Festival start: 04 March 2027
Festival end: 10 March 2027
LA Shorts International Film Festival ranks among the most prestigious and largest international short film festivals in the world.
LA Shorts is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences OSCAR®, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television presenters of the CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Spain, GOYA Awards.
We are proud to have 68 filmmakers from LA Shorts earned an Academy Award® nomination.
Celebrating 30 years, LA Shorts is the longest-running short film festival in Los Angeles. The festival screens 400 films and attracts over 10,000 attendees each year including Hollywood industry professionals and emerging independent filmmakers.
LA Shorts is an official qualifying event for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA short film awards. Award-winners at the festival are eligible to win BAFTA Awards.
LA Shorts is recognized by The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (ACCT) presenters of the Canadian Screen Awards.
Those who have been honored at the festival include directors, Jon Favreau, Paul Haggis, Bryan Singer, Jan de Bont, Shane Black, and actors Gary Oldman, James Woods, Martin Landau and Richard Dreyfuss. Many recognizable directors and actors have screened films and attended the festival such as Scarlett Johansson, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Courteney Cox, Tim Burton, Sofia Coppola, Jason Reitman, Terry Gilliam, Spike Jonze, Eva Mendes, Jessica Biel, Rachel Weisz, Hilary Swank, Josh Brolin, Kirsten Dunst, Rita Wilson, Ralph Macchio, Ricky Gervais, Vin Diesel, John Stamos, Matthew Modine, Dean Cain, Robin Wright, George R. R. Martin and many many more.
The film programming screens all genres from a wide spectrum of categories with high to low-budget films 40 minutes or under. From recognizable directors and celebrity actors to students from the finest film schools and high school teenagers- they're all here to celebrate the art (and business) of short-form cinema!
*ACADEMY AWARD OSCAR® Qualifying
*BAFTA Qualifying
*CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS Qualifying
*GOYA Awards Qualifying
*ACADEMY AWARD OSCAR® QUALIFYING
*BAFTA Qualifying
*CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS Qualifying
*GOYA Awards Qualifying
CASH PRIZES
Best of Fest
Best International
Best Drama
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Experimental
Best Documentary
Best Sci-Fi
Best Horror
Best Music Video
Best Series
Best High School Film
Best Actor
Best Actress
REQUIREMENTS
- We factor in previous screenings in Los Angeles County when determining a films selection.
- We prefer films NOT screen in Los Angeles County prior to our festival.
- We prefer films not be available online prior to the festival.
- Films must have been completed after January 1, 2026.
- Non-English films must have English subtitles.
- Works-in-progress are considered, provided they are completed 4 weeks prior to the festival.
- You may submit more than one film, but you must enter each film separately.
DEADLINES
- Early Deadline: October 23, 2026
- Regular Deadline: November 20, 2026
- Extended Deadline: December 18, 2026
- Late Deadline: January 22, 2027
NOTIFICATION
- Notification Date: February 5, 2027
FEES
- Shorts 40 minutes or under, for each entry:
- Early Deadline: $49
- Regular Deadline: $59
- Extended Deadline: $65
- Late Deadline: $70
- Entry fees are non-refundable.
- Films are not viewed without completed entry form and payment.
SELECTION
- Film selection for the festival will be made by the screening committee.
- Filmmakers will be notified via email of acceptance.
- We factor in previous screenings in the Los Angeles area when determining a film selection.
- No film may be withdrawn from the festival lineup after selection
AWARDS
ACADEMY AWARD OSCAR® Qualifying
BAFTA Qualifying
Canadian Screen Awards Qualifying
Goya Awards Qualifying
- Best of Fest
- Best International
- Best Drama
- Best Comedy
- Best Animation
- Best Experimental
- Best Documentary
- Best Sci-Fi
- Best Horror
- Best Music Video
- Best Series
- Best High School Film
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
Live Action
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
Early49$45.08$
23 Oct 26
Standard59$54.28$
20 Nov 26
Late65$59.8$
18 Dec 26
Extended70$64.4$
22 Jan 27
Submissions deadline
22 Jan 27
Save up
3.92$
Submit
USA and International films are eligible. Categories include Drama, Comedy, Experimental, Sci-fi, and Horror.
Animation
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
Early49$45.08$
23 Oct 26
Standard59$54.28$
20 Nov 26
Late65$59.8$
18 Dec 26
Extended70$64.4$
22 Jan 27
Submissions deadline
22 Jan 27
Save up
3.92$
Submit
USA and International films are eligible.
Documentary
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
Early49$45.08$
23 Oct 26
Standard59$54.28$
20 Nov 26
Late65$59.8$
18 Dec 26
Extended70$64.4$
22 Jan 27
Submissions deadline
22 Jan 27
Save up
3.92$
Submit
USA and International films are eligible.
Series
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
Early49$45.08$
23 Oct 26
Standard59$54.28$
20 Nov 26
Late65$59.8$
18 Dec 26
Extended70$64.4$
22 Jan 27
Submissions deadline
22 Jan 27
Save up
3.92$
Submit
Scripted series intended for broadcast release or online (live action or animated) please submit ONLY 1 episode
Music Video
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
Early49$45.08$
23 Oct 26
Standard59$54.28$
20 Nov 26
Late65$59.8$
18 Dec 26
Extended70$64.4$
22 Jan 27
Submissions deadline
22 Jan 27
Save up
3.92$
Submit
Music videos from USA and International are eligible.
High School Shorts
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
Early30$27.6$
23 Oct 26
Standard39$35.88$
20 Nov 26
Late45$41.4$
18 Dec 26
Extended49$45.08$
22 Jan 27
Submissions deadline
22 Jan 27
Save up
2.4$
Submit
Shorts directed by student/s while in high school. Please include school ID
Branded Content
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
Early0$0$
23 Oct 26
Standard0$0$
20 Nov 26
Late0$0$
18 Dec 26
Extended0$0$
22 Jan 27
Submissions deadline
22 Jan 27
Save up
0$
Submit
This category is reserved for agencies and production houses submitting narrative branded content.
A.I.
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
Early49$45.08$
23 Oct 26
Standard59$54.28$
20 Nov 26
Late65$59.8$
18 Dec 26
Extended70$64.4$
22 Jan 27
Submissions deadline
22 Jan 27
Save up
3.92$
Submit
Films created using primarily AI tools
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.
-8%
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods. 