Returning for its seventh year in July 2024
Thank You
The sun has set on #CampIndyShorts but we’re leaving with so many new camp besties! Thank you for making movie memories with us at the 2023 Indy Shorts International Film Festival!
#IndyShorts2023 closed with a record number of 3,900+ film submissions, 160 filmmakers attending and 23 sold-out screenings!
Thanks to our incredible filmmakers, attendees, volunteers, sponsors, donors, members, board, advisory council, community partners, venues, staff, interns and you for making this one of the coolest film festivals in the world!
While the festival has concluded, there are two programs available to stream. The Award Winners Program includes the 11 award-winning shorts, and the Audience Choice Award Winners includes the eight shorts that received the highest scores from Indy Shorts attendees. These programs are available to stream through Saturday, July 29 at 11:59 PM EST.
#IndyShorts2023 Award Winners
Grand Prize for Narrative Short
$5,000 Grand Prize
Academy Award®-Qualifying
Grand Prize for Documentary Short
$5,000 Grand Prize
Academy Award®-Qualifying
Grand Prize for Animated Short
$5,000 cash prize
Academy Award®-Qualifying
(High School Short)
$2,500 cash prize
Underwritten by Gary D. & Marlene Cohen
$1,800 cash prize
Richard D. Propes
Social Impact Award
$1,000 cash prize
Indiana Spotlight Award
$2,000 cash prize
Horror Award
$1,000 cash prize
Comedy Award
$1,000 cash prize
Best Directorial Debut
$1,000 cash prize
High School Film Competition
Indiana Spotlight Winner
$1,500 cash prize
Audience Choice Awards
(Narrative, Documentary, Animated, Horror, Comedy, Indiana Spotlight, High School Film Competition)
$250 cash prizes
Information
The Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival presented by Heartland Film is the largest shorts festival in the Midwest, running in Indianapolis, Indiana, since 2018! Originally an expansion to the Heartland International Film Festival, Indy Shorts has become its own six-day summer festival that celebrates the unique, creative and captivating art of short films in a wide range of categories, including horror, comedy, documentary, narrative, animated and more!
MovieMaker Magazine named the Indy Shorts International Film Festival as one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World for 2023, Top 20 Best Short Film Festivals in the World for 2022, and 50 Best Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023!
"Not only do they have some strong programming, but from one filmmaker to another... they have a lot of prizes and a lot of prize money! It's really incredible to see so many hardworking filmmakers get rewarded for some real cash! Also, the connections I've made from Indy Shorts have helped my career substantially. Top fav." – Cameron Johnson, Indy Shorts Alum and Panelist of Cool for MovieMaker Magazine
Read MovieMaker Magazine's full article on the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World here.
Indy Shorts is one of only 34 festivals in the world to have earned the special designation of being a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® for all three Short Film categories: Live Action, Documentary, and Animation. This means the winner of the Indy Shorts Grand Prize for Best Narrative Short, Grand Prize for Best Documentary Short, and Grand Prize for Best Animated Short will qualify for consideration in the designated short film category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules. Over the years, 33 short films featured at Indy Shorts/HIFF have been nominated, with 10 going on to win Oscars®!
Our mission to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films from diverse perspectives remains at the forefront of everything we do. This past year, we were able to award more than $30,000 in cash prizes, and present over 200 films at indoor, outdoor and virtual screenings.
2023 marks the Sixth Annual Indy Shorts International Film Festival, and we are so excited to celebrate with you! Stay tuned on our social media @HeartlandFilm for the latest updates on our upcoming Indy Shorts! #IndyShorts2023
Iggy
Iggy Shorts is the official short spokesgnome for the Indy Shorts International Film Festival.
Iggy loves three things in life more than just about anything else - flowers, beer, and most of all: film.
Originally created by the Bohlsen Group, Iggy can be seen all around Indy Shorts, and is more than happy to have a photo taken with every film fan he comes across!
Highlights
One of MovieMaker's Best Short Film Festivals of 2022
Over $150K Awarded to Filmmakers since 2018
Academy Award®- Qualifying Festival
High School Film Competition
Indy Shorts also runs the High School Film Competition. Launched in 2010, the High School Film Competition encourages tomorrow’s filmmakers to follow their passion and create short films that push their talents, creativity and art to the next level.
Shorts made by talented high school students from around the world, compete for the $2,500 Summer White Lynch Memorial Award, underwritten by Gary D. & Marlene Cohen. Students from Indiana can also compete for the $1,500 Indiana Spotlight Award.
