Festival dossier
Los Angeles, United States · Est. 2017 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals
Strong legitimacy signals
Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.
Indie Short Fest is a Los Angeles-based international short film festival known for its monthly competitions and annual awards program. It is notable as a launchpad for acclaimed short films, and it showcases independent shorts from around the world, including diverse voices, emerging talent, and a mix of narrative, documentary, animation, horror, sci-fi, and comedy work. Its significance in the film festival circuit comes from its role in premiering hundreds of films, drawing industry attention, and qualifying monthly award winners for the annual event.
Last updated Oct 1, 2026
No red flags found
Founded
2017
Venue
Regal Cinemas LA Live
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
Avg. rating
4.9/ 5
Reviews
1,229
Synced 4 days ago
Thank you for celebrating independent storytelling. Your festival's support means the world to us!
Thank you to the Indie Short Fest for selecting 'Sky of Tides: Atla. We are honoured and proud to have been part of your amazing festival!
A professional festival that values short scripts and original storytelling.
Grateful to Indie Short Fest for nominating Soul Poetry for Best Animated Short (February). Honored to be part of this wonderful experience.
I'm truly grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this prestigious festival and have my film be selected as semi-finalist for the month of February. Thank you
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Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.
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