Palm Springs, CA (June 3, 2024) – Today, the Palm Springs International ShortFest announced its programmed lineup. Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, this year’s 30th-anniversary ShortFest will be presented at the Regal Palm Springs from June 18-24, 2024. In all, the festival will screen 52 curated programs showcasing 310 films from 63 countries and territories, including 49 World Premieres, 15 International Premieres, 28 North American Premieres, 9 U.S. Premieres., and 106 California Premieres. In all, more than 6,300 short films from 130 countries and territories were submitted. The full schedule and tickets will be available on Wednesday, June 5 at www.psfilmfest.org/ shortfest-2024. The complete lineup is included at the bottom of this release.
“Year after year, short filmmaking continues to gain recognition, reaching broader audiences and offering filmmakers a striking canvas from which to experiment, innovate, and explore the stories which make them dream,” said Lili Rodriguez, Artistic Director of the Palm Springs International Film Society. “Celebrating our 30th-anniversary, we have both the unique gift of looking back toward the creativity which has sprouted at ShortFest across its significant tenure, as well as the still rich environment from which to see emerging creatives grow. We are honored to share these captivating works with our loyal Palm Springs audience, and cannot wait to welcome these artists from around the globe once again to the Coachella Valley.”
Short films featuring celebrated film and television actors include Unsettled directed by Bella Thorne; Agonist starring Peyton List; ALOK directed by Alex Hedison and executive produced by Jodie Foster; Aphasia starring Canadian stage-actor Clare Coulter; Caller Number Nine! directed by Sandy Honig and starring Patti Harrison; CAN co-starring Mamoudou Athie; Fish Out of Water directed by Francesca Scorsese; Guts starring Kate Burton; Holiday House starring AnnaSophia Robb; How Can I Help You starring Thomasin McKenzie and directed by Eliza Scanlen; ILY, BYE starring Meg Stalter, Kanoa Goo, and Rainn Wilson; In Our Own Way starring Matt Jones; Intergalactic Cafe directed by Mike Mitchell and starring James Murray; Loser starring Angourie Rice; Mog’s Christmas voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy; Officer Stanley starring Matt Walsh, Jimmi Simpson and Jodi Balfour; Paper starring Josh Brener; Relationship to Patient starring H. Jon Benjamin; Speed Queen 51 starring Rory Culkin; Tea starring Michael Gandolfini; The One Note Man starring Ian McKellen; The Talent starring Emma D’Arcy; and Vlog directed by and starring Yvonne Stahovski.
Each year ShortFest reflects the evolving film industry and the world at large. As reported by the filmmakers themselves, 153 out of 310 films (49%) feature women directors. Beyond American films (142 U.S. shorts), ShortFest remains committed to its mandate of showcasing film excellence worldwide as this year’s slate includes international stories from France (29), the United Kingdom (28), Canada (19), Belgium (10), Australia (8), Germany (7), the Netherlands (7), Spain (7), Switzerland (7), Mexico (6), Brazil (5), and Chile (5) along with films from Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lithuania, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
The Palm Springs International ShortFest remains a key indicator for awards recognition, with over 100 of its past-presented films going on to receive Academy Award® nominations. Juried award winners will be announced on Sunday, June 23, from the official selection, which includes five Academy Award-qualifying awards and cash prizes totaling $25,000. The Best of the Fest shorts will be screened on the final day, Monday, June 24, and will also be available virtually from July 10-14. This year’s categories, which each have their own group of jury members, include:
Oscar®Qualifying Awards: Best of the Festival Award, Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes and Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under.
Student Short Awards: Best Student Animated Short, Best Student Documentary Short, Best Student International Short, and Best Student U.S. Short.
Special Jury Awards: Best International Short, Best U.S. Short, Best Comedy Short, Best LGBTQ+ Short, Best Midnight Short, Desert ViewsAward, Young Cineastes Award, Kids’ Choice Award, and Bridging the Borders Award presented by Cinemas Without Borders.
The 2024 Palm Springs International ShortFest will screen the following films:
Animation
-
[S] (United Kingdom/Poland/Bulgaria), directed by Maria Radev (North American Premiere)
-
& yet here we are… (USA), directed by Andy Clay Huey
-
#DoudouChallenge (France), directed by Julie Majcher, Alexandra Delaunay-Fernandez, Sixtine Emerat, Marine Benabdallah-Crolais, Scott Pardailhé-Galabrun, and Noémie Segalowicz
-
A Crab in the Pool (Canada), directed by Alexandra Myotte and Jean-Sébastien Hamel
-
And Granny Would Dance (United Kingdom), directed by Maryam Mohajer (World Premiere)
-
Another Day: A Beautiful Chaos (USA), directed by Eugene Serebrennikov and Vicente Garcia Morillo (California Premiere)
-
Aphasia (Canada), directed by Marielle Dalpé
-
Beautiful Men (Belgium/France/Netherlands), directed by Nicolas Keppens (California Premiere)
-
Braided (USA/China), directed by Chenxi Zhang
-
Bug Diner (USA), directed by Phoebe Jane Hart
-
Drago (USA), directed by Daniel Zvereff (California Premiere)
-
Floaters (United Kingdom), directed by Mocong Yuan (California Premiere)
-
Flutz (USA), directed by Ryan McCown (California Premiere)
-
Great Canyon (USA), directed by Ella May Sahlman (California Premiere)
-
Happy New Year (Japan), directed by Saki Muramoto (North American Premiere)
-
He Ran Alongside His Comrade (Spain), directed by Genís Rigol (California Premiere)
-
La Perra (Colombia/France), directed by Carla Melo Gampert
-
LET’S PLAY PRETEND! (USA), directed by Sam Lane
-
Making it up (United Kingdom), directed by Alice Guymer (International Premiere)
-
Matta and Matto (Switzerland), directed by Bianca Caderas and Kerstin Zemp (California Premiere)
-
Mog’s Christmas (United Kingdom), directed by Robin Shaw
-
My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow (Czech Republic/Slovakia), directed by Filip Diviak
-
On the 8th Day (France), directed by Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, and Théo Duhautois
-
Paumo D’amour (France), directed by Ian Halley, Nathan Hermouet, Luka Croisez, Laurène Vaubourdolle, and Jade Van De Veire
-
Peeping Mom (France), directed by Francis Canitrot (California Premiere)
-
Roadkill Jamboree (USA), directed by Meghan Graham
-
Ruthless Blade (China), directed by Bo Zhang (California Premiere)
-
SHELLFISH (France), directed by Justine Aubert, Cassandra Bouton, Grégoire Callies, Maud Chesneau, Anna Danton, Loic Girault, Gatien Peyrude, and Justine Raux (California Premiere)
-
Symbiotic (USA), directed by Arianna Ahrabinejad
-
Tennis, Oranges (USA), directed by Sean Pecknold
-
The Car That Came Back From the Sea (Switzerland), directed by Jadwiga Kowalska (California Premiere)
-
The Feast (Chile), directed by Simon Bucher, Claudia Saldivia, and Amanda Rivera (California Premiere)
-
The Garden of Heart (Hungary/Slovakia), directed by Olivér Hegyi (California Premiere)
-
The Miracle (Belgium/Netherlands/France), directed by Nienke Deutz
-
The Tornado Outside (United Kingdom), directed by Maria Tomazou (California Premiere)
-
Wander to Wonder (Netherlands/France/Belgium/
United Kingdom), directed by Nina Gantz
Documentary
-
A Body Called Life (USA/Poland/Switzerland), directed by Spencer MacDonald
-
A Public Thing (USA), directed by Lauren Mahoney
-
ALOK (USA/South Africa), directed by Alex Hedison (California Premiere)
-
American Grail: A Quest for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (USA), directed by Andy Sarjahani (California Premiere)
-
Apt Mgr (USA), directed by Ian MacInnes (World Premiere)
-
ASCENDING: South Asian Artists at Coachella 2023 (USA), directed by Zoe Malhotra and Meghna Chakraborty
-
Been There (Switzerland), directed by Corina Schwingruber Ilić
-
Big Moves (Scotland), directed by Sarah Grant (U.S. Premiere)
-
Christmas, Every Day (USA), directed by Faye Tsakas (California Premiere)
-
CRISTO NEGRO (Canada/Panama), directed by Brendan Mills and Paul Stavropoulos (California Premiere)
-
Days of Hate (USA), directed by Oliver Shahery (California Premiere)
-
Dear Dad (South Korea/USA), directed by Noah Kim
-
Dreamcaster (USA), directed by William Maher
-
Echoes of Home: The Burundi Drummers (Murimigwa) of Kakuma (Kenya), directed by Peter Gitau (World Premiere)
-
Eileithyia (USA), directed by Dan Fromhart (California Premiere)
-
Esteban Cabeza de Baca’s Time Travels (USA), directed by César Martínez Barba
-
Frank (USA), directed by David Gauvey Herbert (California Premiere)
-
Hello Stranger (Canada), directed by Amélie Hardy (California Premiere)
-
I am the nature (Ecuador/USA/Brazil), directed by Taliesin Black-Brown
-
I Thought They Were Protected (USA), directed by Casey Kiernan (World Premiere)
-
Is this now the time I should let you go? (Taiwan/Finland/Belgium/
Portugal), directed by Tsai Yi-Chin (California Premiere) -
IT’S OKAY (USA), directed by David France (California Premiere)
-
Jardines (Mexico), directed by Alfredo Torres
-
Kowloon! (USA), directed by Mona Xia and Erin Ramirez
-
Leading the Way (USA), directed by Anndee Laskoe and David Ian Hughes (World Premiere)
-
Live From the Clouds (USA), directed by Mackie Mallison (California Premiere)
-
Madeleine (Canada), directed by Raquel Sancinetti (California Premiere)
-
Merman (USA), directed by Sterling Hampton IV
-
N3ymar (Germany), directed by Maximilian Bungarten (International Premiere)
-
Old Lesbians (USA), directed by Meghan McDonough
-
Outside Center (Canada/Germany), directed by Eli Jean Tahchi (U.S. Premiere)
-
Pamilya (United Kingdom), directed by Miles Blacket
-
REMEMBER, BROKEN CRAYONS COLOUR TOO (Switzerland), directed by Urša Kastelic and Shannet Clemmings (California Premiere)
-
Sangre Violenta / Sangre Violeta (USA/Mexico), directed by Edna Diaz and Arturo R. Jiménez (California Premiere)
-
Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr (USA), directed by Kimberly Reed
-
Stud Country (USA), directed by Lina Abascal and Alexandra Kern (California Premiere)
-
The Big Wait (Australia), directed by Yannick Jamey
-
The Ocean Is Closed on Mondays (Switzerland/USA), directed by Laura Gauch (World Premiere)
-
The Queen Vs. Texas (USA), directed by Emil Lozada and Raemonn James (California Premiere)
-
The School of Canine Massage (USA), directed by Emma D. Miller (California Premiere)
-
The Smallest Power (Iran), directed by Andy Sarjahani (California Premiere)
-
The Veiled City (United Kingdom), directed by Natalie Cubides-Brady (U.S. Premiere)
-
Then Comes The Body (USA/Nigeria), directed by Jacob Krupnick
-
We Did Not Consent (United Kingdom), directed by Dorothy Allen-Pickard (U.S. Premiere)
-
We Exist in Memory (Brazil/USA), directed by Darian Woehr
-
Winding Path (USA), directed by Alexandra Lazarowich and Ross Kauffman (California Premiere)
Live Action
-
14 in February (Australia), directed by Victoria Singh-Thompson
-
A Bird Called Memory (Brazil/United Kingdom), directed by Leonardo Martinelli
-
A Day in the Life of a Female Frame (Netherlands), directed by Ilke Paddenburg (California Premiere)
-
A Joyful Process (USA), directed by Alex Goldberg (California Premiere)
-
A Study of Empathy (Denmark/Germany), directed by Hilke Rönnfeldt (California Premiere)
-
À toi les oreilles (Canada), directed by Alexandre Isabelle (California Premiere)
-
A Woman Is Many Things (Just Fine Isn’t One of Them) (USA), directed by Chase Musslewhite (World Premiere)
-
AFTER DARK (Norway), directed by Iain Forbes (World Premiere)
-
Agonist (USA), directed by Annie Marie Elliot (World Premiere)
-
All the Words on the Page (USA), directed by Hunter Gause (World Premiere)
-
Allégresse (Belgium), directed by Gillie Cinneri (California Premiere)
-
Angel & Perla (Argentina), directed by Jenni Merla, Denise Anzarut
-
ANGIE (Canada), directed by Anthony Coveney (California Premiere)
-
Any Sign At All (USA), directed by Faryl Amadeus (California Premiere)
-
Artwork (Spain), directed by Rafael Nieto (North American Premiere)
-
As It Was (Poland/Ukraine), directed by Anastasiia Solonevych and Damian Kocur (California Premiere)
-
Auganic (Canada), directed by Krit Komkrichwarakool (California Premiere)
-
Azi (USA), directed by Montana Mann (World Premiere)
-
Baby Brother (Germany), directed by Berthold Wahjudi (North American Premiere)
-
Backbone (USA), directed by Lucas Hames (World Premiere)
-
Bahamas (Belgium), directed by Maxime Bultot (International Premiere)
-
Basri and Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy (Indonesia), directed by Khozy Rizal
-
Beverly Heights (USA), directed by Alyssa Aldaz (World Premiere)
-
Bibi’s Dog is Dead (Canada), directed by Shervin Kermani (International Premiere)
-
Bita Joon (USA), directed by Sara Boutorabi (World Premiere)
-
Bloomed In The Water (USA), directed by Joanne Mony Park (California Premiere)
-
Blueberry (Sweden), directed by Emil Brulin, Hampus Hallberg (World Premiere)
-
Bogotá Story (Colombia/USA), directed by Esteban Pedraza
-
Boléro (France), directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdaà (California Premiere)
-
Border Hopper (USA/Argentina/Spain), directed by Nico Casavecchia
-
Bruno & Elena (Argentina/USA), directed by Javier Hirschler (World Premiere)
-
Bye Bye, Bowser (Austria), directed by Jasmin Baumgartner (California Premiere)
-
Calf (Ireland), directed by Jamie O’Rourke (California Premiere)
-
Caller Number Nine! (United Kingdom/USA), directed by Sandy Honig (California Premiere)
-
Camping in Paradise (Norway), directed by Eirik Tveiten (California Premiere)
-
CAN (USA), directed by Kailee McGee (California Premiere)
-
Chan is Fishing (USA), directed by Jacqueline Chan
-
Changing Rooms (France), directed by Violette Gitton (International Premiere)
-
Chickenshit (United Kingdom), directed by Ellie Rogers (California Premiere)
-
City of Dreamz (USA), directed by Imani Celeste (California Premiere)
-
Complications (Norway), directed by Ivar Aase (California Premiere)
-
Craftwork (Spain), directed by David Pérez Sañudo (California Premiere)
-
Cross My Heart and Hope To Die (Philippines), directed by Sam Manacsa (California Premiere)
-
Cry Me a River (Taiwan/India), directed by Suman Sen (World Premiere)
-
Deep in My Heart is a Song (USA), directed by Jonathan Pickett (California Premiere)
-
Deep Tish (USA), directed by Dave Paige
-
Don’t Leave Home! (Georgia/Estonia), directed by David Japaridze (International Premiere)
-
Doris (Ghana/USA), directed by Edem Dotse (California Premiere)
-
Dream Creep (USA), directed by Carlos A.F. Lopez
-
Dreams like paper boats (Haiti), directed by Samuel Suffren (California Premiere)
-
Ebb & Flow (Lebanon/Qatar/USA), directed by Nay Tabbara (California Premiere)
-
ECSTASY (Mexico/USA), directed by Carolina Costa
-
Embryo (USA), directed by Alex Russek (World Premiere)
-
ESSEX GIRLS (United Kingdom), directed by Yero Timi-Biu
-
Everything Goes Dark (USA), directed by Alex Casimir (California Premiere)
-
Fan Fiction (USA), directed by Ben Lederman
-
FÁR (Iceland), directed by Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter
-
Favourites (Australia), directed by Nick Russell
-
Favours (Sweden/France), directed by Agnes Skonare Karlsson (International Premiere)
-
Festival of Slaps (United Kingdom), directed by Abdou Cissé
-
Fidel (USA), directed by Luke Lace
-
First Night (USA), directed by Haneol (John) Lee (California Premiere)
-
Fish Out of Water (USA), directed by Francesca Scorsese (California Premiere)
-
Fishbowl (USA), directed by Isabel Perry, Adam Yates (World Premiere)
-
Five ways to get rid of a hickey (Chile), directed by Colectivo Niñita Perversa (California Premiere)
-
Francis Bacon (USA), directed by Darcy Cagen
-
French (Israel), directed by Dylan Joseph (World Premiere)
-
Gas Station Sushi (USA), directed by Chad Corhan (World Premiere)
-
Grace (USA), directed by Natalie Jasmine Harris (California Premiere)
-
Guts (USA), directed by Margaux Susi (California Premiere)
-
Hafekasi (Australia), directed by Annelise Hickey
-
Half of Nothing (USA), directed by Justin Aftab (World Premiere)
-
Happy Thanksgiving (USA), directed by ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby
-
Harpies (USA), directed by Molly Kirschenbaum
-
Hedgehog’s Dilemma (Poland), directed by Mateusz Rybiński (North American Premiere)
-
Holiday House (USA), directed by Alex Heller (California Premiere)
-
Hollywood (Austria), directed by Leni Gruber, Alex Reinberg (California Premiere)
-
Honeymoon (Greece/France/Cyprus), directed by Alkis Papastathopoulos (U.S. Premiere)
-
Honeywell (USA), directed by Jill V. Dae (World Premiere)
-
HOODIE (USA), directed by Renée Felice Smith, Chris Gabriel (World Premiere)
-
HOW CAN I HELP YOU (Australia), directed by Eliza Scanlen (International Premiere)
-
How Did I Get Here (USA), directed by Kate Hamilton (California Premiere)
-
I Can’t Be Sorry (USA), directed by Robert Machoian (California Premiere)
-
I Could Dom (USA), directed by Madison Hatfield (California Premiere)
-
I Don’t Care If the World Collapses (Egypt), directed by Karim Shaaban (California Premiere)
-
I Need It Yesterday (USA), directed by Chris W. Smith, Jack De Sena (California Premiere)
-
I’m Not a Robot (Netherlands/Belgium), directed by Victoria Warmerdam (California Premiere)
-
If I Die in America (USA), directed by Ward Kamel (California Premiere)
-
ILY, BYE (USA), directed by Taylor James
-
Imogene (USA), directed by Katie Blair (California Premiere)
-
In Our Own Way (USA), directed by Jason Headley (California Premiere)
-
In Silence Everything Roars (France), directed by Akaki Popkhadze (North American Premiere)
-
In the Absence of Fruits and Flowers (USA), directed by Kali Kahn (California Premiere)
-
Intergalactic Café (USA), directed by Mike Mitchell
-
Jane Austen’s Period Drama (USA), directed by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder
-
Jedo’s Dead (USA), directed by Sara Nimeh (California Premiere)
-
Jellyfish and Lobster (United Kingdom), directed by Yasmin Afifi (North American Premiere)
-
Ladies (USA), directed by Allison Bunce (World Premiere)
-
Lea Tupu’anga (Mother Tongue) (New Zealand), directed by Vea Mafile’o
-
Lemon Tree (USA), directed by Rachel Walden
-
Let (USA), directed by Alyssa Loh (California Premiere)
-
Lights in the Night Sky (Mexico), Octavio Daniel Carreño (North American Premiere)
-
Linda (United Kingdom), directed by Joe Lycett
-
Living Reality (USA), directed by Philip Thompson
-
Lode (United Kingdom), directed by Theo Watkins (International Premiere)
-
Loser (USA), directed by Colleen McGuinness (North American Premiere)
-
Lumen (Canada), directed by Stéphanie Bélanger (World Premiere)
-
Maison Blanche (France), directed by Camille Dumortier (North American Premiere)
-
MAKE ME A PIZZA (USA), directed by Talia Shea Levin (California Premiere)
-
Making Babies (Canada), directed by Eric K. Boulianne
-
Manting (China/USA), directed by Shuyao Chen (California Premiere)
-
Manual For a Divorce (Belgium), directed by Peter Ghesquière (North American Premiere)
-
Mar Mama (Palestine), directed by Majdi El Omari
-
Mara Has Three Jobs in San Juan, Puerto Rico (USA/Puerto Rico), directed by Ana Verde
-
ME OVER YOU (USA), directed by Efrain Flores
-
Ministry of Jingle (New Zealand), directed by Maddie Dai (North American Premiere)
-
Mis-Alignment (USA), directed by Pablo Riesgo Almonacid
-
Mother (Ukraine), directed by Mariia Felenko (California Premiere)
-
Motherland (Canada), directed by Jasmin Mozaffari (California Premiere)
-
Mothers & Monsters (Canada), directed by Edith Jorisch
-
Muna (United Kingdom), directed by Warda Mohamed
-
My Best Friend (USA/France), directed by Elina Street (California Premiere)
-
MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE! (South Korea), directed by Jung Inhyuk (North American Premiere)
-
Nepotism, Baby! (USA), directed by Tij D’oyen (California Premiere)
-
Nomad (USA), directed by Lucas Chengze Li (World Premiere)
-
Nothing But Shadows (USA/Colombia), directed by Kathy Mitrani (U.S. Premiere)
-
Óbito (Spain), directed by Fernando Amador
-
Officer Stanley (USA), directed by Scottie Cameron
-
Order For Pickup (USA), directed by Jackie! Zhou
-
Oyu (France/Japan), directed by Atsushi Hirai (California Premiere)
-
Pairing (Australia), directed by Matthew Burns (International Premiere)
-
Palestine Islands (France/Palestine), directed by Nour Ben Salem and Julien Menanteau (California Premiere)
-
Paper (Canada), directed by Charles Wahl (World Premiere)
-
Paper Towels (USA), directed by Ethan Kuperberg (California Premiere)
-
Pathological (USA), directed by Alison Rich
-
PAVANE (France/Belgium), directed by Pauline Gay (North American Premiere)
-
Pigeons Are Dying, When the City Is On Fire (Greece/Netherlands), directed by Stavros Markoulakis
-
Places I’ve Called My Own (France/India), directed by Sushma Khadepaun
-
Places of Worship (USA), directed by Bridget Frances Harris (California Premiere)
-
Positive Reinforcement (USA), directed by Gustavo T. Astudillo (World Premiere)
-
Prelude (Finland), directed by Arman Zafari (North American Premiere)
-
Primetime Mother (Philippines/Singapore)
, directed by Sonny Calvento -
Primos (Puerto Rico/USA), directed by Ricardo Varona
-
Pun Intended (USA/Hungary), directed by Jack Turits (North American Premiere)
-
Punta Salinas (Puerto Rico/USA), directed by María del Mar Rosario Ruiz
-
Quayle (USA), directed by Kyle Kenyon (California Premiere)
-
Queen Size (France), directed by Avril Besson (California Premiere)
-
RAPT (USA), directed by Margot Budzyna
-
RAT! (USA), directed by Neal Suresh Mulani (World Premiere)
-
Realness With a Twist (United Kingdom), directed by Cass Virdee
-
Recurrence (Iran), directed by Ali Alizadeh (North American Premiere)
-
Relationship to Patient (USA), directed by Caroline Creaghead