2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest Winners: ‘Retirement Plan,’ ‘Shanti Rides Shotgun’ and ‘Medusa’ Win Top Prizes
The 2025 Palm Springs International Shortfest has revealed this year’s festival juried winners. Honors and cash prizes worth $30,000, including five Academy Award qualifying awards, were presented during the Awards Brunch. The winning films were selected from 311 total submissions.
Award categories include Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes, Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under. The 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest took place June 24-30, 2025.
See the full list of winners below.
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
Award categories include Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes, Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under. The 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest took place June 24-30, 2025.
See the full list of winners below.
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