SUBMIT 10/16/2026 for 2027 -- Season 15.. We're Heading to Hollywood
Official Selection
28 Official Selections from 9 countries
12 Animation, 7 Experimental 9 Narrative/Documentary
Expert Care
Australia
Columbia
France
Greece
Spain
Taiwan
United Kingdom
United States
Screening On-Line in October 14, 2026
Official Selections 2026
Wishfeather
1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion
1, 2, 3: Stories in Motion
Animation
Wishfeather
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
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 Mycelium
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 Mycelium
Pipasus: The Lost Paradise
The House of Mycelium
Animation
The House of Mycelium
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
*(Unfortunately not screening)
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 Cai, 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. Teichner, 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
I Was Proud of You
I Was Proud of You
I Was Proud of You
Documentary
I was Proud of You
02:41
United States
William Bryant Rozier, Director, Writer, Producer
Hilaria Heredia, Director of Photography
The short explores the themes of community and tradition in the lowriding culture through the teaching of how to hop a car.
Sherwin is our Master Artist, and Anjelica is his Apprentice. Shot in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Ambassador
I Was Proud of You
I Was Proud of You
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?
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.
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.
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