Portland Shorts is a place where films of all genres intersect. At the heart of the One-day festival is the quality and scope of an extraordinary film program, consisting of a wide range of categories from high-budget to low-budget films with a duration of less than 45 minutes.
Portland Shorts is a non-profit organization that showcases the best short films from filmmakers around the world. After the festival, we strive to organize film markets to attract sponsors and distributors for projects, creating opportunities for the career development of participants.
The Portland Shorts International Film Festival is the largest short film festival in the state of Oregon and a springboard for the careers of filmmakers.
We believe that short films and their creators should have their own premier film festival in Portland, deserving of the same recognition as feature films.
Deadlines
Submission opening:
September 8
Submission closing:
March 20
Announcement of selected films:
March 30
Festival:
April
Festival duration: The festival will take place over one- day to provide enough
time for the screening of all short films.
Categories & AWARD & PRIZES
Best International Short Film
Best National Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Experimental Short Film
Best Student Short Film
*If any award category does not meet the standard deemed award-worthy by the
judges, it’s possible there will be no award given in that category.
Award Winners
GREEN EYES
Directed by
Joe RamosCategories
Best Romantic ShortOverwiev
An exploration of the "what ifs" of an ending relationship.
Stripped
Directed by
Ryland JonesCategories
Best National Short Film;Best Cinematography;
Best Producer
Overwiev
An emotionally-distant son returns home one more time to aid his ailing
father, whose memory is fading with each passing day.
ba•la
Directed by
Arti IshakCategories
Best Actor;Best Original Score;
Best Editing
Overwiev
A competitive swimmer must overcome his PTSD and learn how to swim again
before the upcoming team trials.
Us, Janus
Directed by
Ivy WatsonCategories
Best Women ShortOverwiev
The past can hold you back. The future can lead you astray. It is okay to
trust yourself and stay present. Being lost in the woods is the perfect place
for a young woman to learn that.
The King's Sacrifice
Directed by
Raphaël Houde Belle-IsleCategories
Best International Short Film;Best First Time Director
Overwiev
Abraham, 26 years old, is a chess champion about to participate in the most
important tournament of his career. Highly disciplined and logical, he leads
his life with almost military rigor to maximize his performance. However,
since the beginning of his training for the tournament, mysterious flashes
have started to emerge in his consciousness, urging him to go against his
well-established rationality.
A Twins' Seance
Directed by
Mario SibajaCategories
Best suspense/mystery Short;Best Horror Short
Overwiev
A Twins' Seance is the debut short film of Costa Rican filmmaker and
film-scorer, Mario Sibaja. The story takes place in Madrid, Spain during
current times and it's about two twin brothers, Alberto and José in their
journey to get answers from their dead mother.
IDOL
Directed by
Kris FleerackersCategories
Best Experimental Short FilmOverwiev
Disenchanted with the women around him, a man creates an idol of the perfect
female and falls in love with it. This live-action puppet short film uses the
classical Pygmalion story to explore contemporary issues such as
objectification, media culture, social withdrawal and hikikomori syndrome.
BAGS
Directed by
Mitch RayCategories
Best Comedy Short;Best Horror Short
Overwiev
Jamie Gascoigne's daily routine is disrupted one morning by his roommate Korey
in their living room, still up from the night before with his musician friend
Brody. Despite his displeasure with this development, his passive aggressive
nature prevents him from confronting the issue in any meaningful way. What
starts as a minor annoyance descends into a nightmarish daily reality as the
events around him trigger things within him that he's tried to repress and
unlock things within him that he never realized were there in the first place.
The Master of Sento
Directed by
Yusuke IshideCategories
Best ActressOverwiev
Shitamachi (traditional commercial district) Tokyo. Asakusa, Taito-ku. At an
old public bath, there is an old fashioned, stubborn master who doesn't speak
much and his beautiful wife. The couple runs the business well, but the wife
leaves home due to the husband's bad drinking habit. Instead of learning from
his wife's leaving, his drinking habit gets worse. Losing patience, his nosy
neighbors visit him and persuade him into getting back together with his
wife... Set in the public bath "Arimayu", which was built in 1930 and is still
open, the story depicts the relationship of a married couple and humanity.
Out There
Directed by
Laila IravaniCategories
Best Thriller ShortOverwiev
A senior in college, Claire Parker heads to her childhood home during winter
break while her mother is away. Having not been alone in the house for over
ten years due to bouts of severe anxiety (onset by a past traumatic
experience). Claire returns at the urging of her professor to continue writing
her thesis.
Yet something is off. Her hometown feels unfamiliar, there is an air about the town that feels unsafe, predatory. Throughout her stay she spirals into a deeply anxious state feeling as though she’s being taunted by a faceless figure of a man or multiple men.
Dreamy and haunting soundscapes by Grammy-nominated producer Shepard, bring to life the fear and helplessness of "Out There" lead Claire, portrayed by Jessica Sula (Split, Godless, Malum), as she sticks out a nightmarish week at her mother's home.
Yet something is off. Her hometown feels unfamiliar, there is an air about the town that feels unsafe, predatory. Throughout her stay she spirals into a deeply anxious state feeling as though she’s being taunted by a faceless figure of a man or multiple men.
Dreamy and haunting soundscapes by Grammy-nominated producer Shepard, bring to life the fear and helplessness of "Out There" lead Claire, portrayed by Jessica Sula (Split, Godless, Malum), as she sticks out a nightmarish week at her mother's home.
Mosaics: Seeds of Change
Directed by
Harry PoundCategories
Best Documentary Short FilmOverwiev
Retired Lutheran pastor Luisa Cabello Hansel creates large mosaic artwork to
build community, inspire peace, justice, and hope in her Minneapolis
neighborhood.
Into Temptation
Directed by
Quinn da MattaCategories
Best Director;Best Drama Short;
Best Production Design
Overwiev
Twenty years after being abused by his priest, a fateful reunion reverses
roles and reveals love can be just as twisted and destructive as abuse.
RULES
• Submitted films must have been produced during the two years preceding the
festival date (not before September 2021).
• Films can be submitted from any country.
• Length of submitted films should not exceed 45 minutes, including opening and
closing credits.
• By submitting a film for festival consideration, the submitter represents that
they have obtained consent from any and all owners, creators, writers, producers,
and/or other authorized representatives of the film whose consent is required to
submit the film to the festival and screen the film at the festival.
• By submitting your film to the festival, you give permission to Portland Shorts to
freely use clips from the film for promotional purposes (including trailer,
brochures, and flyers).
• All entries in original languages other than English, or containing extracts that
are not in English, must be subtitled in English.
• All selected films must be available to screen in HD or DCP Format.
• All applicants must fill in the submission form clearly. Portland Shorts is not
responsible for incorrect wording in publications or awards if it is the result of
inaccurate information in the submission form.
• Only complete submissions (including film and all film material) will be processed
via FilmFreeway. It is the applicant’s responsibility to complete their submission
by the deadlines outlined (see below).
• It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to clear all content of the project
from any and all actual or potential legal claims and issues, including, without
limitation, claims based upon theories of libel, defamation, invasion of privacy,
violation of rights of publicity, theft of trade secrets, breach of confidence,
breach of confidential relationship, and breach of express or implied contract
(“Third Party Claim(s)”).
• It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the contact
information provided on the submission form is correct throughout the entirety of
the festival selection period. The festival is not responsible for any failed
attempts to contact applicants using the contact information provided.
• The festival will notify all applicants who have been selected to participate in
the festival by September 5 at the latest. All applicants who are not selected to
participate in the festival will be contacted by email by September 5 at the latest.
• The applicant and film owners hereby warrant and represent that:
◦ The film is wholly original and is not copied from and does not include any other
work that is the subject of copyright or other protection, unless such work is in
the public domain or the submitting parties have obtained any and all consents,
releases, licenses, and other authorizations or waivers of any kind necessary for
the inclusion or reproduction of any person, character, location, thing, trade-mark,
sound recording, musical composition, or other work in the film.
◦ The film does not defame any person or violate the common law or statutory rights,
including, without limitation, the rights of privacy and publicity or any other
right of any person.
◦ The film is not the subject of litigation, or any dispute, which would give rise
to litigation.
◦ There are no agreements, nor will there be any agreements made subsequent to the
date of this film submission, that would or could have the effect of impairing the
submitting parties’ ability to provide the film as contemplated herein, or otherwise
conflict with any provision of these terms.
◦ The submitting parties have the full right, power, and authority to submit the
film to Portland Shorts for festival consideration and to grant all of the rights
granted hereunder and in the FilmFreeway registration form, and there is no
obligation or disability which would in any way impair, restrict, or impede the
submitting parties from fully performing all obligations pursuant to the submission
and these terms.
The Portland Shorts International Film Festival reserves the right to change the
date, time, or location of the festival at its sole discretion. In such cases,
participants will be notified of any changes in a timely manner. In the event of
unforeseen circumstances, such as natural disasters, public health emergencies, or
other force majeure events, the festival may be postponed or rescheduled.
Participants will be informed of any changes as soon as possible.
The festival organizers are committed to ensuring the best possible experience for
all participants. If any changes to the date, time, or location of the festival are
necessary, the organizers will work diligently to minimize any inconvenience to
participants and provide adequate notice of any alterations.
CONTACTS
The Portland Shorts International Film Festival will take place on April, 2024
At the Clinton Street Theater, 2522 Southeast Clinton Street, Portland, Oregon
97202, United States.