WINNERS
Best of Fest
Walud by Daood Alabdulaa
Best International
People & Things by Damian Kosowski
Best Drama
A King's Curtain by Grant M Johnson
Best Comedy
The Lot by Raffaele Vesco
Best Animation
Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado by Natalia León
Best Experimental
Memoir by Aiden Keltner
Best Documentary
Classroom 4 by Eden Wurmfeld
Best Sci-Fi
Dream Machine by Dan Egan
Best Horror
Mermaid by Ginger Gonzaga
Best Music Video
Dominant. by Nik Kleverov
Best Web Series
Samson's Hammer by Vahan Bedelian
Best Vertical
Undercover Prison King by ReelShort
Best A.I.
Torment by Sijia Zheng
Best High School Film
Why Can't We Just Be Ghosts? by Patrick Jang
Best Actor
Caley Versfelt in Believe
Screenplay Competition
The Dreamcatcher by Noah Radant
Immaculate Heart Community Filmmaker Award
Walud by Daood Alabdulaa
Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado by Natalia León
Classroom 4 by Eden Wurmfeld
The Window on Death Row by Linda Freund
Seeds from Kivu by Néstor López, Carlos Valle
A City That Cares by Aaron Hosé
On Healing Land, Birds Perch by Julian Cautherley
Exodus by Bob Miller
Fenice by Sterling Hampton
Opportunity for Creators and Filmmakers: Enter the Reel Vertical Impact Creator Contest
LA Shorts is excited to spotlight the Reel Vertical Impact Creator Contest from ReelShort — a unique opportunity for short-form creators to submit original vertical content for a chance to win up to $100,000 in cash prizes and potential collaboration with one of today’s fastest-growing mobile streaming platforms.
Submit your vertical videos (45–90 seconds, shot on phone or camera) in English — either as a standalone episode or a full series (10+ episodes encouraged). Categories include Romance, Suspense, Beyond Genres, and ReelShort Adaptation. Creators must own all rights; exclusivity is not required.
Open worldwide. Contest launched July 18. Learn more and submit at ReelShort.com
SATURDAY
JULY 19
4:00-5:00 PM
Pre-Production Legal /
How Not to Shoot Yourself In the Foot
Entertainment attorney Asa Pitt breaks down the legal essentials for indie filmmakers, creators, and talent. You'll walk away with clear, practical tips to avoid costly mistakes, protect your work, and set your project up for success. Whether it's locking down rights, negotiating talent deals, union compliance, or clearance, one misstep can derail your film.
SUNDAY
JULY 20
4:00-5:00 PM
The Biggest Opportunity in Hollywood: Vertical Microdramas
The entertainment screen is shrinking – vertically. This provocative panel delves into the explosive rise of vertical microdramas, short-form scripted content tailor-made for mobile consumption on apps, generating millions of dollars in revenue. Is this a passing trend or the foundational shift that redefines storytelling, talent discovery, and monetization in Hollywood?
SATURDAY
JULY 26
4:00-5:00 PM
LAUNCH YOUR CAREER
WITH A SHORT FILM
You’ve made your short film and played the festival circuit- now what? How do I turn it into a feature film or TV series? What’s the best way to use it to get representation? This year, industry experts will discuss how to use the success of your short content to opening the doors towards the next step in your career, and your vision for your project.
SATURDAY
JULY 26
6:00-7:00 PM
Breaking Into Vertical: ReelShort Creator Contest + Team Q&A
Vertical storytelling is on the rise — and ReelShort is at the forefront. Join us for an exclusive session with the fast-growing platform known for its addictive short-form dramas as they introduce their first-ever creator competition: Reel Vertical Impact.
SUNDAY
JULY 27
4:00-5:00 PM
ACTORS &
DIRECTORS
EXCHANGE
The session objective is to bring together actors and directors to generate new connections and potential collaborations through the exchange of experiences from different creative perspective. We are interested in promoting dialogue between directors and actors to improve the creative process.
