The 2026 Palm Springs International Short Film Festival ends Monday, June 29, but its memory will live on for many filmmakers — especially those who are taking home an award.
On Sunday, June 28, organizers announced the festival juried and audience award winners as part of the Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Palm Springs, according to a press release from the Palm Springs Film Society. Awards and cash prizes worth $30,000, including five Academy Award-qualifying awards, were presented to the winners selected from the 328 short films screened at this year’s festival.
Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, ShortFest took place June 23-29, 2026. Bennett Awards is the Official ShortFest Awards Provider.
Oscar-Qualifying Awards at ShortFest 2026
The winner of these awards may be eligible to submit their short to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration.
Best of the Festival Award — Winner received $5,000 cash prize.
Jury: Dana Ledoux Miller (“Moana 2”); Gus Van Sant; Julia Aks (“Jane Austen’s Period Drama”); Kayla Foster (“Your Monster”)
Winner: “Fruit” (Singapore), Directed by Jen Nee Lim
Special Mention: “Hyena” (USA/China), Directed by Altay Ulan Yang
Best Animated Short — Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.
Jury: John Kelly (Director at Dolphin’s Barn Pictures); Wilson Chapman (Animation Editor at IndieWire); William D. Caballero (Director/Producer at Colibri Creative Media)
Winner: “Fačuk” (Croatia/Slovenia), Directed by Maida Srabović
Special Mention for Craft: “Venezia Diorama” (Belgium), Directed by Nicolas Piret
Best Documentary Short — Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.
Jury: Ash Cook (Founder, Video Store•Age); Micah Gottlieb (Artistic Director at Los Angeles Festival of Movies); Rebekah Louisa Smith (Film Festival Strategist at The Film Festival Doctor)
Winner: “Water Cooler” (USA), Directed by Emma V.F.
Special Mention: “Plumped” (USA), Directed by Faye Tsakas, Nora DeLigter
Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes — Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.
Jury: Jesy Odio (Production Manager at FUJIFILM); Maura Towey (Director of Development at Love & Squalor Pictures); Talia Shea Levin (Director, Writer, Producer)
Winner: “Marga en el DF” (Mexico/USA/Dominican Republic), Directed by Gabriela Ortega
Special Mention: “Concrete Kids” (Lithuania), Directed by Saulius Baradinska
Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under (Sponsored by SAGindie) — Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.
Jury: Alana Ford (Agent at Gersh); Mia McNiece (Senior Editor, News and Awards at Gold Derby); Peter Van Steemburg (Talent Manager at XYZ Films)
Winner: “We Were Here” (India), Directed by Pranav Bhasin
Special Mention: “Captive Audience” (Singapore), Directed by Kew Lin
Student Short Awards at ShortFest 2026
Best Student International Short
Best Student U.S. Short
Best Student Animated Short
Best Student Documentary Short
Special Jury Awards at ShortFest 2026
Vimeo Staff Pick Award
Best International Short
Best U.S. Short
Best Comedy Short
Best LGBTQ+ Short
Best Midnight Short
Local Jury Awards at ShortFest 2026
Desert Views Local Jury Award
Young Cineastes Award
Kids’ Choice Award (chosen by The Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City)
In addition to this year’s awards, the Parker Palm Springs (host estate for the awards for over 20 years), introduced the inaugural Parker Filmmaker Award, created in partnership with ShortFest and the Palm Springs International Film Society.
“Conceived in the spirit of discovery, storytelling, and creative mischief, the award celebrates emerging filmmakers while deepening Parker’s connection to the Palm Springs creative community,” a press release from ShortFest stated. “The selected filmmaker will be invited to create original narrative shorts and brand reels that embody a commercial sensibility while feeling like a distinctive piece of storytelling inspired by Parker Palm Springs — cinematic, stylish, witty, whimsical, and unmistakably Parker. Following a review of the award winners and interest from the potential student filmmakers, the Parker Palm Springs will announce the recipients later this summer.”
(This story was updated to add links.)
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: See what 2026 Palm Springs ShortFest films may be eligible for Oscars
Reporting by Niki Kottmann, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Niki Kottmann, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
