Global Shorts is a Los Angeles-based international awards competition that recognizes and promotes short films with a runtime of 50 minutes or less. It is a sister competition of One-Reeler, an IMDb-recognized short film competition that accepts films 12 minutes or less. So why a second competition? You asked for it! The number-one request we’ve received from our One-Reeler submitters (and would-be submitters) over the years is to extend the competition’s 12 minute limitation. Thus Global Shorts was born. Each of our competitions have separate categories, judges, and Awards packages. Attracting filmmakers from all over the world, our competitions emphasize original, impactful storytelling – the same qualities film festivals and distributors look for. Whether you’re hoping to promote your work as “Award-winning”, or perhaps looking to test the waters before submitting to festivals, our competitions are a great way to receive feedback from industry professionals so you can gain a clearer understanding of how your film ranks among other films worldwide. We hope to see a submission from you soon!

Past competition Winners have also won or been nominated for: BAFTAs, British Independent Film Awards, Cannes Film Festival Awards, Emmys, Genie Awards, Golden Globes, Saturn Awards.

Some of the countries we have received Winning submissions from include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA.

JUDGING:

Judging takes place by in house staff and a committee of industry professionals. There is one primary category: Best Short Film. In addition to the primary category, all submissions will be considered for Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit, Honorable Mentions, and Special Mentions. All placements are awarded Winner laurels. The Winner of our Best Short Film category will receive our custom Global Shorts statuette at no cost to them.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

A biannual competition, Global Shorts Winners are announced twice a year. Our deadlines are March 31st and September 30th. Winners are notified 1-3 weeks after deadlines, via electronic mail or standard mail, if selected. Submissions are accepted year-round.

RULES/ ELIGIBILITY:

• Submissions must be 50 minutes or less (including end credits).

• Submissions in other than English must be submitted in subtitled in English.

• The required entry fee for Best Short Film consideration is $60USD.

• Subcategories are $40USD each.

• Please provide an online link to your film and be sure to include the password on our submission form if applicable. DVDs and other physical media are not accepted.

Still have questions? Visit our FAQ page.