7th Annual Independent Shorts Awards
1000 W Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Saturday, September 6, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
70 Films · 19 Countries · 3 Auditoriums · 11 Screening Blocks
Spotlight Q&A: David Alan Graf, Madison Wolfe, Michael Paré, Raphaël Buisson, and Tate Donovan
Cocktail Reception · Red Carpet Photo Call & Interviews · Awards Show
48 Los Angeles Premieres · 700+ Attendees Expected
Below are the screening blocks and times for each film. Click on the galleries to learn more. If you are looking for the time of a specific film, please see All Films (A–Z)
Cinema #9
Cocktail Reception and Red Carpet Photo Call, 6:00 PM
Mezzanine
Awards Show, 7:00 PM
Cinema #8
CINEMA #8
Program 1: Dark Realms 11:00 AM – 12:50 AM Haunting tales of horror and shadowed dramas that confront fear and fate.
You Got Me – A Place to Bury Strangers by Christopher Brown (Germany) – Los Angeles premiere
Crop Duster by Leonid Okhitin (Armenia) – Los Angeles premiere
Down by Ben Rogers (UK) – World premiere
Look Away by Andrew Whyment (UK)
Did You Remember The Cat? by Daniel Foster (USA)
The Crone by Catherine Kasima Kanda (Poland) – Los Angeles premiere
Program 2: The Funny Side 12:55 PM – 2:20 PM Lighthearted shorts delivering wit, humor, and comic relief.
SwordPlay by Noah Sutton and Matty Wint (USA) – World premiere
Dadda by Aimee Hoffman (USA)
Strays by Or Schraiber (USA) – Los Angeles premiere
In Jeff We Trust by Blake Jarvis (USA)
Sticky Note by Sam Orchard (Australia) – North America premiere
Rat King by Andrea Mae Perez (UK) – North America premiere
Program 3: Hearts & Journeys 2:25 PM – 4:05 PM Stories of love, longing, and unexpected human connections.
Did My Heart Love Till Now by Veronica Tullo (USA)
Single Buffalo by Laura Anastasia Jones (USA)
Antidote Lipstick by Chase Montgomery Fein (USA) – World premiere
Not Another Coming Out Story by Rufus Shaljean (UK) – World premiere
Àsaka by Edduardo Viera (Spain) – USA premiere
Little Bunny Poop by Roméo Abolin (France) – World premiere
Program 4: Her Stories 4:10 PM – 6:00 PM Bold narratives by and about women, exploring strength and perspective.
Pandaal by Shaily Sanghvi (USA)
Clinical Case by Ksenia Ishoot (Russia) – World premiere
What’s Wrong, Emma by Teo Frank (France)
There’s Something I Have to Tell You by Jamie Savarese (USA) – California premiere
Hemorrhage by Ella Lentini (USA) – USA premiere
Land of Forgotten Echoes by Layne Marie Williams (USA) – California premiere
CINEMA #9
Program 5: Realities & Visions 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Documentaries and experimental works that reflect and reimagine our world.
Mzia Leaves the Room by Madeline Leary (USA)
Belly Button – Mezcal by Dan Goldberg (USA) – World premiere
Tides of Change by Justin Wheelon (USA) – Los Angeles premiere
Polemos by Evgen Brooks (Ukraine)
Tennis, Oranges by Sean Pecknold (USA)
Popcorn by Fangjian Li (USA) – Los Angeles premiere
How Long Until Now? by Sonya Akulshina (Finland) – California premiere
Fuel by Marc Cleary (USA)
Out of the Fire by Maximilian Curnow (UK) – World premiere
Program 6: Young Visions 12:35 PM – 2:10 PM Animated and live-action shorts centered on childhood, adolescence, and imagination.
Clay Bird by Kiran Bhakta Joshi (Nepal)
Just Imagine by Karolis Kveselis (Lithuania)
Snip by Rowan Faris (USA) – Los Angeles premiere
Delphinium by Melissa Puente and Patience Ray (Canada) – California premiere
Egg Soldier by Guymon Cheung (UK) – World premiere
Henry and the Horrible Thing by Phynley Joel (USA) – World premiere
Flirtologist by Madeline O’Leary (USA)
Program 7. Beyond Reality 2:15 PM – 3:50 PM Sci-fi and fantastical journeys that transport us to other worlds.
Earth by Yura Katynsky (Ukraine)
Exchange by Monty Chaudoir (UK) – California premiere
Paradox by Wonki Choi (South Korea)
Obolus by Kim Fabienne Hertinger (Germany) – California premiere
Mint Condition by So Man Tsoi (Hong Kong)
Wizdom by Layne Marie Williams (USA) – California premiere
Focal Point by Raphael Buisson (USA) – World premiere
Program 8: Adrenaline Rush 3:55 PM – 6:00 PM High-stakes thrillers and action-packed stories of survival and tension.
The Hard R by Adad Warda (USA) – World premiere
Dilemma by Matthew Samuels (USA) – California premiere
Glasshouses by Lawrence Whelan (UK) – World premiere
Mirage by Shuyue Zhang (China) – World premiere
Evasion 1944 by Saaid Hasbi (France) – North America premiere
Aria by Hugo Will (USA) – World premiere
CINEMA #10
Program 9: Indie Visions 11:00 AM – 12:40 PM Independent voices with fresh perspectives and daring storytelling.
Country Couture by Dustin J Robison (USA)
One Night in Brooklyn by CJ Taglione (USA) – Los Angeles premiere
Put To Sleep by Eric C. Yang (USA) – North America premiere
You Can Never Go Home by Jordan Qin (USA) – California premiere
The Missing Image by Maxime Pargaud (France) – North America premiere
M/Other by Andy Twyman (UK) – World premiere
Program 10: Women Rising 12:45 PM – 2:15 PM Empowering stories centering women’s voices, resilience, and creativity.
Sorry, She Can’t Help Herself by Roqiye Tavakoli (USA)
The Rain Lady by Lyla Mzayek (USA)
Generation Well by Jack Serra (USA)
Tallulah Park by David Guillermo Borges (USA)
Argie Berman by Fon Davis (USA)
Acorn, Iowa by Madison Wolfe (USA) – World premiere
Program 11: Human Stories 2:20 PM – 4:30 PM Dramas that reveal intimate struggles, forgiveness, and transformation.
The Pursuit Of Forgiveness by Thomas McQuillan (Ireland) – World premiere
Mothers by Choukri Rouha (France) – USA premiere
Siasar by Mahmood Sharifi Asl (Afghanistan) – Los Angeles premiere
For: LiLa by Kaitron Bryant and Malik Myers (USA) – California premiere
Steady by Joey Rogoff and Brian Yuran (USA)
Program 12: Spotlight Q&A 4:45 PM – 6:00 PM A live conversation with our star guests about their films, performances, and the creative process.
Guest speakers
Moderators: Logan Xavier and Kayden Tokarski
Attendee Information
Type of Tickets
VIP Pass: access badge for all screening blocks and Q&A in the 3 auditoriums, plus wristband for cocktail reception, red carpet photo call and awards show (11:00 AM – 9:00 PM)
Plus Pass: access badge for all screening blocks and Q&A in the 3 auditoriums (11:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
Cocktail Party & Awards Show Ticket: wristband for both events, including red carpet photocall (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Screening Blocks Ticket: wristband for the respective screening block in the designate auditorium and time.
Screening Blocks: Cinemas #8, #9 and #10, Level 2, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Q&A Session: Cinema #10, Level 2, 4:45 PM – 6:00 PM
Cocktail Party and Red Carpet Photocall: Mezzanine, Level M, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (complimentary drinks & snacks)
Awards Show: Cinema #8, Level 2, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Check-in Point: Main Lobby
Venue general info (eat & stay): https://www.lalive.com
Access badges: all electronic passes and tickets have to be verified at the checkpoint area on the event date. All attendees will be granted the festival badges and wristbands to access auditoriums and/or mezzanine. There will not be tickets or passes on sale in the venue.
Dress code: Business Casual
Arrival on Regal LA Live: All attendees should arrive with PHOTO I.D. at the main lobby for check-in.
Please be sure to arrive at least half an hour prior to the screening block you will watch and/or the cocktail party, because the check-in point can be busy.
Parking: https://www.lalive.com/visitor-center/parking – Recommended West Garage (Lot W) Gates E and F *** No parking validation ***
*** Complimentary drinks grab during cocktail party: ID check for every drink ***
*** Viewer discretion is advised: there are some PG films as well as some which contains material that may not be suitable for all audiences***
*** Independent Shorts Awards is a family friendly film festival. Children are welcome, but please follow the Regal policies below ***
Regal Policies & Notice
For the safety and comfort of all guests, backpacks, packages and bags of any kind may be subject to inspection. Additionally, while costumes are welcome, Regal does not allow admission to guests wearing masks, face paint or face-obscuring hoods, or possessing weapons, props or fake weapons.
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