Austin Shortsfest

Independent Short Film Festival in Austin, Texas

Austin Shortsfest is an independent short film festival based in Austin, Texas.
The festival is focused entirely on short films and is built around live screenings, real audiences, and a filmmaker-first experience.

Austin Shortsfest programs short films across genres and styles, with an emphasis on strong storytelling, originality, and films that work in a shared theater experience. The goal is simple: screen shorts in an environment where filmmakers and audiences actually show up and engage with the work.

This is not an online-only festival. Films screen publicly, and the event is designed to feel intentional rather than overwhelming.

What Austin Shortsfest Looks For

Austin Shortsfest accepts short films of all genres, including narrative, comedy, drama, horror, documentary, animation, and experimental work.

Programming favors films that:

Tell a complete story in a short runtime
Take creative risks without losing clarity
Connect with an audience in a live setting

Premiere status is not required.

The Experience

Austin Shortsfest is built to be approachable and filmmaker-friendly.

Filmmakers attend screenings, meet other filmmakers, and watch their work with an audience. The schedule is curated so films are not buried, and the event maintains a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere.

Submissions

All films are submitted through FilmFreeway.

Austin Shortsfest