Short film festivals can be a great way to get your work seen, meet industry people, and open doors to future projects, but only if you submit to the right ones.
This guide breaks down the best short film festivals by category, so you can quickly find one that actually makes sense for your film and avoid wasting time (or money) on the wrong submissions.
Documentary
Documentary shorts often live or die on subject matter and point of view. If your film is character-driven, investigative, or socially focused, these festivals are a strong place to start.
| Festival | When to Submit | Festival Date | Fees | Why Enter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sundance Film Festival | Summer | January | Varies by deadline | Top-tier launch festival with major industry and press exposure. |
| Tribeca Festival | Fall | June | Varies by deadline | Strong documentary programming with excellent NYC industry access. |
| Big Sky Documentary Film Festival | Winter | February | Low to mid range | Great visibility for emerging documentary filmmakers. |
| Atlanta Film Festival | Fall | April | Mid range | Oscar-qualifying festival with strong support for documentary shorts. |
| Palm Springs International ShortFest | Winter | June | Mid range | One of the best short-film showcases in the US with strong doc programming. |
Comedy
Comedy can be harder to place than it looks. If your short is built around jokes, tone, or performance — from sketch to rom-com — these festivals consistently program comedy well.
| Festival | When to Submit | Festival Date | Fees | Why Enter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SXSW | Fall | March | Varies by deadline | Huge comedy audience with strong industry and press presence. |
| Palm Springs International ShortFest | Winter | June | Mid range | Shorts-first festival where programmers actively watch and discover new comedy work. |
| Hollywood Comedy Shorts | Late fall | April | Low to mid range | Comedy-only focus with strong opportunities to meet LA-based filmmakers and producers. |
| Atlanta Film Festival | Fall | April | Mid range | Oscar-qualifying festival with engaged audiences and strong regional industry support. |
| Indy Shorts | Winter to spring | July | Mid to high range | Filmmaker-friendly festival that consistently programs comedy shorts well. |
Narrative / Drama
For story-led, character-driven shorts, these festivals are known for taking narrative work seriously and supporting emerging filmmakers.
| Festival | When to Submit | Festival Date | Fees | Why Enter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sundance Film Festival | Summer | January | Varies by deadline | Career-defining festival that regularly launches narrative filmmakers. |
| Tribeca Festival | Fall | June | Varies by deadline | Strong home for narrative shorts with serious industry and press attention. |
| Aspen Shortsfest | Fall | April | Mid range | Highly respected shorts festival known for discovering new directors. |
| Telluride Film Festival | Invite only | September | — | Extremely prestigious, curated festival with strong industry presence. |
| LA Shorts International Film Festival | Spring | July | Mid range | Good exposure for narrative shorts aiming at the LA industry. |
Experimental / Avant-Garde
If your short is experimental, abstract, or pushes form and structure, these festivals are known for backing risk-taking work.
| Festival | When to Submit | Festival Month | Fees | Why Enter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor Film Festival | Summer | March | Mid range | Oldest experimental film festival in North America with a strong art-film audience. |
| Slamdance | Late summer to fall | January | Varies by deadline | Filmmaker-run festival that champions bold, low-budget, independent work. |
| NewFilmmakers Los Angeles | Year-round | Monthly | Low to mid range | Regular screenings that give experimental filmmakers consistent exposure. |
| Experiments in Cinema | Fall | April | Low range | Focused on avant-garde cinema and experimental film culture. |
| Chicago Underground Film Festival | Spring | June | Mid range | Long-running underground festival known for bold and unconventional shorts. |
Animation
Animated shorts often get programmed separately. If your film is 2D, 3D, stop-motion, or mixed media, these festivals have a solid track record with animation.
| Festival | When to Submit | Festival Date | Fees | Why Enter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLAS Animation Festival | Winter | August | Low to mid range | Artist-focused animation festival with a strong indie and experimental scene. |
| Palm Springs International ShortFest | Winter | June | Mid range | Major shorts festival that programs animation prominently across categories. |
| Indy Shorts | Winter to spring | July | Mid to high range | Oscar-qualifying festival with strong support for animated shorts. |
| LA Shorts International Film Festival | Spring | July | Mid range | Good exposure for animation aimed at the LA industry. |
| SXSW | Fall | March | Varies by deadline | Strong crossover festival for animation with narrative or experimental appeal. |
Genre (Horror / Sci-Fi / Fantasy)
Genre shorts work best where the audience actually wants them. If your film is horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or a mix, these festivals attract programmers and viewers who care about genre.
| Festival | When to Submit | Festival Date | Fees | Why Enter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Fest | Spring | September | Varies by deadline | Premier US genre festival with serious industry and cult audience attention. |
| Beyond Fest | Invite / limited | October | — | High-profile screenings with strong studio, press, and filmmaker presence. |
| SXSW | Fall | March | Varies by deadline | Excellent crossover festival for genre films that also play to wider audiences. |
| Screamfest Horror Film Festival | Summer | October | Mid range | Horror-focused festival with strong industry and distribution interest. |
| Overlook Film Festival | Fall | April | Mid range | Curated genre festival known for elevated horror and suspense work. |
Wrapping Up
Short film festivals can do a lot for your career, but only if you’re selective about where you submit. Not everyone is worth the fee, and not everyone is a good fit for your film.
Use the categories above to narrow your options, then build a submission list that makes sense for your film’s genre, style, and goals. A mix of higher-profile festivals and smaller, well-aligned ones usually gives you the best chance of success.
Before submitting, always double-check runtime rules, premiere requirements, and submission guidelines. And if your film gets selected, try to attend when you can — festivals are just as much about networking and the people you meet as the screenings themselves.
