Palm Springs International ShortFest 2025: Complete list of winners and more explored

On Sunday, June 29, 2025, The Palm Springs International ShortFest 2025 just announced this year's winners.

The Palm Springs International ShortFest, which is produced by The Film Society and happens every June, their a host of winners for this year. John Kelly's “Retirement Plan” won the Best of the Festival Award accolade, while “Dragfox,” directed by Lisa Ott, won the award for Best Student Animated Short.

The fest, which celebrates talent from all across the world, took place from June 24-30 at the Festival Theatres in Palm Springs. Being the largest short film festival and market in North America, it includes honors and cash prizes worth $30,000, including five Academy Award qualifying awards, which were presented at the Awards Brunch. This year, there were a total of 311 submissions, out of which the winners were selected.

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Winners of Palm Springs International ShortFest 2025

This year's Palm Springs International ShortFest categories included Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes, Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under, and more.

Here is a full list of the winners of the Palm Springs International ShortFest.

Best of the Festival Award

“Retirement Plan,” directed by John Kelly

Best Animated Short

“Budō” (Sweden), directed by Amanda Aagard and Alexander Toma

Best Documentary Short

Shanti Rides Shotgun (USA), directed by Charles Frank

Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes

Susana (Mexico/USA), directed by Amandine Thomas and Gerardo Coello Escalante

Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under

Medusa (USA), directed by Sarah Meyohas

Best Student Animated Short

Dragfox (United Kingdom), directed by Lisa Ott

Best Student International Short

Cura Sana (Spain), directed by Lucía G. Romero

Best Student U.S. Short

• Nervous Energy (USA), directed by Eve Liu
• Breastmilk (USA/Nigeria), directed by Ifeyinwa Arinze

Best Student Documentary Short

You Can’t See It from Here (USA/Colombia), directed by Enrique Pedráza-Botero

Vimeo Staff Pick Award

You Know You Wanna Stay (USA), directed by Alex Heller

Best International Short

• Beyond Silence (The Netherlands), directed by Marnie Blok
• Kuchar (The Itch) (India), directed by Vaidaangi Sharma

Best U.S. Short

• Szypliszki (USA), directed by Jordan Axelrod
• Ragamuffin (USA), directed by Kaitlyn Mikayla

Best Comedy Short

• How Was Your Weekend (USA), directed by Cam Banfield
• Your Own Flavor (USA), directed by Alisha Ketry

Best LGBTQ+ Short

• Chico (France/Belgium), directed by Théo Abadie
• Hold Me Close (USA), directed by Aurora Brachman and LaTajh Simmons-Weaver

Best Midnight Short

Mango (United Kingdom/France), directed by Joan Iyiola

Desert Views Local Jury Award

“Big Bass” (USA), directed by Drew Dickler

Young Cineastes Award

“Énouement” (USA), directed by Angel Lu

Kids’ Choice Award

Wednesdays with Gramps (USA), directed by Chris Copeland and Justin Copeland

Retirement Plan” received a cash prize of $5000 at Palm Springs International ShortFest, while the five Oscar-qualifying awards, which were Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Live-Action Short, as well as student shorts, are eligible to submit their shorts for Academy Award consideration.