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If you have a short film, you don’t have to limit yourself to short-only film festivals. In fact, many of the world’s most prestigious film festivals cater to both feature and short filmmakers and can provide great exposure for those in the latter category.
All right, below is a cross-section of film festivals in the United States that—while not exclusive to short films—offer short film categories for creatives with qualifying projects.
Dates: October 15–26, 2025
We’re heading back to the Midwest and one of its most renown events: the Chicago International Film Festival. For 60 years, this Windy City institution has been providing a stage for short filmmakers.
All deadlines for the 2025 film festival have passed. January 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: April 8–19, 2026
The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has put a spotlight on all things creative for more than 60 years. New Directors/New Films, which is produced by Film at Lincoln Center, is a must for any short filmmaker wanting to showcase their work in the Big Apple.
The 2025 film festival dates, New Directors/New Films submission deadlines, and submission fees have not yet been published as of now. Please check back to the New Directors/New Films website for updated information in the coming months.
Dates: September 26–October 13, 2025
Film at Lincoln Center offers multiple opportunities for short filmmakers. New Directors/New Films is one of those opportunities, and the New York Film Festival is another. This event, which is closing in on its 63rd year, offers incredible exposure for any short filmmaker whose project is accepted into its programming schedule.
All deadlines for the 2025 film festival have passed. February 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: June 3–24, 2026
New York is second to none when it comes to the number of events in this city that celebrate film. The Tribeca Festival, co-founded by none other than Robert De Niro, is yet another Big Apple event that gives space and exposure to short filmmakers from around the world.
Early Deadline (Shorts & MVs): October 29, 2025
Deadline Fee: $50 (Narrative Short category)
Dates: April 23–May 3, 2026
Atlanta’s reputation as a hub of entertainment activity makes it an ideal spot for one of the nation’s best film festivals for short films. The Atlanta Film Festival, which is going into its 50th year, “actively strives to be an inclusive showcase with spotlights on filmmakers of color, LGBTQ+ films, women and gender nonconforming filmmakers, and filmmakers from the American South.”
Extended Deadline: November 7, 2025
Deadline Fee: $85 (Narrative Short category)
Dates: TBD (September 2026)
Not to be outdone is the Nashville Film Festival, which will be holding its 57th event this fall. As the oldest film festival in the South, NashFilm “discovers, elevates, and honors filmmakers, screenwriters, and music makers from around the world while engaging, connecting, and strengthening the community.”
The 2026 Nashville Film Festival submission deadlines and submission fees have not been published as of this writing. Please check back to the Nashville Film Festival website for updated information.
Dates: September 22–27, 2026
Who knew that the American Southeast had so many of the best film festivals for shorts? This time, we’re heading to Virginia for the Richmond International Film Festival.
Among its short categories are Narrative Short Film, Documentary Short Film, Experimental Short Film, and Animated Short Film. This festival gives short filmmakers of every genre an opportunity to showcase their work through this event.
Regular Deadline: November 1, 2025
Deadline Fee: $60 (Narrative Short category)
Dates: October 23–30, 2025
The Austin Film Festival is among the best short film festivals in the United States, and one of two located in Austin that made our list. Like Atlanta, Austin is known as a city for creatives—“Keep Austin Weird” anyone?—so be sure to consider this event that celebrates filmmakers of all kinds on your to-enter list.
The 2026 Austin Film Festival submission deadlines and submission fees have not been published as of this writing. Please check back to the Austin Film Festival website for updated information.
Dates: March 12–18, 2026
You can’t have a list of the best film festivals for short films without the SXSW Film Festival. Also located in Austin, this event has been providing a platform for filmmakers and their projects since its first fest all the way back in 1987.
All deadlines for the 2026 SXSW Film Festival have passed. April 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: February 19–25, 2026
The Slamdance Film Festival no longer stands in the shadow of the Sundance Film Festival—if it ever did. So why is it one of the best film festivals for shorts? This event has “created a track record for showcasing breakthrough artists that is beyond dispute.” They’re not wrong, so see for yourself how this event can be a gamechanger for your career.
All deadlines for the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival have passed. May 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: January 22–February 1, 2026
Many consider Sundance to be one of the best film festivals for shorts in the entire world. For over forty years, this event has put a spotlight on the most innovative cinema from indie filmmakers.
All deadlines for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival have passed. May 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: September 10–20, 2026
Many of the best short film festivals can be found outside the United States, such as the Toronto International Film Festival. This event offers both Canadian Shorts and International Shorts categories, giving creatives from anywhere around the world the opportunity to have their works screened at it.
The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival submission deadlines and submission fees have not yet been published as of now. Please check back to TIFF’s website for updated information in the coming months.
Dates: November 6–11, 2025
We’re crossing the Atlantic once more and heading back to Europe to highlight some of the best film festivals for shorts. This time, we’re starting off with… the American Film Festival? You read that right. It’s a film festival hosted in Poland that specifically showcases American filmmakers and their works.
All deadlines for the 2026 American Film Festival have passed. February 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: February 12–22, 2026
The greater the notoriety, the greater the competition. The prestigious Berlin Film Festival can be a career-making event for any short filmmaker.
Deadline: November 5, 2025 (All short films)
Deadline Fee: €75
Dates: May 12–23, 2026
This is likely no greater stage for a filmmaker than the Cannes Film Festival. Yes, it is a hugely competitive event, but it can change the trajectory of any short filmmaker’s career should they get into this best of the best film festivals for shorts.
The 2026 submission deadlines and submission fees have not yet been published as of now. Please check back to the Cannes Film Festival website for updated information in mid-November 2025.
Dates: TBD (August 2026)
Here we have both one of the best short film festivals and one of the oldest. The Edinburgh International Film Festival clocks in at 77 years old and prides itself on being “intimate in scale and ambitious in its artistic scope,” which is reflected in its emphasis on animated and experimental short films.
All deadlines for the 2025 film festival have passed. January 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: June 17–26, 2026
We’re traveling back to the UK for the Raindance Film Festival, which is the largest independent film festival in the country. This particular event makes our list of the best short film festivals in part on account of its diverse category offerings, which include Narrative Shorts, Documentary Shorts, Animation Shorts, and Queer Shorts.
Earlybird Deadline: December 8, 2025
Deadline Fee: $46.44 (Narrative short category)
Dates: September 2–12, 2026
We have arrived at the last of our best short film festivals, the Venice Film Festival. Like Cannes, Berlin, and Sundance, this event is widely anticipated each year and known around the world for its stellar lineup of films. Certainly an event that can quickly propel a filmmaker’s career forward, the Venice Film Festival is a fest to strongly consider during your fest run.
Please refer to the Venice Film Festival’s website directly for all submission deadline and deadline fee information.
And there you have it—the best short film festivals from around the world.
These events can provide a pivotal opportunity to share your work with the greater film community and meet others in the industry, so don’t wait for someone to ask to see your movie. Plan your film fest run today so that in the weeks and months to come you too can showcase your short film through these top film festivals for short films.
Got a feature film you want to submit? Check out what fests to submit to, and no matter what, make sure you know how to best prepare for your film fest run.
Short film festivals are invaluable stepping stones for emerging filmmakers. While not everyone has the resources to produce a feature, creating a short can open doors—especially if it screens at top festivals.
A strong festival run can help you gain exposure, build connections, and even attract investors for future projects. Short films rarely reach wide distribution, but they often serve as powerful calling cards or proof-of-concept pieces that lead to bigger opportunities.
If you’ve finished your short, don’t let it sit on a hard drive—take it on the festival circuit. Here’s your guide to the best short film festivals to showcase your work.
There’s no better place to start than events that cater specifically to short films.
Not only do these top short film festivals champion this specific medium, but also many of them have garnered the same prestige as their counterparts that cater primarily to feature films.
We’re kicking off our list with the best film festivals for short films only that are located in the United States.
Dates: November 7–8, 2025
The Windy City is an arts hub, and the Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival showcases the best in the short film storytelling format.
Last Chance Deadline: October 6, 2025
Deadline Fee: $55 (Short Film category)
Dates: July 21–26, 2026
It’s never too soon to prepare for next year’s short film festivals. As many of the fests on this list indicate, it can very quickly get pricey if you miss the early submission deadline—even for shorts! So mark your calendar now to submit for the Indy Shorts International Film Festival.
As of publication, submissions for the 2025 film festival have closed and submissions for the 2026 film festival have not yet opened. The estimated opening period for the next submission cycle begins in November 2025.
Dates: July 14–17, 2026
Summer is a popular time of year for the best short film festivals, including the Boston Short Film Festival. This particular event focuses on “the unconventional, the unusual, the underground, the intuitive, the innovative, the minimalistic, and the true artists of our time.”
Regular Deadline: February 27, 2026
Deadline Fee: $45 (Narrative Short Film category)
Dates: April 8–12, 2026
Now is the perfect time to prepare your short film and materials for the Nitehawk Shorts Festival, one of the best short film festivals in New York. This wide-reaching event spotlights “short films in all forms (animation, documentary, narrative, non-narrative, artist films, music videos, horror) by local, national, and international filmmakers.”
Regular Deadline: December 5, 2025
Deadline Fee: $28 (All categories)
Dates: June 27–28, 2026
Atlanta is a major entertainment production city, so it should come as no surprise that many creatives reside there with short films to screen. Whether you call The Big A your hometown or not, consider submitting to its Atlanta ShortsFest, which returns next June. Note that you still have time to submit before its next deadline!
Final Deadline: May 20, 2026
Deadline Fee: $50 (Narrative Short category)
Dates: June 6, 2026
The western United States is home to many of the top film festivals for short films, but they’re not all in California! Case in point, the Arizona Short Film Festival, which is accepting submissions for its next event coming up in June 2026.
Regular Deadline: November 9, 2025
Deadline Fee: $55 (Best Short Film category)
Dates: April 7–11, 2026
Aspen Shortsfest isn’t just one of the top short film festivals; it is considered far and wide an exceptional film festival, period. This prestigious event comes with stiff competition, but we encourage you to throw your short into the mix before its next deadline!
Late Deadline: November 7, 2025
Deadline Fee: $90 (All categories)
Dates: August 13–23, 2026
HollyShorts Film Festival has been going strong for nearly 20 years, and between its longevity and location in Hollywood, it is a highly anticipated event for the quality of its short film programming each season.
Regular Deadline: April 3, 2026
Deadline Fee: $65 (Short Live Action category)
Dates: May 1–3, 2026
Cousin to Hollyshorts is the Hollywood Comedy Shorts, formerly known as the Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival. As its name implies, this event is one of the best film festivals for shorts within the comedy genre. Dark comedy, rom com, cringe comedy, horror comedy, they want it all!
Earlybird Deadline: November 7, 2025
Deadline Fee: $40 (Dark Comedy category)
Dates: TBD (July 2026)
That’s right, folks. We still haven’t left Los Angeles. But you shouldn’t either if you haven’t yet submitted to the LA Shorts International Film Festival! This esteemed event, which has been highlighting the best in short film for more than 25 years, should be on your submission short list for this year.
All deadlines for the 2025 film festival have passed. November 2025 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: April 11–12, 2026
Rounding out our LA-based short film festivals is the Los Angeles Short Film Festival. As the event notes, “Film festivals are still the best place to screen independent work and get it noticed.” It is currently accepting submissions for its April 2025 event.
Last Deadline: January 30, 2026
Deadline Fee: $80 (Short of Any Genre category)
Dates: February 26–March 1, 2026
The best short film festivals aren’t just about showcasing your work; it’s also about making meaningful connections with others in the industry. That’s exactly what you’ll find at the McMinnville Short Film Festival, which prides itself on celebrating and bringing together the filmmaking community.
Late Deadline: November 1, 2025
Deadline Fee: $50 (Drama category)
Dates: March 28, 2026
We’re back to California! But LA isn’t the only town with the top short film festivals. Oakland Short Film Festival’s goal of creating “a festival where independent short films of all genres and countries of origin get the recognition they deserve” makes it an event that every short filmmaker should consider for their projects.
Extended Deadline: November 2, 2025
Deadline Fee: $60 (Best Short Film category)
Dates: January 18, 2026
Unlike the other best film festivals for shorts that we’ve covered so far, the Oregon Short Film Festival gives filmmakers multiple chances throughout the year to have their work shown. This seasonal event, which is part of the larger Film Festival Circuit, offers winter, summer, and fall showcases for filmmakers and film lovers.
Final Deadline: October 31, 2025
Deadline Fee: $60 (Drama Film category)
Dates: June 23–29, 2026
The Palm Springs International ShortFest is cousin to the illustrious Palm Springs International Film Festival and is no less impactful for the filmmakers who are accepted into this event. You have a few weeks before its early bird deadline, but don’t wait on getting your project together for this must-enter festival.
Earlybird Deadline: November 1, 2025
Deadline Fee: $50 (Live Action category)
Dates: August 20–23, 2026
Remember when we mentioned the benefits of making connections through the film festival circuit? Salute Your Shorts Festival emphasizes that “community is one of our core values and thus selected filmmakers are adopted into our filmmaking family.” Reason enough to enter.
“Scavenger Hunt” Deadline: November 13, 2025
Deadline Fee: $45 (Dramatic Shorts category)
Dates: October 16–19, 2025
Last on our list of the top film festivals for short films only within the United States is the San Jose International Short Film Festival. This event has categories for short live action, comedy, family shorts, documentary, sci-fi, and thriller/suspense, so no matter your film’s genre, there’s a place for it at this fest.
All deadlines for the 2025 film festival have passed. November 2025 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Want to see how your film resonates with audiences outside the United States? We’ve got you covered! Learn more about the best film festivals for shorts across the globe.
Dates: March 25–April 1, 2026
The Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival is first up on our list of international short film festivals you should consider. Why? As an event that celebrates the very best in short films, it also happens to be an Academy Award-qualifying event!
Earlybird Deadline: October 31, 2025
Deadline Fee: $11.90 (International Competition category)
Dates: TBD (August 2026)
The Toronto Shorts International Film Festival says what all short filmmakers think: “We feel that short-form cinema and its creators should have their own premier film festival in Toronto deserving similar recognition given to the feature film and its creators.” Given the way this event champions short films and their makers, why wouldn’t you want to submit?
The 2025 film festival has passed. Please check back to the Toronto Shorts International Film Festival website for updated information on future events in the coming months.
Dates: TBD (October 2026)
As if anyone needs an excuse to go to New Zealand, right? The Show Me Shorts Film Festival, which has been going strong for nearly 20 years, makes it a point to celebrate both New Zealand filmmakers and those from the rest of the world.
The 2025 film festival has passed. Please check back to the Show Me Shorts Film Festival website for updated information on future events in the coming months.
Dates: January 30–February 7, 2026
Many of the best film festivals for shorts mentioned so far are maybe 10 to 20 years old. Not bad for events that showcase only shorts. But the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival is celebrating its 48th anniversary in 2026!
All deadlines for the 2026 film festival have passed. May 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: July 17–26, 2026
Another heavy hitter on the short film circuit, the Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival has more relaxed requirements. Filmmakers can submit shorts up to 60 minutes that are animated, documentaries, fiction films, experimental, or music videos.
Earlybird Deadline: December 31, 2025
Deadline Fee: $23.81 (International Competition category)
Dates: August 7–15, 2026
DokuFest is an event that celebrates many types of creators—narrative filmmakers, documentarians, and musicians. This celebration of all things artistic has been highlighting the best of film and music for more than 20 years.
Early Bird Deadline: January 15, 2026
Deadline Fee: $10 (Short Film Competition category)
Dates: November 4–9, 2025
What sets the best short film festivals apart from the rest is the recognition that the short movie medium is its own unique artform. That’s exactly how the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur promotes its event dedicated to short films.
All deadlines for the 2025 film festival have passed. February 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: November 28–December 6, 2025
Many of the best short film festivals run for just a few days given the shorter run times that take up less space on the schedule. This makes the Leuven International Short Film Festival, which lasts a full week, all the more impressive for the numerous short movies they highlight.
All deadlines for the 2025 film festival have passed. February 2026 is the estimated opening period for the next submission cycle.
Dates: TBD (Late June 2026)
Another fest with a 20-year history of showcasing great short films, the ShorTS International Film Festival also has a program with shorts geared specifically towards the under 15-crowd. Have a short that’s kid-friendly? Submit it to the ShorTS International Film Festival!
The 2025 film festival has passed. Please check back to the ShorTs International Film Festival website for updated information on future events in the coming months.
Dates: TBD (August 2026)
Europe is home to many of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, but as this list indicates, it’s also home to some of the best venues that specifically celebrate short film! Shortynale is part of that list. Add it to yours for next year’s showcase of great short storytelling.
The 2026 Shortynale submission deadlines and submission fees have not been published as of this writing. Please check back to the Shortynale website for updated information.
Dates: March 4–8, 2026
Did you know there’s a film festival dedicated solely to showcasing short films that’s been around for over 50 years? The Tampere Film Festival has built a much-deserved reputation for its devotion to this medium, and its 56th event is coming up in March 2026.
Final Deadline: November 3, 2025
Deadline Fee: $19.05 (International Competition category)
Dates: May 26–31, 2026
The final entry for the best film festivals for shorts only is Vienna Shorts. For nearly 20 years, it has made its focus short films. Impressively, this fest highlights close to 300 works by short filmmakers, providing a substantial platform for creatives who work in this medium.
Regular Deadline: January 5, 2026
Deadline Fee: $21.43 (Fiction & Documentary - International Competition category)
