Palm Springs ShortFest 2024: Winners & Awards

The Palm Springs International ShortFest, one of the largest short film festivals and the first stop on the campaign trail for Oscar-qualifying shorts, announced its winners today, including director John Kelly‘s “Retirement Plan,” which was named “best of the festival” and received a $5,000 cash prize.

Awards were also given for best animated short, best documentary short, and best live-action short, as well as student shorts.

Over 300 films were part of the official selection at the festival, which ran from June 24-30. The winners of the five Oscar-qualifying awards are eligible to submit their shorts for Academy Award consideration.

The complete list of winners includes:

Best of the Festival Award
Winner: “Retirement Plan,” directed by John Kelly
Special Mention for Best Director: “Bird, “Directed by Natalia García Agraz
Special Mention for Best Acting: “Beyond Silence,” directed by Marnie Blok
Best Animated Short
Winner: “Budō” (Sweden), directed by Amanda Aagard and Alexander Toma
Special Mention: “The Little Ancestor” (Canada), directed by Alexa Tremblay-Francoeur
Best Documentary Short
Winner: “Shanti Rides Shotgun (USA), directed by Charles Frank
Special Mention: “One Day I Will Hug You” (Palestine/Sweden/Qatar), directed by Mohammed Fares Al Majdalawi
Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes
Winner: “Susana” (Mexico/USA), Directorate by Amandine Thomas and Gerardo Coello Escalante
Special Mention: “Nervous Energy” (USA), directed by Eve Liu
Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under
Winner: “Medusa” (USA), directed by Sarah Meyohas
Special Mention: “Made From Leakproof Plastic” (Canada/United Kingdom), Directed by Anastasiya Mykhaylova

Student Short Awards
Student Animated Short
Winner: “Dragfox” (United Kingdom), directed by Lisa Ott
Special Mention: “Ma Mao” (Canada), directed by Thanh Ngo
Student International Short
Winner: “Cura there” (Spain), directed by Lucía G. Romero
Special Mention: “Crazy for You” (Spain/USA), directed by Greta Díaz Moreau
Student U.S. Short
Winner: “Nervous Energy” (USA), directed by Eve Liu, and “Breastmilk” (USA / Nigeria), DirectTs. Desirer
Special Mention: “Kisses and Bullets” (USA/Iran), directed by Faranak Sahafian
Student Documentary Short
Winner: “You Can’t See It From Here” (USA/Colombia), directed by Enrique Pedráza-Botero
Special Mention: “Dancing in Tomorrowland” (USA), directed by Jakob Roston
Special Jury Awards
Pick Awar Staffd
Winner: “You Know You Wanna Stay” (USA), directed by Alex Heller

Best International Short
Winners: “Beyond Silence” (The Netherlands), directed by Marnie Blok, and “Kuchar (The Itch)” (India), directed by Vaidaangi Sharma
Special Mention: “Goodbye Sun” (France), directed by Hakim Atoui
Best U.S. Short
Winner: “Szypliszki” (USA), directed by Jordan Axelrod
Special Mention: “Ragamuffin” (USA), directed by Kaitlyn Mikayla
Best Comedy Short
Winners: “How Was Your Weekend” (USA), directed by Cam Banfield, and “Your Own Flavor” (USA), directed by Alisha Ketry
Special Mention: “Blood Ties” (France/Belgium), directed by Hakim Atoui
Best LGBTQ+ Short
Winners: “Chico” (France/Belgium), directed by Théo Abadie, and “Hold Me Close” (USA), directed by Aurora Brachman and LaTajh Simmons-Weaver
Special Mention: “It Will Always End in the End” (Canada), directed by Nancy Pettinicchio
Best Midnight Short
Winner: “Mango” (United Kingdom/France), directed by Joan Iyiola
Special Mention: “Real” (France), directed by Rodrigue Hart
Local Jury Awards
Desert Views Local Jury Award
Winner: “Big Bass” (USA), directed by Drew Dickler
Special Mention: “The Devil Is Busy” (USA), directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton
Young Cineastes Award
Winner: “Énouement” (USA), directed by Angel Lu
Special Mention: “Dandelion” (USA), directed by Fiona Obertinca
Kids’ Choice Award
Winner: “Wednesdays With Gramps” (USA), directed by Chris Copeland and Justin Copeland
Special Mention: “Forevergreen” (USA), directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears

Audience Awards

Best Animated Short
Winner: Wednesdays with Gramps(USA), directed by Chris Copeland and Justin Copeland

Best Documentary Short
Winner: The Devil Is Busy (USA), directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton

Best Live-Action Short
Winner: Beatrix Is Invisible (USA), directed by Alex Farias

Best Student Short
Winner: Dandelion (USA), directed by Fiona Obertinca