly rebuilt his body and spirit. Dongdong’s story tells us that if we don’t give up and keep challenging ourselves, we may discover unexpected beauty.


Mio Huang is a mother, wife, filmmaker and interpreter from Kagoshima, Japan, now based in Taiwan. She studied film production in China and, after graduation, worked on film sets as a Chinese–Japanese interpreter. After getting married, she settled in Taiwan, where she lives with her Taiwanese husband, their son and a pet turtle. She currently works at an advertising agency while creating short films inspired by her cross-cultural family life.

Hatsa "Soul"

Days Chased by a Ghost's Shadow

Days Chased by a Ghost's Shadow

Documentary
Hatse "Soul"

0:3:00

Spain 


Josu Ozaita, Director


The wood is dead, and it is resurrected in the charcoal kiln.
It regains its breath, exhales smoke, an intense scent takes over the surroundings, begins to throb…
It is the spirit that is about to disappear, in the form of flavor and smoke.
The life of our ancestors endures, resists…
And that invisible soul will enter your body.
It will take you to our mountains, and surrounded by smoke, you will experience a transformation.
From that moment on, you will realize that not all charcoals are the same.

Family Style

Days Chased by a Ghost's Shadow

Last Dog Standing

Narrative

Family Style

02:37

United States

Phillip Cal, Director, Writer, Producer, Editor 

Kathy Chang, Key Cast "Vivian"

Katy Ho, Key Cast "Jessica"

Michael Frazier, Director of Photography

Taiki Mori, Gaffer

Johnny Caicedo, Production, Sound Mixer


Two sisters share a takeout meal in a cramped apartment. When the younger reveals she's not going home for the holidays, the elder must reckon with what that might mean.

Last Dog Standing

Last Dog Standing

Last Dog Standing

Narrative

Last Dog Standing

03:30

United States


Lawrence Whitener, Director, Writer, Producer 

Paul Chapman, Key Cast

Key Cast


Vietnam Vet MWD-Handler now Retired K9 Sheriff, is a recovering alcoholic. He returns to hometown after 10 years only to discover an underground crime ring with a sinister secret. But fefore he can save them all, he first has to save himself. Redemption through revenge for all the right reasons. 34 Awards on IMDb.


This storyline is based on the horrible "sport" known as Dog Fighting. All descriptions and depictions are accurate based on interviews with ASPCA and HSUS attorneys. Script is available on Amazon Books.


Lawrence Whitener is a

SAG-Aftra Actor in 100 Productions with 9 Best Actor Awards. Yale trained screenwriter with 500 Awards on IMDb for 26 feature screenplays, 20 short scripts with 14 made into SAG short films. "Saving Robin Williams" is streaming on Amazon. "Videogenic" is on YOW.tv


Not So Different

Last Dog Standing

Not So Different

Narrative
Not So Different

02:27

United States


William A. Zeichner, Director, Writer, Producer


Not So Different is a short film about a recent retiree volunteering with shelter dogs and noticing, one by one, how differently each dog responds to the same simple game of fetch. The film was inspired by my own experiences volunteering with shelter dogs and by the small moments of observation that come with that work.

The project draws heavily on my own photography of the locations and dogs, which served as key source material in shaping the film’s visual world and helping root it in a real place. The film is AI-generated, using that photographic material as reference and foundation, and was guided throughout by traditional storytelling judgment and editorial intent

Pink Slip

Last Dog Standing

Not So Different



.Narative

Pink Slip

02:37

United States


Ryan Abrams, Director

Jamier Boatman-Harrell, Key Cast

AJ Clarke, Key Cast


When a good day meets bad news at Fort Washington Park, two friends confront what matters.


Ryan Abrams is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and founder of Stable Pictures.

"I sought to capture an underrepresented story of my culture and identity as the characters navigate career pivots and failure."

3 More Official Selections

Smooth Finish

Suitcase Secrets

Suitcase Secrets

Narrative

Smooth Finish

01:55

United States

Amy Kersten, Director, Writer, Producer,  

Angela Sauer, Writer

 Producer, Key Cast

Gregory Lay, Key Cast


Two friends struggle to find the right pairings in wine and love.


Amy Kersten has spent the last decade developing multiple digital series, including "Lady Parts Justice", run by Daily Show creator Lizz Winstead, and three seasons of the award-winning digital series "HOT MESS". Her pilot In Case of Emergency was a top-rated short in the Amazon All Voices Film Festival. Other short film credits include "After The March", honored during the centennial, and "HOYT". Amy has associate-produced and edited dozens of web series and pilots, including "Cntrl Alt Delete" starring Ed Begley Jr., streaming on WhoHaHA, and "BUDS", a Sundance pilot finalist. She is also the in-house producer for the Geena Davis Institute and has worked on various feature films, including "Sandy Wexler" starring Adam Sandler, "The Spy Who Dumped Me" starring Kate McKinnon, and "The Week Of" directed by Robert Smigel. She was selected to join the Entertainment/Media #50WomenCan Cohort, with women across the industry working together towards parity in Hollywood by 2025. 




Suitcase Secrets

Suitcase Secrets

Suitcase Secrets

Narrative

Suitcase Secrets

03:00

United States


Max Neivandt, Director, Writer, Producer

Brooke Richey, Key Cast


She boards Train 360, dressed to kill.
A suitcase full of secrets.
A ticket she’ll never show.
And one unsuspecting conductor.

A short film set in the 1950s — where glamour meets an unlucky conductor.


Max Neivandt's creative outlet is making films. He thrives on the challenge to produce engaging stories with beautiful images. Living in Texas and working as an engineer, Max has enjoyed filming, photography, writing, painting and drawing for many years. 

The Ambassador

Suitcase Secrets

The Ambassador

Narrative

The Ambassador
02:30
 

France


Benjamin Gonzalez, Director, Writer, Producer

David Salles, Key Cast

Helen Ley, Key Cast

Morgan Niquet, Key Cast


The Ambassador is the story of Michel, a shouting homeless man who bothers the customers on a terrace by yelling nonstop.
While Franck makes fun of him, Helen feels a growing attachment to this marginal figure.
But what if this homeless man was actually carrying out a task of the utmost importance, on which the fate of humanity depends?



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REVIEWS

Some of our Filmmakers most welcomed reviews. Thank you all.



Dasha Khritankova. Great festival! Great communication, friendly team. I have a very positive with this festival! December 2020

Derlis Alvarenga. Great for meeting and greeting, I had a wonderful time watching the works of fellow filmmakers and animators while attending the festival in Santa Barbara.January 2019


Tyler Cole. I was unable to attend this year, but so honored to be selected. The communication was also wonderful!! August 2018  

John Maslowski. I really enjoyed this festival. Lynn is so nice. The screening was outdoors which in Santa Barbara is a beautiful thing.August 2018 


Keith Cantrell. Just now getting around to writing this 5-star review, but the 3 Minute Film Festival was so much fun!!! I had never been to Santa Barbara before, so I enjoyed taking a road trip up from Los Angeles when my short film Paddleball Hole screened at the festival. Definitely arrive early so you can explore the beautiful city. I met some wonderful filmmakers at this event, and the festival director Lynn is well-organized and keeps everything running smoothly. Would love to participate again in the future. Thanks for a wonderful festival! 


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