Sundance Film Festival
Park City, United States
100
Tier AOscarScreenings
Festival dossier
Play Short - International Film Awards
United States · Est. 2019 · Multiple structural red flags — exercise caution before submitting
WarningWatchlist
United States
26
Legitimacy ScoreShould I submit?
Pause before you pay
Warning-tier means structural red flags in our data — not a confirmed scam, but submit only with eyes open.
- Name follows 'award mill' pattern (ends in 'Awards')
- No physical screenings
- 1 documented risk signal
Overview
Play Short - International Film Awards is a U.S.-based international awards event dedicated to short filmmaking, with IMDb-listed winners and a submission profile that spans drama, comedy, horror, documentary, experimental, animation, student, mobile, dance, and music video work. It is notable for aiming to discover and recognize emerging filmmakers from around the world, offering public recognition for awards and craft categories rather than functioning as a large public exhibition festival. Its significance in the short-film circuit comes from its broad genre range, international reach, and emphasis on elevating new talent through award recognition.
Last updated Aug 27, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+12 pts)
- 7 years of verifiable history
- 1 verified pro signal
Red Flags (-36 pts)
- Name follows 'award mill' pattern (ends in 'Awards')
- No physical screenings
- 1 documented risk signal
- On watchlist — negative reputation signals detected
Trust Signals
Risk Flags
- AWARD_MILL_NAME
Positive Signals
- FilmFreeway Gold festival
Festival Details
Founded
2019
FilmFreeway communityGold festival
Avg. rating
3.9/ 5
Reviews
17
Synced 19 days ago
Rating synced from FilmFreeway; individual review text not pulled yet for this festival.
View on FilmFreewayFilmFreeway reviews are filmmaker opinions, not our score. Cross-check red flags before paying fees.
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Research
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At a glance
How scoring works
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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