7th Annual Independent Shorts Awards – Awards Show
Regal LA Live, September 6, 2025
Honoring excellence in independent short filmmaking, Independent Shorts Awards celebrated 28 outstanding films, selected from 3,249 submissions across 65 countries received between June 2024 and June 2025.
The winning works span an impressive range of voices and visions — from urgent social dramas and daring experimental pieces to inventive animation and intimate documentary portraits. Each film was chosen for its originality, craft, and ability to capture the spirit of independent cinema on a global scale.
Best Original Story
Madeline O’Leary for Flirtologist (USA)
Best Documentary Short
Belly Button – Mezcal by Dan Goldberg (USA)
Cinematographer Simon Reinert and director Dan Goldberg
Best Editing
Igor Yevdokymov for Aria (USA)
Director Hugo Will on behalf of Igor Yevdokymov
Best Thriller Short
Glasshouses by Lawrence Whelan (UK)
Best Mystery Short
Down by Ben Rogers (UK)
Best Young Actor
Camden Welker for Henry and the Horrible Thing (USA)
Best Young Actress
Maeve Tuma for Flirtologist (USA)
Best Original Score
Marcos Cruz Lloréns for Àsaka (Spain)
Best Romantic Short
Àsaka by Edduardo Viera (Spain)
Executive co-producer Juan Manuel Mármol and director Edduardo Viera
Best First Time Male Director
Edduardo Viera for Àsaka (Spain)
Best First Time Female Director
Jamie Savarese for There’s Something I Have to Tell You (USA)
Best Comedy Short
Dadda by Aimee Hoffman (USA)
Editor Qiaoran Ma on behalf of Aimee Hoffman
Best Dark Comedy Short
Rat King by Andrea Mae Perez (UK)
Best Action Short
Aria by Hugo Will (USA)
Best Crime Short
For: LiLa by Kaitron Bryant and Malik Myers (USA)
Co-director Kaitron Bryant along with cast and crew members, including lead actors Edoardo Miranda and Manu Marquez
Best Sci-Fi Short
Wizdom by Layne Marie Williams (USA)
Director Layne Marie Williams and co-writer and lead actress Ashton Swinford
Best Experimental Short
Out of the Fire by Maximilian Curnow (UK)
Best Animation Short
Clay Bird by Kiran Bhakta Joshi (Nepal)
Dunya Djordjevic on behalf of Kiran Bhakta Joshi
Best Children Short
Little Bunny Poop by Roméo Abolin (France)
Best Student Short and Best Student Male Director
Generation Well by Jack Serra (USA)
Best Student Female Director
Roqiye Tavakoli for Sorry, She Can’t Help Herself (USA)
Actors Neda Asadi and Mada Davi on behalf of Roqiye Tavakoli
Best Microfilm
Snip by Rowan Faris (USA)
Best Women Short
Hemorrhage by Ella Lentini (USA)
Director Ella Lentini with lead actress Megan Davis
Best Acting Duo
Adam Irigoyen and Megan Davis for Hemorrhage (USA)
Megan Davis on behalf of both
Best LGBTQ Short
Not Another Coming Out Story by Rufus Shaljean (UK)
Best Male Director
Teo Frank for What’s Wrong, Emma (France)
Producer Karolyne Sosa on behalf of Teo Frank
Best Female Director
Phynley Joel for Henry and the Horrible Thing (USA)
Best Supporting Actress
Catherine Badet for Mothers (France)
Best Supporting Actor
Michael Paré for Steady (USA)
Best Actress
Michelle Calloway for Tallulah Park (USA)
Best Actor
Tate Donovan for Steady (USA)
Co-directors Joey Rogoff and Brian Yuran on behalf of Tate Donovan
Best Ensemble Cast
Tate Donovan, Michael Paré, Zane Austin, and Emma Beubis for Steady (USA)
Michael Paré and co-directors Joey Rogoff and Brian Yuran on behalf of the cast
Best Drama Short
Evasion 1944 by Saaid Hasbi (France)
Best Indie Short
Steady by Joey Rogoff and Brian Yuran (USA)
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