By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/30/25 – The highly anticipated 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest wrapped up in grand style with its Awards Brunch at the Renaissance Hotel Palm Springs. Celebrating a stunning array of creative talent, the festival awarded more than $30,000 in cash prizes, along with five Academy Award® qualifying awards. The event, which ran from June 24-30, showcased 311 short films from around the world, offering filmmakers a global stage to present their work.
Oscar-Qualifying Awards
As part of the festival’s prestigious offerings, the winners of several categories are eligible for consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for potential Oscar® nominations. These categories are considered key benchmarks for short filmmakers striving for international recognition.
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Best of the Festival: Retirement Plan (Ireland), directed by John Kelly, took home the coveted Best of the Festival Award and a $5,000 cash prize.
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Special Mention for Best Director: Passarinho (Mexico), directed by Natalia García Agraz.
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Special Mention for Best Acting: Beyond Silence (The Netherlands), directed by Marnie Blok.
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Best Animated Short: Budō (Sweden), directed by Amanda Aagard and Alexander Toma, earned top honors and a $1,000 cash prize.
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Special Mention: The Little Ancestor (Canada), directed by Alexa Tremblay-Francoeur.
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Best Documentary Short: Shanti Rides Shotgun (USA), directed by Charles Frank, was awarded the $1,000 cash prize.
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Special Mention: One Day I Will Hug You (Palestine/Sweden/Qatar), directed by Mohammed Fares Al Majdalawi.
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Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes: Susana (Mexico/USA), directed by Amandine Thomas and Gerardo Coello Escalante, received the $1,000 cash prize.
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Special Mention: Nervous Energy (USA), directed by Eve Liu.
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Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under: Medusa (USA), directed by Sarah Meyohas, clinched the top prize and $1,000.
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Special Mention: Made From Leakproof Plastic (Canada/United Kingdom), directed by Anastasiya Mykhaylova.
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Student Short Awards
The Student Shorts categories highlighted the future of cinema, with young filmmakers receiving recognition for their exceptional work:
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Best Student Animated Short: Dragfox (United Kingdom), directed by Lisa Ott.
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Special Mention: Ma Mao (Canada), directed by Thanh Ngo.
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Best Student International Short: Cura Sana (Spain), directed by Lucía G. Romero.
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Special Mention: Crazy For You (Spain/USA), directed by Greta Díaz Moreau.
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Best Student U.S. Short: A tie was awarded between Nervous Energy (USA), directed by Eve Liu, and Breastmilk (USA/Nigeria), directed by Ifeyinwa Arinze.
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Special Mention: Kisses and Bullets (USA/Iran), directed by Faranak Sahafian.
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Best Student Documentary Short: You Can’t See It from Here (USA/Colombia), directed by Enrique Pedráza-Botero.
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Special Mention: Dancing in Tomorrowland (USA), directed by Jakob Roston.
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Special Jury and Audience Awards
The festival also presented several special awards that celebrated creativity and excellence across various genres:
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Vimeo Staff Pick Award: You Know You Wanna Stay (USA), directed by Alex Heller, received a $5,000 cash prize.
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Best International Short: Beyond Silence (The Netherlands), directed by Marnie Blok, and Kuchar (The Itch) (India), directed by Vaidaangi Sharma, shared the award.
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Special Mention: Goodbye Sun (France), directed by Hakim Atoui.
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Best U.S. Short: Szypliszki (USA), directed by Jordan Axelrod, was named Best U.S. Short.
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Special Mention: Ragamuffin (USA), directed by Kaitlyn Mikayla.
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Best Comedy Short: A tie went to How Was Your Weekend (USA), directed by Cam Banfield, and Your Own Flavor (USA), directed by Alisha Ketry.
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Special Mention: Blood Ties (France/Belgium), directed by Hakim Atoui.
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Best LGBTQ+ Short: Chico (France/Belgium), directed by Théo Abadie, and Hold Me Close (USA), directed by Aurora Brachman and LaTajh Simmons-Weaver, shared the award.
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Special Mention: It Will Always End In The End (Canada), directed by Nancy Pettinicchio.
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Best Midnight Short: Mango (United Kingdom/France), directed by Joan Iyiola, earned the $1,000 cash prize.
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Special Mention: Real (France), directed by Rodrigue Hart.
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Local and Kids’ Choice Awards
The Local Jury and Kids’ Choice Awards highlighted regional talent and audience favorites:
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Desert Views Local Jury Award: Big Bass (USA), directed by Drew Dickler, received the $1,000 cash prize.
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Special Mention: The Devil Is Busy (USA), directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton.
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Young Cineastes Award: Énouement (USA), directed by Angel Lu, was awarded the $1,000 cash prize.
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Special Mention: Dandelion (USA), directed by Fiona Obertinca.
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Kids’ Choice Award: Wednesdays with Gramps (USA), directed by Chris Copeland and Justin Copeland, took home the $1,000 cash prize.
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Special Mention: Forevergreen (USA), directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears.
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Audience Award Winners
The Audience Awards reflected the films that resonated most with festivalgoers:
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Best Animated Short: Wednesdays with Gramps (USA), directed by Chris Copeland and Justin Copeland.
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Best Documentary Short: The Devil Is Busy (USA), directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton.
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Best Live-Action Short: Beatrix Is Invisible (USA), directed by Alex Farias.
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Best Student Short: Dandelion (USA), directed by Fiona Obertinca.
About the Palm Springs International Film Society
The Palm Springs International Film Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to the promotion and celebration of film. Known for hosting the Palm Springs International Film Festival and ShortFest, the society nurtures new talent and honors cinematic greats while expanding cultural understanding through film. The society’s ShortFest is North America’s largest short film festival, offering filmmakers exposure and opportunities for growth.
For more information on upcoming events and to purchase tickets, visit psfilmfest.org.
The 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest was a stellar event for filmmakers and audiences alike, with awards recognizing both established and emerging talent. With such a diverse range of films from across the globe, it’s clear that short films continue to captivate audiences, offering fresh and powerful perspectives on the world.
