Palm Springs International ShortFest Sets 32nd Edition This June

The Palm Springs International ShortFest, one of the largest showcases of short-form cinema in North America, will return for its 32nd edition from June 23-29, 2026, presented at the Festival Theaters in Palm Springs.

Awards and cash prizes worth $25,000, including five Academy Award-qualifying awards, will be announced on Sunday, June 28, with the Best of the Fest program screening on the final day, Monday, June 29. The annual event is designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, BIFA and Goya Awards as an award-qualifying festival.

Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, The Hilton Palm Springs returns as the Official Host Hotel, serving as the primary lodging hub for filmmakers and festival guests as well as the home of the ShortFest Forum, a series of classes and panels featuring industry representatives, filmmakers, and additional guests. For additional information and tickets, visit here. 

Last year, standout selections featured at ShortFest ranged from the Oscar-winning live action short The Singers, Oscar-nominated live action short Jane Austen’s Period Drama, Oscar-nominated documentary short The Devil Is Busy, and the Oscar-nominated animated shorts Forevergreen and Retirement Plan. Talent in attendance included Haley Joel Osment, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Pauline Chalamet, and Ryan Simpkins, among others.

Other notable films that have screened at ShortFest include Oscar-winning documentary short The Queen of Basketball, Oscar-winning live action short The Long Goodbye with actor Riz Ahmed, Oscar-nominated documentary short Nai Nai & Wài Pó, live-action short I’m Not a Robot, and more.