TheWrap’s annual online ShortList Film Festival brings together the best in short films from around the world.

The 2023 event will feature 12 of the top award-winning short films that have premiered at major festivals over the past year
Following a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, The ShortList Film Festival is back with its annual event that celebrates the work of up-and-coming filmmakers worldwide.


The festival offers a valuable opportunity for emerging talents to showcase their creativity and skills, with the chance to win prizes and gain industry recognition. By providing a platform for these filmmakers, the festival enables their voices to be heard and their stories to be seen by a broader audience.

All ShortList films will stream and be available for viewing from June 28 – July 16.

Are you an award winner of a short film? Submit your film to compete for industry recognition!
Past Winners
Winning a spot on the ShortList has proven to be a stepping stone for many talented filmmakers, who have gone on to receive accolades and recognition from prestigious awards.
For instance, Jim Cummings’ Thunder Road, which originally won the ShortList, later became a feature film and won the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 SXSW festival. Additionally, some ShortList selections have achieved the ultimate recognition in the film industry, being nominated for or winning Academy Awards. In fact, the 2015 Audience and Jury Prize winner eventually won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, while the 2016 Jury Prize winner was honored with the Cesar Award for Best Short Film.
2020
Industry Prize: “ Ship: A Visual Poem” directed by Terrance Daye
Audience Prize: “No More Wings” directed by Abraham Adeyemi
Student Film Prize: “Welcome Back” directed by Tiffany Kontoyiannis
2019
Industry Prize: “Enforcement Hours” directed by Paloma Martinez
Audience Prize: “Departing Gesture” directed by Brian Bolster and Jonathan Napolitano
Student Film Prize: “No Sanctuary” directed by Nathan Knox
2018
Industry Prize: “The Driver is Red” directed by Randall Christoper
Audience Prize: “Magic Alps” directed by Andrea Brusa and Marco Scotuzzi
Student Film Prize: “The Peak” directed by Savannah College
2017
Industry Prize: “The Silence” directed by Farnoosh Samadi and Ali Asgari
Audience Prize: “American Paradise” directed by American Paradise
Student Film Prize: “Fanny Pack” directed by USC student
2016
Industry Prize: “Maman(s)” directed by Maïmouna Doucouré
Audience Prize: “Slingshot” directed by David Hansen
Creators League Prize: “Thunder Road” directed by Jim Cummings
2015
Audience & Industry Prize: “Bear Story” directed by Gabriel Osorio
Creators League Prize: “1st Squad, 3rd Platoon” directed by Mike and Tim Rauch
2014
Industry Prize: “Not It” directed by Pablo Orta
Audience Prize: “Noah” directed by Patrick Cederberg and Walter Woodman
2013
Industry Prize: “Cafe Regular Cairo” directed by Ritesh Batra
Audience Prize: “Voice Over” directed by Martín Rosete
2012
Jury Prize: “Fishing Without Nets” directed by Cutter Hodierne
Audience Prize: “The Maker” directed by Christopher Kezelos
Timeline & Process
SUBMISSIONS
The ShortList Film Festival is currently accepting submissions of award-winning short films in the fiction, documentary, and animation categories, with a maximum length of 20 minutes. Among all entries, the best award-winning short films that have premiered at a major festival in the last year will be selected for screening and voting, making it the most highly-competitive film festival of its kind.
Independent filmmakers begin to submit their short films. Student entries are accepted from TheWrap’s top ten film schools 2023 esteemed list.
VOTING, SELECTION & EVENT
Winners will be announced on July 12th followed by an in-person panel and awards ceremony with filmmakers, jury members and representatives from the entertainment industry in attendance.