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The 2025 Indy Shorts International Film Festival (Indy Shorts) presented by F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. concluded last Sunday, July 27, with a record number of attendees, World Premieres (42), filmmakers in attendance (300) and short film programs (39).
The eighth edition of the festival embraced a construction theme by inviting attendees to dig into 253 groundbreaking short films from July 22 to 27 at Living Room Theaters and Newfields.
All of the award-winning films are available to stream here in three virtual programs through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2.
Last Saturday, July 26, the Indy Shorts International Film Festival awarded $35,000 in cash prizes at the Awards Presentation, and today the Audience Choice Award Winner were announced. Academy Award-Nominated filmmaker Sam Davis won both the Oscar-Qualifying Narrative Grand Prize and Narrative Audience Choice Awards for The Singers. The Last Observers by Maja K Mikkelsen was named the Academy Award-Qualifying Documentary Grand Prize winner, and Éiru by Giovanna Ferrari received the Academy Award-Qualifying Animated Grand Prize.
In addition to The Singers, films winning two awards include Lee Knight’s A Friend of Dorothy (Directorial Debut and Overall Audience Choice Award), Aaron Johnson’s The 17% (Lens of Hope Award and Documentary Audience Choice Award) and Eric Wolfinger’s Lisa Dahl: Blessed by Grace (Hoodox Indiana Spotlight Award and Indiana Spotlight Audience Choice Award).
“Indy Shorts is thrilled to unveil the 2025 class of award winners,” Artistic Director Greg Sorvig said. “Juries and audiences were both won over by dual awards for The Singers, A Friend of Dorothy, The 17%, and Lisa Dahl: Blessed by Grace! This was the most electric year yet for Indy Shorts, and we are honored that a record number of filmmakers were here to experience our Hoosier hospitality and camaraderie. It’s truly an honor to be a cheerleader for the art of short film and the filmmaking teams behind this year’s class of 253 titles; we truly appreciate you all!”
Click here for the complete list of award winners, including the winners of the Audience Choice Award.
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The 34th Heartland International Film Festival presented by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, is scheduled for Oct. 9 to 19. Screenings will take place at theaters around the Indianapolis area and virtually. The film schedule and tickets will be available on Sept. 18. More details on the Heartland International Film Festival and other Heartland Film programs can be found at HeartlandFilm.org.