The following projects — including short films, TV and web series, and screenplays — are the finalists of the September monthly round, competing across 62 categories.
These finalists were selected from an official selection pool with a 70.3% acceptance rate, drawn from submissions representing 21 countries and a combined runtime of 31:03:37, in addition to short script entries.
The nominees represent the top 44.9% of all submissions.
Unlisted categories had no submissions meeting the minimum score requirements.
Categories marked TBA had two or fewer projects qualifying for awards consideration. Winners in these categories will be announced alongside the rest of the award recipients.
Follow the links below to explore other sections:
Best Indie Short
Between Waves by Wentao Liu (China)
Lottie by Bella Rieth (USA)
Some Things Can’t Wait by Vincent Jost (Germany)
Best Drama Short
Eremos Trilogy by Sam Arnold (UK)
Missing You by Mengdi Luo (China)
Selfie, Please by Anu Singh Choudhary (India)
The Voice Of Despair by Nina Goldvin (Ukraine)
Wash Away by Willjam Lempling (Sweden)
Best Student Short
Evelyn by Laurel Eisenmann (USA)
Red Clay by Tian Zeng Runzhu Runhao Ruoxi (China)
Taking The L by Jessica Faith Katz (USA)
When Yin Meets Yang by Young-Ju Yoo (Netherlands)
Whispers of Home by Sahar Ghorishi (USA)
Best Documentary Short
A Fine Balance by Robert Kroger (USA)
Aftershock by Collin Nelson (USA)
Alaska Rescue Story by Mark D Rose (USA)
Return to My Blue by Yuta Noguchi (Japan)
Still She Rides by Anya Ramani and Anya Kothari (USA)
Best Comedy Short
A Brief Mental Lapse With Mallory Kane by Andrew Frescas (USA)
Peaking by Dominic Marino and Luke Wieten (USA)
Stimulants & Empathogens by Mateusz Pacewicz (Poland)
Sunday League by Jamie Bourne (UK)
The Paradox Of Choice by Liliana Berman (USA)
Best Dark Comedy Short
LaLa on Facebook by Antonio De La Cruz (USA)
Something Big by Wentao Liu (China)
The Marleys by Kenneth Trujillo (USA)
Best Crime Short
Across the Blue Line by Dominic Goodie (USA)
Hustlevania by Clayton Nepveux iii (USA)
Measures by Sam Spirer (USA)
Best Thriller Short
Charlotte Star & The Hunt For The Obsidian Egg by Josiah Overstreet (USA)
Dying Ember by Tom Thomas (UK)
Identity Coma by Kschris Anda (USA)
Melodies Of The Abyss by Sam Iwata (Australia)
Spring St. by Dan Lake (USA)
Best Horror Short
TBA
Best Fantasy Short
TBA
Best Animation Short
Fluff & Furious by Chieh-Chih Liao (USA)
Gravity Bound by Frankie Lasley (USA)
White Hare by Inkyu Jee (South Korea)
Best Women Short
Hard Boiled Eggs by Yi Meng (USA)
Nan by Lily Ellora Newton (USA)
The Bridge Less Traveled by Dana Dunton and Jeff Dunton (USA)
Through The Mirror To See Her by Tianyun Aria He (China)
Touch Me, Please! by Xinran Wendy Tong (USA)
Best LGBTQ Short
Bobo In Bliss by Vivian Ip (USA)
Okay? by Carrie Meyer Schrader (USA)
Pining by David Jaffe (USA)
Best Microfilm
A Very Crowded Room by Nate Wilburn (USA)
Almost Love by Sarah Hà Duyên Ngô (USA)
Savior by Brev Moss (USA)
Best Experimental Short
After Land by James Frank (USA)
Midnight’s Midnight by Rafael Vigilantics and Nichole Graf (USA)
Shade by Lee Subin (South Korea)
The Oilfields by Nico Poalillo (USA)
Veins by Ryder Zamudio (USA)
Best Music Video
News To Me by Elle Stanion and Olivia McCrary (USA)
RAD by Jonathan Daniel Williams (USA)
Sarah Shafey – Messin Around by Maarten Colenbrander (Canada)
Streetlights – Scott Frenzel by Alissa Wyle (USA)
We Look Like You by Devin Alexander Sebasstian (USA)
Best Screendance Short
TBA
Best Web and New Media
TBA
Best Short Script
Even the Moon Knows (달도 아는 사랑) by Celeste Escalera (USA)
Pyrrhic by Nikki Petkopoulos (USA)
Station 18 by William Michael Magro
The Old Lady and the Baby Bird by Christopher Loveland (USA)
The Old Man And The Paintbrush by Christopher Loveland (USA)
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