The Shorts Race
Tracking the road from qualifying festivals to the Oscar stage
Get weekly updates on the shorts race
Upcoming & Live Festivals
Academy-qualifying festivals for the 99th Oscars short film race. Dates based on published schedules; 99th rules not yet confirmed.
Festival de Cannes
UpcomingSubmission deadline passed Mar 9, 2026. Qualifying award: Palme d'Or — Best Short Film.
View details →Krakow Film Festival
Upcoming66th edition. Golden/Silver Dragon awards qualify across all three short categories. Online via KFF VOD Jun 5–19.
View details →Tribeca Festival
UpcomingExtended short-film submission deadline was Feb 13, 2026 (closed). Three qualifying awards.
View details →Premier animation festival. Cristal for Best Short Film + Jury Award qualify for Animated Short Oscar. Official 2026 selections already announced.
View details →Grand Prix + Best Croatian Film qualify for Animated Short. Same dates as Annecy this year.
View details →Sheffield DocFest
Upcoming33rd edition — "Realities in Motion". Short Doc Award qualifies for Documentary Short.
View details →Raindance Film Festival
Upcoming34th edition. Qualifying awards in Animated Short, Documentary Short, and Short of the Festival.
View details →Palm Springs International ShortFest
UpcomingOne of the largest short film festivals in North America. Five qualifying award categories.
View details →SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival
UpcomingAcademy-recognized since 1999. Best in Show qualifies for Animated Short.
View details →LA Shorts International Film Festival
Submissions OpenOldest Academy-accredited short film festival in the U.S. Best of Fest + Best International qualify across all three categories. Dates approximate.
View details →Locarno Film Festival
Upcoming79th edition. Pardi di Domani — Pardino d'Oro Swiss Life + Pardino d'Oro SRG SSR qualify.
View details →HollyShorts Film Festival
UpcomingFour qualifying award categories across all three Oscar short categories.
View details →Student Academy Awards 2026
UpcomingSAA medals are a direct qualifying route for all three short categories. Animation/Alt-Experimental qualifies for Animated Short; Documentary/Alt-Experimental for Documentary Short; Narrative/Alt-Experimental for Live Action.
View details →Venice International Film Festival
Submissions OpenQualifying award: Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film. Regular deadline Apr 29, late deadline May 28.
View details →Toronto International Film Festival
UpcomingTwo qualifying awards: Best International Short Film and Best Canadian Short Film.
View details →Encounters Film Festival
Submissions OpenUK's leading short film festival. Qualifying for all three short categories.
View details →Ottawa International Animation Festival
Submissions Open50th edition. Grand Prize for Best Short Animated Film qualifies for Animated Short Oscar.
View details →Nashville Film Festival
Submissions Open57th edition. Best Narrative / Documentary / Animated Short all qualify.
View details →Chicago International Film Festival
Upcoming62nd edition. Gold Hugo awards qualify in all three short categories.
View details →AFI Fest
Submissions Open40th edition at TCL Chinese Theatres. Grand Jury Prize qualifies for all three short categories.
View details →DOC NYC
UpcomingLargest doc festival in the U.S. Shorts Grand Jury Prize qualifies for Documentary Short. Dates approximate — typically mid-November.
View details →Best Short Documentary qualifies. Dates approximate — typically late November.
View details →Completed Festivals
Sundance Film Festival
CompletedLast Park City edition before 2027 move to Boulder. Short Film Grand Jury Prize + four Short Film Jury Awards qualify.
View details →World's largest short film festival. 48th edition. International and National Grand Prix qualify.
View details →Berlin International Film Festival
Completed76th Berlinale. Golden Bear for Best Short Film qualifies (live action or animated per film form).
View details →Slamdance Film Festival
CompletedNow based in LA (relocated from Park City in 2025). Grand Jury Awards qualify in Narrative, Documentary, and Animated Short categories.
View details →SXSW Film & TV Festival
Completed33rd edition. Narrative, Documentary, and Animated Short Competition Jury Awards all qualify.
View details →Aspen Shortsfest
CompletedOn the Academy qualifying-festival list. Multiple qualifying award categories.
View lineup (61 films) →Atlanta Film Festival
Completed50th anniversary edition. Qualifying in Narrative, Documentary, and Animated Short. Online extension May 4–11.
View details →69th edition. Golden Gate Awards qualify in all three short categories. Returns to the restored Castro Theatre.
View details →Largest doc festival in North America. Best International Short Documentary and Best Canadian Short Documentary qualify. Dates approximate — confirm on official site.
View details →Grand Prix International Competition qualifies for Animated Short.
View details →How Short Films Qualify
A short film must clear several gates to reach the Oscar stage. Here are the key requirements under the current rules.
Category
40 minutes or less including credits. Animated shorts must be at least 75% animated. An animated documentary can enter Animated or Documentary, but not both.
Qualification
Win a qualifying award at an Academy-listed festival, complete a 7-day paid theatrical run in one of six U.S. metro areas, or earn a Student Academy Award medal.
Release
If qualifying theatrically, no prior public non-theatrical release (TV, streaming, VOD). Festival-award qualifiers are exempt from this restriction.
Submission
Upload to the Academy Screening Room with English captions, credits, and proof of qualification. The submitted version must be identical to the qualifying version.
The Funnel
In the 98th cycle: 113 animated, 117 documentary, and 207 live-action shorts qualified — then cut to 15 shortlisted, then 5 nominees per category.