2025–2026 Annual Awards: Nominees Announced
72 films from 24 countries rise from nearly 4,000 finalists as this year’s most outstanding shorts compete at the 6th Indie Short Fest Annual Awards in Los Angeles.
UK Period Thriller “The Pearl Comb” Named Best Short of January at Indie Short Fest
Oscar-shortlisted for Live Action Short Film, “The Pearl Comb” turns a Victorian “miracle cure” into a chilling mystery. Gothic, tense, and exquisitely atmospheric, it’s a standout blend of folklore and resistance.
Other Standout Winners of January 2026 at Indie Short Fest
This edition’s Awards of Excellence recognize “Kukuk: A Romani Soul Unbroken,” “Max,” and “My Dearest Mother”: three films distinguished by bold tonal choices, disciplined storytelling, and a clear sense of cinematic purpose.
Short Script Competition of January 2026
The January 2026 Short Script Competition highlights five scripts recognized for tonal control, emotional intelligence, and a strong sense of cinematic purpose across comedy, drama, and historical storytelling.
Indie Short Fest Announces January 2026 Award Winners
We are pleased to unveil the award winners of January 2026 edition. The full list is presented below in two
Stolen Wishes
Stolen Wishes follows Max, a lonely 13-year-old struggling with family turmoil, friendship fractures, and unreturned crushes. When he discovers a
Home Base
Aviv, a young Israeli reservist, is called up on October 7th under emergency orders. Alongside his original team from mandatory
Trunyan – The Village of Silent Souls
In the secluded village of Trunyan, on the shores of Lake Batur, death follows a path rarely seen elsewhere. The
Lost Snows of the Alps
In the rapidly warming Alps, disappearing snow reveals a fragile intersection of culture, ecology, and human responsibility—where what is melting
Algorithm III: The Herd
A short Stop-motion film that examines collective delusion and social conformity in the digital age, using the absurdist premise of
Maria
A young woman, surprisingly a controversial, conspiracy theorist who believe’s the government had taken her friend away to another country.
Those Were the Days
In 1987, a film school was founded next to a working-class town in western Cuba. For over three decades, hundreds
Same Difference
After an overdose lands 18-year-old Kate in the ER, her university sends her back to the Texas home she escaped.
The Weight We Carry
Following their mother’s terminal diagnosis, estranged sisters Keira and Lauren are forcibly brought back together to fulfill a final journey
Baishe: Abyss in the dream
Bai Snake practiced to become an adult. Under the alias of Bai Suzhen, he went down to earth to seek