Submit a Short Film

Short films are the backbone of film festivals.
They’re how filmmakers experiment, take risks, and build momentum.

If you’re submitting a short, choosing the right festivals matters more than submitting to a lot of them.

This page helps you understand what festivals look for and where short films tend to do best.

What Counts as a Short Film

Most festivals consider a short film to be anything under 40 minutes.
Many prefer shorter runtimes, often under 20 minutes.

Short films can be any genre, including:

Narrative
Comedy
Drama
Horror
Documentary
Experimental
Animation

What matters most is clarity of vision and execution.

What Festivals Look for in Short Films

Festival programmers watch a lot of shorts.
Strong submissions usually share a few things in common.

They tell a clear story or idea.
They know what they are trying to do.
They respect the audience’s time.
They feel finished and intentional.

Technical perfection matters less than purpose.
A short that knows what it is will stand out more than one that tries to do too much.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many short films struggle for the same reasons.

They run too long - films over 20 minutes have to be better than two 10 minute films.
They take too long to get started - a short should have your interest in the first two mintues.
They rely on exposition instead of action.
They feel like a feature squeezed into a short runtime.

If your film works best as a short, lean into that strength.

Choosing the Right Festivals

Not every festival is right for every short.

Some festivals focus on shorts exclusively.
Some favor specific genres.
Some value experimentation.
Others prioritize audience response.

Submitting to festivals that match your film’s tone and goals gives you a much better chance of screening and connecting with people.

Where to Submit Your Short Film

These festivals actively program and screen short films in front of real audiences.

Atlanta Shortsfest
A long-running short film festival that screens a wide range of narrative, documentary, and experimental shorts.

Atlanta Underground Film Festival (AUFF)
A home for bold, unconventional, and boundary-pushing short films.

Atlanta Horror Film Festival
For horror, thriller, and dark genre shorts with strong audience appeal.

Atlanta Micro Short Film Festival
For ultra-short films that make a big impact in a very small runtime.

Atlanta Experimental Fest
For shorts that challenge traditional storytelling and form.

Atlanta Spotlight Film Festival
An end-of-year showcase for standout short films.

Austin Shortsfest
A short film festival focused on independent shorts across genres, with an emphasis on strong storytelling and audience connection.

Dead Weird Film Festival - Austin
A genre-focused festival showcasing strange, dark, and unconventional short films that push tone and style.

Each of these festivals programs shorts differently. Choosing the right fit matters.

Final Thought

Submitting a short film isn’t about chasing acceptance numbers.
It’s about finding the festivals where your film will be seen, understood, and remembered.

If you’re ready to submit, start with festivals that respect short films and the filmmakers who make them.