Today, the Palm Springs International ShortFest announced its programmed lineup. Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, this 31st edition is set to welcome audiences at the Festival Theaters from June 24-30. In all, the festival will screen 51 curated programs showcasing 311 films from 64 countries and territories, including 45 World Premieres, 10 International Premieres, 36 North American Premieres, 19 U.S. Premieres., and 94 California Premieres. More than 6,200 short films from 141 countries and territories were submitted.
Tickets will be available on Thursday, June 5 at psfilmfest.org. The complete lineup is included at the bottom of this release.
“Brimming with inspired storytellers and experimentation, this year’s ShortFest once again promises short films which push boundaries, spark conversations, and entertain audiences,” said Lili Rodriguez, Artistic Director of the Palm Springs International Film Society. “As we mark our 31st year, we embrace the fresh voices shaping the future of this industry, the short form which continues to elevate the medium of moviemaking to new heights. We’re thrilled to bring these stories to our passionate Palm Springs community and to welcome filmmakers from across the world to the Coachella Valley.”
A proven launchpad for awards contention, ShortFest has seen over 100 of its past-presented films going on to receive Academy Award nominations. Juried award winners will be announced on Sunday, June 29, from the official selection, which includes five Academy Award-qualifying awards and cash prizes totaling $30,000. The Best of the Fest shorts will be screened on the final day, Monday, June 30. This year’s award categories, which each have their own group of jury members, include:
- Oscar Qualifying Awards: Best of the Festival Award, Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes and Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under.
- Student Short Awards: Best Student Animated Short, Best Student Documentary Short, Best Student International Short, and Best Student U.S. Short.
- Special Jury Awards: Best International Short, Best U.S. Short, Best Comedy Short, Best LGBTQ+ Short, Best Midnight Short, Desert Views Award, Young Cineastes Award, Kids’ Choice Award.
- Vimeo Staff Pick Award: Honoring one outstanding short film with a cash prize, a guaranteed Vimeo Staff Pick, and featured promotion across Vimeo’s platform and channels.
- Audience Awards Awards: Best Animated Short, Best Live-Action Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Student Short.
This year’s Animation selection includes:
- A Blue Summer (France), directed by Juliette Ragot
- As If Swallowed By Earth/Como Si la tierra se las hubiera tragado (France), directed by Natalia León
- Autophagy (United Kingdom), directed by Edie Lawrence (California Premiere)
- Black Tide (Reunion/Mauritius), directed by Kim Yip Tong (California Premiere)
- Budō (Sweden), directed by Amanda Aagard and Alexander Toma
- Can You Hear Me? (Poland), directed by Anastazja Naumenko (North American Premiere)
- Caries (Switzerland), directed by Aline Höchli (California Premiere)
- Cartagene (France), directed by Léa Berbach, Fabien Bernard, Lou Buisson, Paola Couturier, Marine La Villa, Théo Nouare, Marie Pacreau and Abla Saigh (California Premiere)
- Chico (France/Belgium), directed by Théo Abadie (California Premiere)
- Christopher & The Bug (Canada), directed by Vanessa Esteves and Kevin Micallef (California Premiere)
- Curly Joe Two Kittens Four Boxes and the Scent of Fire (USA), directed by Apo W. Bazidi and Anna Benner (World Premiere)
- Cycle of Violence: Puppy Please! (Germany), directed by Felicia Bergström (International Premiere)
- Dormilón (USA), directed by Olivia Marie Valdez
- Dragfox (United Kingdom), directed by Lisa Ott
- Forever (France), directed by Théo Djekou, Pierre Ferrari, Cyrine Jouini, Pauline Philippart, and Anissa Terrier
- Forevergreen (USA), directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears (U.S. Premiere)
- Fountain (Iran), directed by Hazhir As’adi (International Premiere)
- Headrest (Finland), directed by Heta Okkonen (North American Premiere)
- Hermano Hermana (USA), directed by Rodrigo Cuartas, Jonathan Cuartas and Michael Cuartas
- Hoofs on Skates (Lithuania), directed by Ignas Meilūnas
- Humantis (USA), directed by Paris Baillie
- Hun Tun (Czech Republic/France), directed by Magdalena Hejzlarová (North American Premiere)
- Hurikán (Czech Republic/France/Slovakia/Bosnia and Herzegovina), directed by Jan Saska
- Kaminhu (France), directed by Marie Vieillevie (North American Premiere)
- La Voix des Sirènes (Italy/France), directed by Gianluigi Toccafondo
- Le Charade (USA), directed by Erika Totoro
- Le Petit et le Géant (France/Brazil), directed by Isabela Costa (North American Premiere)
- Luz Diabla (Argentina/Canada), directed by Gervasio Canda, Patricio Plaza and Paula Boffo
- Ma Mao (Canada), directed by Thanh Ngo
- Mambo No.2 (Germany), directed by Anne Feldmeier (California Premiere)
- Matilda and the Brave Escape (United Kingdom), directed by Ash Reed (International Premiere)
- Mont Noir (France/Portugal), directed by Erika Haglund and Jean-Baptiste Peltier (California Premiere)
- Mother of Dawn (Brazil/Portugal/Belgium/Finland), directed by Clara Trevisan (North American Premiere)
- Mother’s Child (The Netherlands), directed by Naomi Noir (California Premiere)
- My Teenage Blackout (France), directed by Basile Khatir (California Premiere)
- No Room (Croatia), directed by Jelena Oroz (California Premiere)
- On Weary Wings Go By (Estonia/Lithuania), directed by Anu-Laura Tuttelberg
- Ostrich (Switzerland), directed by Marie Kenov (California Premiere)
- Paradise Buffet (Spain/France), directed by Héctor Zafra and Santi Amézqueta (California Premiere)
- Paradise Man (II) (USA), directed by Jordan Michael Blake (California Premiere)
- Pear Garden (Germany), directed by Shadab Shayegan (U.S. Premiere)
- Petra and the Sun (Chile), directed by Malu Furche and Stefania Malacchini (California Premiere)
- Playing God (Italy/France), directed by Matteo Burani (California Premiere)
- POW! (USA), directed by Joey Clift
- Radix (Germany), directed by Anne Breymann (North American Premiere)
- Red Buckets (USA), directed by Patrick Moser
- Retirement Plan (Ireland), directed by John Kelly
- Tapeworm Alexis & The Opera Diva (Switzerland), directed by Thaïs Odermatt (North American Premiere)
- The Little Ancestor (Canada), directed by Alexa Tremblay-Francoeur
- Voiceless (Switzerland), directed by Samuel Patthey
- Void Spaces (Poland), directed by Marta Koch (North American Premiere)
- Volcelest (France), directed by Éric Briche
- Wandering Horse (USA), directed by Emily Ann Hoffman (California Premiere)
- Wednesdays with Gramps (USA), directed by Chris Coopland and Justin Copeland (California Premiere)
- Where Do Birds Die? (Chile), directed by Nadiela (Daniela Estay Castillo) (North American Premiere)
- Whose Woods Are These (USA), directed by Kate Nartker
- Words of Her (USA/China), directed by Charlene Xu
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