Palm Springs, CA – June 25, 2023: Full winners for 2023 Palm Springs International ShortFest have been unveiled.
The Palm Springs International ShortFest of 2023 concluded with the announcement of its winners for both the Festival juried awards and audience accolades. Showcasing a selection of 299 short films, the Official Selection attracted filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts from around the world. The festival’s Oscar® Qualifying Awards offered winners the opportunity to submit their short films for consideration at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Best of the Festival Award, sponsored by Harold Matzner, Immediate Past Chairman of the Palm Springs International Film Society, was given to “The Old Young Crow” (Japan/USA), directed by Liam LoPinto. Special mentions were also given to “48 Hours” (Iran), directed by Azadeh Moussavi, and “Away” (Hungary/Belgium/Portugal), directed by Ruslan Fedotow.
The Best Animated Short category was won by “Way Better” (Lithuania), directed by Skirmanta Jakaitė, with special mentions for “Ashkaska” (Spain/Argentina), directed by Lara Maltz, and “Eeva” (Croatia/Estonia), directed by Lucija Mrzljak and Morten Tšinakov. The Audience Award for Best Animated Short went to “Ice Merchants” (Portugal), directed by João Gonzalez.
In the Best Documentary Short category, “Will You Look At Me” (China), directed by Shuli Huang, took the top prize, while “Birdsong” (UK/Laos), directed by Omi Zola Gupta and Sparsh Ahuja, received a special mention. The Audience Award for Best Documentary Short was awarded to “Eco-Hack!” (USA), directed by Josh Izenberg and Brett Marty.
The Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes category was won by “Sèt Lam” (France), directed by Vincent Fontano, with special mentions for Brenda Cullerton in “Endless Sea” (USA), directed by Sam Shainberg, and “The Newt Congress” (Switzerland/Germany), directed by Matthias Sahil and Immanuel Esser. In the Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under category, “Mystic Tiger” (Spain), directed by Marc Martínez, claimed the top prize, and “I Have No Legs, and I Must Run” (China), directed by Yue Li, received a special mention. The Audience Award for Best Live-Action Short was presented to “Death to the Bikini!” (Canada), directed by Justine Gauthier.
The Best Student Animated Short award went to “The Rainbow Dung Beetle” (USA), directed by Ellen Moway and Cole Dupzyk, while the Best Student International Short award was given to “A Dead Marriage” (Poland), directed by Michel Toczek. “Between Her” (Israel), directed by Bar Cohen, received a special mention in the student category. The Audience Award for Best Student Short was awarded to “Ricky” (USA), directed by Rashad Frett.
Other awards included Best Student U.S. Short, won by “SULAM (Ladder)” (USA), directed by Noam Argov, and Best Student Documentary Short, won by “Kaamoksen Valossa” (Finland), directed by Niko Väistö. Special mentions were given to “Invasive Species” (USA), directed by Annie Ning, and “Still Waters” (USA), directed by Aurora Brachman, in their respective categories.
Special Jury Awards were presented to films like “Soleil de nuit” (Canada), directed by Fernando López Escriva and Maria Camila Arias, “Infantry” (Brazil), directed by Laís Santos Araújo, and “Nocturnal Burger” (India/USA), directed by Reema Maya.
Other categories included Best U.S. Short, won by “Closing Dynasty” (USA), directed by Lloyd Lee Choi, and Best Comedy Short, won by “Flail” (USA), directed by Ben Gauthier. The Best LGBT+ Short award was shared by “Blond Night” (Canada), directed by Gabrielle Demers, and “Burial of Life as a Young Girl” (France), directed by Maïté Sonnet.
The Best Midnight Short award was given to “Nian” (USA), directed by Michelle Krusiec, with special mentions for “Animal Transport” (Argentina), directed by Iván Bustinduy, and “Meantime” (France), directed by Guillaume Scaillet. The Mozaik Bridging the Borders Award went to “Fata Morgana” (Germany/Syria), directed by Daood Alabdulaa, with special mentions for “Border Conversations” (Germany), directed by Jonathan Brunner, “I See Them Bloom” (Spain), directed by Nikita Gibalenko, and “The Kidnapping of the Bride” (Germany), directed by Sophia Mocorrea.
The Local Jury Award recognized “Under G-d” (USA), directed by Paula Eiselt, while the Young Cineastes Award went to “We Were Meant To” (USA), directed by Tari Wariebi. The Kids’ Choice Award winners in the Kids’ Short category were “Canary” (Canada), directed by Pierre-Hugues Dallaire and Benoit Therriault, and “Mushka” (USA), directed by Andreas Deja.
The Palm Springs International ShortFest of 2023 showcased exceptional talent and creativity, solidifying its reputation as a prestigious platform for short filmmaking. The winners now have the opportunity to be considered for the Academy Awards, contributing to the recognition of short films as a powerful art form.
