Aspen Shortsfest is an Academy Award-qualifying short film festival held each April by Aspen Film, running alongside the organization’s fall Filmfest as one of two major annual events. Launched in 1993 as an extension of Aspen Film’s programming, Shortsfest has evolved into one of North America’s premier short film festivals, twice named “one of the coolest film festivals in the world” by MovieMaker Magazine.
The festival takes place over five days at the Wheeler Opera House and Aspen Isis Theatre, screening international short films across categories including narrative, documentary, comedy, drama, and animation. Shortsfest is known for launching the careers of prominent filmmakers including Damien Chazelle, Sarah Polley, Jason Reitman, and Jean-Marc Vallée. Jury awards carry cash prizes ranging from $1,250 to $2,500.
One of the festival’s signature recognitions is The Ellen award, established in 1999 to honor founder Ellen Kohner Hunt. The award goes to the most original film as selected by a jury of Hunt’s friends and colleagues, reflecting the festival’s commitment to innovative storytelling. The festival operates as a DCP-only event and requires open captions for accessibility.
Shortsfest maintains the community-centered ethos of its parent organization, with extensive filmmaker networking events, panels, and workshops that foster connection between emerging and established artists.
Dates: Early April, annually (April 7–11, 2026) Founded: 1993 Web: aspenfilm.org
