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
Cold
Cold tells the story of Carmen, a Latina woman who wakes up in Purgatory and is given 1,000 days to
Selling a Prison
“Selling a Prison” is an independent student film about the perils of screen time on a young mind.Grayson Sale, the
Stuhi
Everyone remembers the hollow left behind by the disappearance of human life. The melancholy—and the need—for everyday urban chaos. The
Ayahuasca
It’s the story of three young people in contemporary China who, after encountering confusion in their lives and careers, travel
Swan’s Requiem
Xi Lin, a ballet dancer who firmly believes in non-marriage, meets and falls in love with a rock singer, Chen
Deconstruction of an Individual
Between two friends, Eva and Alice, there existed a territory made of silence, laughter, and shared moments, a space without
Unfinished
A painter on a brutal deadline for a career-defining gala is completely blocked, until she falls into a volatile, magnetic
Le Poids de la Fumée (The Weight of Smoke)
Le Poids de la Fumée (The Weight of Smoke). A short film in five parts with music by Frédéric Chopin.
No Labels Tonight
Yiseo asks Kyohwan to define their relationship, but he offers no answer. Nevertheless, the two spend another day together—eating, drinking,
Play Date
A man and a woman hit it off on a first date, she invites herself in to his place…only to