Academy Award®-qualifying Indy Shorts announces 2026 Festival lineup

Heartland Film has announced the lineup for the ninth annual Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts Film Festival (Indy Shorts) presented by TQL Wealth Management, running July 21 to 26.

Indy Shorts will showcase 266 short films with screenings at the Indy Art Center, Living Room Theaters and Newfields. Many of the short films will also be available to stream. You can see the full list at this link.

The festival will feature short films from 46 countries and include 36 World Premieres, 32 U.S. Premieres, and 117 Midwest Premieres. There are also three Indiana Spotlight programs featuring 21 short films with Hoosier connections. In total, more than 250 filmmakers are expected to attend Indy Shorts to participate in filmmaker Q&As following the screenings.

The 2026 summer festival is embracing a candy theme of Shorts & Sweets. Attendees are encouraged to unwrap the more than 260 fun-sized films that are curated into 40 themed programs. From comedy and horror to music and sports, there’s a short film program for everyone. Tickets and Fest Passes are now on sale at IndyShorts.org.

“We’re incredibly proud of the momentum Indy Shorts continues to build year after year,” said Heartland Film Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “Last year, our films went on to earn more Oscar® nominations than those of any other festival organization – a testament to the caliber of storytellers who trust us with their work. This year’s lineup continues that tradition, bringing together bold, inventive voices from around the world. We’re especially thrilled to welcome back Sam Davis, whose film ‘The Singers’ was our Oscar®-qualifying Narrative Grand Prize Winner last year, as our Pioneering Spirit Award honoree. It’s artists like Sam who embody the creativity, courage and innovation that define Indy Shorts. We can’t wait to share this year’s extraordinary slate with our community.”

Indy Shorts is honored to have a total of 185 film premieres spanning World to Midwest. Many of the premiering films have notable names, including Andy Serkis (“PIGEONS”), Djimon Hounsou (“CALABASH”), Naomie Harris (“Swim Sistas”), Tatiana Maslany (“How Brief”), Cameron Monaghan (“Hello, Dad!”), Ben Mendelsohn (“Falling Short”), Chrisopher Eccleston (“SIGNAL”), Lamorne Morris (“Scratch”), Ann Dowd (“Undelivered”), Janeane Garofalo (“My Bird Is Sick!”) and Tony Cavalero starring in two US Premiere films, “American Rampage” and “Please and Thank You.”

Indy Shorts is among just 47 film festivals worldwide recognized as an Academy Award® qualifier in all three short film categories: Live Action, Documentary and Animated. Indy Shorts Grand Prize winners in each category (Narrative Short, Documentary Short and Animation Shorts) earn Oscar® qualification* and a $5,000 Cash Prize. With 48 nominations and 13 Oscar®-winning shorts emerging from the festivals, audiences may be among the first to see future Academy Award®-contenders right in Indianapolis. Indy Shorts is also a qualifying festival for the BAFTA and Goya Awards. *Provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy’s rules

Filmmakers are vying for over $35,000 in cash prizes to be awarded on Saturday, July 25. A selection of award-winning films will be showcased that evening during the Summer Nights: Award Winners program at The Amphitheater at Newfields. Guests are invited to arrive early for complimentary HotBox Pizza and summer activities.

Pioneering Spirit Award

Over the years, the Heartland Film Pioneering Spirit Award has celebrated artists who are in the prime of their careers. Recent honorees include Doug Blush, Colman Domingo, Katie & Ian Bignell and Ben Proudfoot.

This year, Indy Shorts welcomes back Sam Davis, returning to Indianapolis just one year after his film “The Singers” won both the Oscar®-qualifying Narrative Grand Prize and Audience Award at the 2025 Indy Shorts. The film went on to secure Netflix distribution and the 2026 Academy Award® for Live Action Short Film.

Davis has long been a standout within the Heartland Film community, with celebrated works including Oscar® winner “Period. End of Sentence.,” Oscar® nominee “Nai Nai & Wài Pó,” “Didi,” “Long Line of Ladies,” “Are You Still There?,” “Just Hold On,” “Jack and Jo Don’t Want to Die” and more.

Sam Davis will be honored at the Indy Shorts Awards Brunch on Saturday, July 25.