A composer recounts a dream from his youth that inspired the slow movement of his first-string quartet, Prayer of the Sea. The dream, depicting a peaceful dissolution into the sea and wind, symbolized his future death. Decades later, rediscovering a drawing from the quartet's premiere - perfectly capturing the dream’s essence - revived its emotions. Now older, he reflects on the dream’s message: a serene acceptance of life’s inevitable end.

Prayer of the Sea is an audiovisual elegy offering a calm perspective on the universal experience of passing.

DIRECTOR: Martin Gergk

RUNTIME: 6:30

GENRE: Experimental, Animation

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Short Film (Germany)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

Two wannabe criminals try to pull off the dumbest heist of all time: stealing ice from a convenience store. What starts as a “foolproof” plan turns into a chaotic chase involving pantyhose masks, idiot cops, and a whole lot of bad decisions. A comedy about friendship, failure, and frozen water.

DIRECTOR: Gavin McCullock

RUNTIME: 8:49

GENRE:  Comedy

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S. - Arcadia, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Short Film (Arcadia, OK)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

“The Home That Is Me” is an animated film that tells the story of searching for a home, not in a geographical sense, but in terms of internal stability and self-sufficiency. The film is born from the director’s personal experience, forced to leave his homeland due to war and witnessing both physical and spiritual destruction. The boy must save himself from the invasion of flies, but the house that he built did not save him, and the people he tried to trust turned out to be an even greater danger. now the hero has to understand where in this world there is a safe place.

DIRECTOR: Araik Zulalian

RUNTIME: 6:06

GENRE:  Animation, Experimental

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  Armenia

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Short Film (Armenia)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

"Breaking Ice" features Captain Kristen Serumgard and her U.S. Coast Guard crew. The film takes place on USCGC icebreaker Healy, the largest polar icebreaker in the fleet, on a mission above the Arctic Circle. 18% serving on board are female.

Honest. Bold. Often surprising. Sometimes funny. Always humane. These dedicated women mirror all Americans. Their stories reveal grit, patriotism and sacrifice. They give us reason to be proud.

We will be producing the feature-length film of "Breaking Ice" in the near future.

DIRECTOR: Mary Ellen Scherl

RUNTIME: 13:25

GENRE:  Documentary Short

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Coral Gables, Florida

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Short Doc Film (Florida)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

Jess came to spend the weekend. Marcus thought it would be simple. But between the extra baggage, a locked phone, and a surprise knock at the door, neither of them is ready for what “trust issues” really looks like.

DIRECTOR: Savon Melton

RUNTIME: 4:40

GENRE:  Drama/Comedy

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Houston, Texas

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Short Film (Houston, Texas)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

"The Ballad of Two Sisters" A music video that tells the story of two sisters. And a duel.

DIRECTOR: Alan Thornburg

RUNTIME: 8:00

GENRE:  Music Video

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Corpus Christi, Texas

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Music Video (Corpus Christi, Texas)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

Based on the Road to Emmaus from the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35

DIRECTOR: John Putman

RUNTIME: 5:19

GENRE:  Drama, Mystical

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Tulsa, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Finalist - Short Film Runner Up (Tulsa, OK)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

When a woman goes to visit her gynecologist about a mysterious pain she has, things turn from bad to worse when she alas meets her freakish doctor.

DIRECTOR: Emilio Meaux

RUNTIME: 8:30

GENRE:  Surreal, Comedy, Student

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - San Francisco, California

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Student Short Film (San Francisco, California)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

"SONS" is a poignant documentary short that captures the resilience of a Ukrainian family striving for normalcy amidst the chaos of war. Interwoven with their story is that of an American family from Missouri, journeying to Ukraine to recover the remains of their son, a former Marine who was killed in action while volunteering with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This film explores themes of loss, courage, and the enduring bonds of family in the face of conflict.

DIRECTOR: Eli Brooks Davidson

RUNTIME: 27:33

GENRE:  Documentary

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  Ukraine

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Overall Short Doc Film 

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

In a strict 19th-century Calvinist commune in Eastern France, a pastor's wife questions the roles she has been given by reclaiming her body, her voice, and her will.

DIRECTOR: Mathilde Bek Hansen

RUNTIME: 13:14

GENRE:  Drama Historical, Student

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  France

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Student Short Film (France)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

"From Their Hands" In the simple rhythm of kneading dough and brewing coffee, De Sus Manos reflects on memory, tradition, and the food that connects generations. Through food and storytelling, a Colombian family shares how the simplest rituals carry the deepest meaning.

DIRECTOR: Matt Brewer

RUNTIME: 2:30

GENRE:  Documentary, Foody

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Tulsa, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Student Micro Doc Film (Tulsa, OK)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

Haunted by her traumatic past and trapped in a toxic relationship, a young woman enlists her twin to temporarily switch places, only to unleash buried trauma that threatens to consume them both.

DIRECTOR: Joce Retana

RUNTIME: 24:22

GENRE:  Suspense, Thriller

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Fort Worth, Texas

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Student Short Film (Fort Worth, Texas)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

Western where a gunslinger comes to town, goes to the town's saloon and strikes up a poker game with a local wrangler.

During the poker game a saloon gal comes over to the table. The gunslinger makes a move on the saloon gal. The gunslinger and the wrangler get into an argument which they take outside to main street where they square off for a gunfight.

DIRECTOR: Lee White, Al Zavala

RUNTIME: 2:45

GENRE:  Western

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - San Antonio, Texas

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Micro Short Film (San Antonio, Texas)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

After years of burying the truth, Eric’s past violently resurfaces when a man connected to a crime long forgotten shows up at his door. What begins as a quiet night at home quickly turns into a tense confrontation filled with secrets, betrayal, and the consequences of escaping your past.

DIRECTOR:  Chanelle Gibbs

RUNTIME:  8:02

GENRE:  Crime, Suspense

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Tulsa, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Student Short Film (Tulsa, OK)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

"Catalogue of Noses" is a short musical comedy. It tells the story of Emily, a Jewish teen actor on the day of her scheduled nose surgery, who faces off with her mother, a plastic surgeon, and the weight of her cultural identity. Through original songs that parody 'Fiddler on the Roof,' we follow Emily’s emotional state as she navigates this decision and learns unsettling truths about the consequences of assimilation.

DIRECTOR: Josie Andrews

RUNTIME:  12:33

GENRE:  Dark Comedy, Musical

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Los Angeles, California

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - GOLDEN STANDARD AWARD

SUBMISSION STATUS: After Deadline & Free (Second Tier)

"The Quest for the Golden Dragon" From the Director who has watched Lord of the Rings and many other movies comes an epic tale of epic epicness! Two sisters embark on a quest through a mythical land (that looks suspiciously like someone's back garden) to find a Golden Dragon. On the way they encounter a wizard, zombies and other assorted weird and zany characters

DIRECTOR: Tom Whiteley

RUNTIME:  29:59

GENRE:  Comedy

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  United Kingdom

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Short Film (United Kingdom)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

A documentary highlighting family, veteran, andyouth homelessness challenges, and the life- changing impact of the Illumination Foundation's aid. Witness the inspiring journey of individuals overcoming adversity and rebuilding their lives with hope, love, and the Foundation's support as they tackle misconceptions and transform despair into resilience.

DIRECTOR: Noah Berlow

RUNTIME:  7:15

GENRE:  Documentary

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Los Angeles, California

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - GOLDEN STANDARD AWARD

SUBMISSION STATUS: After Deadline & Free (Second Tier)

Two children help their parents rummage through the belongings of their late grandfather only to discover that adventure awaits in the most unexpected of places.

DIRECTOR: Isaiah Stephens

RUNTIME:  11:08

GENRE:  Mystical, Comedy

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Edmond, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Student Short Film (Edmond, OK)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

"Rio, a cunning drug dealer, gets entangled in a dangerous affair with the wife of a ruthless drug lord, ignited in a deadly game of deception, things take a turn.

DIRECTOR:  Ephraim Liggins

RUNTIME:  38:01

GENRE:  Crime, Drama

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Tulsa, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Finalist - Short Film Runner Up (Tulsa, OK)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

"You're Not a Fool, Grandpa" A little girl, now a woman, writes to her grandfather, wounded by a mental disorder. She watches him as he seethes inwardly, pondering the place of childhood in suffering.

DIRECTOR: Adrien Lhoste

RUNTIME:  4:13

GENRE:  Animation

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  France

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - GOLDEN STANDARD AWARD

SUBMISSION STATUS: After Deadline & Free (Second Tier)

"Vending Machine" In an era of rampant materialism, a vending machine becomes the embodiment of collective hypnosis. As the epitome of countless anonymous passersby, Xiao Wang witnesses the convergence and collision of desires among people of different classes and identities. A parable of self-indulgent greed unfolds...

DIRECTOR: Yixuan Dai

RUNTIME:  5:00

GENRE:  Experimental

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  China

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Student Short Film (China)

SUBMISSION STATUS: After Deadline & Free (Second Tier)

"The Bunny" On the anniversary of his sister’s Easter night disappearance, sixteen-year-old Johnny discovers that the town’s darkest myth may not be a myth at all. When a trail of chocolate eggs leads back to the past, Johnny is drawn into a terrifying sequence with an unthinkable cost. The Bunny is a brutal coming-of-age horror about grief, legacy, and the monsters we keep alive.

DIRECTOR: Isaiah Supadi, Oscar Smith

RUNTIME:  10:00

GENRE:  Horror, Thriller, Mystery

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  Australia 

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Student Short Film (Australia)

SUBMISSION STATUS: After Deadline & Free (Second Tier)

What is the most important life lesson a dad can teach his child? This is that story. "The Path" is Wes's debut in writing and is inspired by actual events in his life. It is a faith-based family drama about a 63-year-old single dad split raising his only child, a teenage daughter. Through a dream he realizes that tomorrows are never promised and that he must ensure his daughter knows "The Path" to Salvation. He takes her on a heartfelt Road Trip full of life lessons, traditions, stories from his Special Operations military past, faith and bonding moments. The trip is cut short just shy of their destination, by his vision of tragedy. He leaves behind a legacy of love, purpose and commitment to Faith and... that endings are also beginnings. The 19-song soundtrack purposely beautifully helps tell the story. 7 of the songs were written by Wes exclusively for this project.

DIRECTOR:  Wes Gillum

RUNTIME:  29:59

GENRE:  Documentary, Dramatization, Other

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Fort Worth, Texas

JUDGING STATUS: Finalist - Short Doc Runner Up (Fort Worth, TX)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

After a violent domestic incident leaves a woman critically injured, a calm and unnerving suspect is brought in for questioning by a relentless detective. As the interrogation unfolds, fractured memories, distorted reflections, and repeating moments suggest the truth is far more unstable than either man realizes. What begins as a search for motive slowly becomes a descent into a shattered reality, where guilt, identity, and survival collide—and nothing is quite what it seems

DIRECTOR:  James Frederick Spake

RUNTIME:  14:27

GENRE:  Thriller, Mystery, Drama

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Norman, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Overall Short Film

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

An illiterate scarecrow enters an economic city, the people have trusted him and elect him as manager, the scarecrow is elected as manager. But the people realize that he is illiterate and because he is illiterate, he has jeopardized the economy, the people take back their votes, but the scarecrow tortures the people with a whip, the people unite, the scarecrow falls.
After the fall of the scarecrow, people together rebuild the industrial city. People use their body parts to build their homeland and their industrial city.

DIRECTOR: Zahra Shafiei Dehaqani

RUNTIME:  3:38

GENRE:  Animation

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  Iran

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Honorable Mention

SUBMISSION STATUS: After Deadline & Free (Second Tier)

Director Statement:

The film was made during a crisis and sanctions against a country whose people were unable to escape oppression; and no one dared to criticize the oppressive government. I hope that i we can build the country (my Iran)with unity and solidarity. As a woman in a country that claims to be a republic, it completely closes its doors to women and hates women. I made this animation to show what totalitarian feudal governments do to people in the form of religion.

While getting ready for a date with the girl of his dreams, Marco is visited by a man in the TV who starts talking to him. And he has a request to make... Hallucination or reality? That’s what Marco will have to figure out in this absurd and slapstick comedy.

DIRECTOR:  Leonardo Valenti

RUNTIME: 28:58

GENRE: Comedy, Fantasy, Retro, VHS

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  Italy

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Short Film (Italy)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

Crushed by stress, temptation, and the weight of his own destructive habits, a man trapped in the endless cycle of work finds himself haunted by a mysterious figure embodying his inner darkness. Pushed to the edge, he is offered a knife with one devastating purpose — to end his life. But in a final act of defiance and self-discovery, he chooses instead to cut the ropes binding him, embracing freedom, hope, and redemption.

DIRECTOR:  Lisandro Boccacci, Jay Boccacci

RUNTIME: 4:49

GENRE: Music Video

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Tulsa, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Music Video (Tulsa, OK)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)

A kind-hearted janitor witnesses dangerous criminal activity at his neighboring apartment building: 305 Fishkill Avenue. The problem is no one believes this address even exists.

DIRECTOR: Ramel Westry

RUNTIME:  15:00

GENRE:  Drama, Phycological 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - New York City, New York

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - GOLDEN STANDARD AWARD

SUBMISSION STATUS: After Deadline & Free (Second Tier)

2nd Chapter to Rio, a cunning drug dealer, gets entangled in a dangerous affair with the wife of a ruthless drug lord, ignited in a deadly game of deception, things take a turn.

DIRECTOR: Ephraim Liggins 

RUNTIME: 34:54

GENRE: Crime, Drama

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  U.S. - Tulsa, Oklahoma

JUDGING STATUS: Winner - Best Short Film (Tulsa, OK)

SUBMISSION STATUS: On Time & Paid (First Tier)