Indy Shorts Film Festival
9th annual
INDY SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL
Shorts & Sweets
Thanks for making the 2026 Indy Shorts Film Festival so sweet! Over the last six days of Indy Shorts, we tasted 37 World Premieres, sampled 266 short films in 40 programs, attended 17 special events, Oscar®-qualified three shorts, streamed over 7,500 films and met 350 filmmakers! Unwrapping fun-sized films with you has been a real treat, and we'll always savor these moments! Stream the award-winning films through August 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
2026 Festival Photos
SUMMER IS FOR SHORTS
The Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts Film Festival, presented by TQL Wealth Management, is a six-day celebration of short films. Known for its fun summer vibe, $35,000 in cash prizes and unique outdoor screenings, this festival brings in 300+ filmmakers for Q&As after each program! The 9th Annual Indy Shorts took place in Indianapolis from July 21-26, 2026.
Submit A Short Film
Submissions are closed for the 10th Annual Indy Shorts Film Festival will open up this September for the 2027 film festival.
Submit A Short Film
Submissions are closed for the 10th Annual Indy Shorts Film Festival will open up this September for the 2027 film festival.
Truly a Unique Experience
"Indy Shorts is a must-attend festival for independent filmmakers. Their hospitality, organization and quality, both for films selected and as a festival itself, are truly a unique experience. I've met wonderful colleagues who were inspiring as filmmakers and humans. Highly recommend attending in person if you are lucky enough to be selected!"
Alessia Mandanici, Indy Shorts Film Festival Alum
Academy Award®-Qualifying
Documentary, Live Action & Animation Categories
BAFTA-Qualifying
GOYA Award-Qualifying
Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World
2023, 2024 & 2025
MovieMaker Magazine
Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee
2023, 2024 & 2025
MovieMaker Magazine
Top 20 Best Short Film Festivals in the World
2022
MovieMaker Magazine
2026 Recap Video
Indy Shorts Film Festival
July 2026
2026 Festival Guidebook
Meet Iggy
Iggy Shorts is the official short spokesgnome for the Indy Shorts Film Festival. Given his stature, Iggy has a special place in his heart for short films. He has been immortalized as the Indy Shorts awards statuette and can be seen all around Indy Shorts. Iggy enjoys taking photos with every film fan he comes across!
Meet Iggy
Iggy Shorts is the official short spokesgnome for the Indy Shorts Film Festival. Given his stature, Iggy has a special place in his heart for short films. He has been immortalized as the Indy Shorts awards statuette and can be seen all around Indy Shorts. Iggy enjoys taking photos with every film fan he comes across!
High School Film Competition
Indy Shorts runs the High School Film Competition (HSFC) presented by founding sponsors Robert & Alison Spoonmore. Since 2010, the HSFC encourages tomorrow’s filmmakers to follow their passion and create short films that push their art to the next level.
Students compete for the $2,500 Summer White Lynch Memorial Award, underwritten by Gary D. & Marlene Cohen, and the $1,500 Indiana Spotlight Award.
High School Film Competition
Indy Shorts runs the High School Film Competition (HSFC) presented by founding sponsors Robert & Alison Spoonmore. Since 2010, the HSFC encourages tomorrow’s filmmakers to follow their passion and create short films that push their art to the next level.
Students compete for the $2,500 Summer White Lynch Memorial Award, underwritten by Gary D. & Marlene Cohen, and the $1,500 Indiana Spotlight Award.
Awards & Cash Prizes
Academy Award®-Qualifying Narrative Short Grand Prize
$5,000 Cash Prize
Academy Award®-Qualifying Documentary Short Grand Prize
$5,000 Cash Prize
Academy Award®-Qualifying Animated Short Grand Prize
$5,000 Cash Prize
Directorial Debut
$1,000 Cash Prize
Indiana Spotlight Narrative Award
$1,000 Cash Prize
Hoodox Indiana Spotlight Documentary Award
$1,000 Cash Prize
The Children's Resilience in Short Film Prize
$2,500 Cash Prize
Presented by Shine Global
Lens of Hope Award
$5,000 Cash Prize
Presented by TDB Family Foundation
Richard D. Propes Social Impact Award
$1,000 Cash Prize
Presented by Lisa & Jeffery Breall
Jenni Berebitsky Legacy Award
$1,800 Cash Prize
High School Film Competition Summer White Lynch Memorial Grand Prize
$2,000 Cash Prize
Underwritten by Gary D. & Marlene Cohen
High School Film Competition Indiana Spotlight Award
$1,000 Cash Prize
Comedy Award
$1,000 Cash Prize
Horror Award
$1,000 Cash Prize
Episodic Award
$1,000
2026 Award Winners
Academy Award®-Qualifying Narrative Short Grand Prize | La barrière | Christophe Deram (France) |
Academy Award®-Qualifying Documentary Short Grand Prize | Stalin Boys | Bianca Giaever and Ora DeKornfeld (United States) |
Documentary Special Mention | Panther Pat | Ashley Brandon (United States) |
Academy Award®-Qualifying Animated Short Grand Prize | 9 Million Colors | Bára Anna Stejskalová (Czech Republic, Norway, Germany) |
Directorial Debut | Uncle Artoo | Zoë Whittaker (United Kingdom) |
Indiana Spotlight Narrative Award | Lottie Baby | Bella Ray Rosales (United States) |
Hoodox Indiana Documentary Spotlight Award | Finding A Way: Revitalizing Nature in America's Heartland | Jason Whalen (United States) |
Children's Resilience Short Film Prize | Jason | Gabriella Canal (United States) |
Lens of Hope Award | Paving The Way | Keelan Williams (United States) |
Richard D. Propes Social Impact Award | The Second Life of Freddie Nole | Dana Nachman (United States) |
Jenni Berebitsky Legacy Award | The Baddest Speechwriter of All | Ben Proudfoot, Stephen Curry (United States) |
High School Film Competition Summer White Lynch Memorial Grand Prize | Ruth | Sophie Lai (Australia) |
High School Film Competition Indiana Spotlight Award | The Ghost of the Embassy | Matthew Green and Cash Robinson-Stewart (United States) |
Comedy Award | Daddy's Girl | Josephine Lohoar Self (Ireland) |
Horror Award | The Taste of Your Scales | Rafaël Beauchamp (Canada) |
Episodic Award | The Human, Will | Edward Bursch (United States) |
2026 Audience Choice Award Winners
Overall Audience Choice Award | A Family Woman | Anna Arden and Linnea Arden (Denmark) |
Narrative Audience Choice Award | The Method | Luke Howe (United States) |
Documentary Audience Choice Award | The Second Life of Freddie Nole | Dana Nachman (United States) |
Animated Audience Choice Award | Living with a Visionary | Stephen P. Neary (United States) |
Indiana Spotlight Audience Choice Award | SUCKS TO SUCK | Sonny DeSanto and Ian Corbin (United States) |
Indiana Spotlight Documentary Audience Choice Award | Sylvia | Ashton Gleckman (United States) |
Comedy Audience Choice Award | We Were Here | Pranav Bhasin (India) |
Horror Audience Choice Award | Silver Anniversary | D.M. Hearing (United States) |
Episodic Audience Choice Award | The Human, Will | Edward Bursch (United States) |
High School Film Competition Audience Choice Award | Constellations of the Sea | Addie Knoll (United States, Maldives) |
In the News
The Contending: Indy Shorts Announces Winners of 2026 Fest
MovieMaker Magazine: At Indy Shorts 2026, ‘La barrière,’ ‘Stalin Boys’ and ‘9 Million Colors’ Win Top Prizes and Oscar Qualification
2026 Indy Shorts Film Festival Announces Academy Award®-Qualifying Winners
The Contending: Heartland Films’ Indy Shorts Announces 9th Annual Lineup
MovieMaker Magazine: Indy Shorts to Feature Andy Serkis, Djimon Hounsou and More
MovieMaker Magazine: Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee
The 25 Coolest Film Festival in the World, 2025
MovieMaker Magazine
November 18, 2025
Read More about The 25 Coolest Film Festival in the World, 2025
Indy Shorts 2025: Best of the Fest
The Contending
August 7, 2025
Read More about Indy Shorts 2025: Best of the Fest
‘The Singers,’ ‘The Last Observers’ and ‘Éiru’ Win Oscar Qualification at Indy Shorts Awards
MovieMaker Magazine
2026 SPONSORS
MARQUEE SPONSOR
TQL Wealth Management |
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Allen Whitehill Clowes | Lilly Endowment |
Klapper Family Foundation | Eccles Fund |
FILMMAKER'S CIRCLE
Care Institute | The Stewart Foundation |
Daniel's Vineyard | Trendy Minds |
F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. | National Endowment for the Arts |
Ninestar Connect |
SILVER SCREEN
AARP Indiana | Noyes Foundation |
CBIZ | OneAmerica Financial Foundation |
HotBox Pizza | Portrait |
Indiana Arts Commission | The Spoonmore Family |
Indy Arts Council | Sweet & Savory |
Lacy Foundation |
CINEMA
12 Stars Media | Midwest Presort |
Arthur Jordan Foundation | Lumina Foundation |
Barnes & Thornburg | Old National Bank |
Dynamark Printing | Printing Partners |
Efroymson Family Foundation | Woodard Van Riper Family Foundation |
La-Z-Boy | Shine Global |
Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering | The Great Frame Up |
REEL
Bottleworks District | The Reelist |
Christy Paddock Advisors | Visit Indy |
Duke Energy | TDB Family Foundation |
Future Keys Foundation | Tinker House Events |
Health & Hospital Corp of Marion County | Nameless Catering |
Hoodox | Sun King Brewery |
Pins Mechanical Co. / Rise Brands | Roberts Camera |
MEDIA & INDUSTRY
Current | North Indy Magazine |
Do317 | Mirror Indy |
Destination Indy | WFYI |
IndyStar | LOCALiQ |
SUPPORTERS
Ball Brothers Foundation | Metazoa Brewing Company |
Earshot Audiopost | Penrod Foundation |
Indiana Farmers Insurance | Shake Up |
Jan White | Sundry & Vice |
Market Square Popcorn Company | Tito's Handmade Vodka |