2021 ShortFest Archive
Film Index
List of all 295 films showing at the 2021 Palm Springs International ShortFest. Note: When you attend a ShortFest screening you'll be attending a package of films grouped together.
The Communion of My Cousin Andrea
Andrea has made her first communion, but she would prefer the solemn ceremony involve a little glamour.
In competition for Best Documentary Short.
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Complicated
Itamar, a chubby and depressed young man, returns to live with his eccentric mother after suffering a mental breakdown. Old tensions about his sexual orientation arise after he meets Ronen, a handsome lifeguard who leads him to confront his body image issues.
In competition for Best LGBT+ Short.
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The Criminals
Late in the evening in a small Turkish town, a young couple are trying to find a hotel room to spend the night together, but they face rejection from every hotel for not having the required marriage certificate. Once they believe they’ve devised the perfect scheme, the situation gets out of hand.
In competition for Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes and Best Midnight Short.
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Daily Massacre in Tehran
Fuad is a 12-year-old boy who comes to Tehran to make money to support his mother. He is willing and ready to take on any paying job, but each job brings with it a set of new challenges.
In competition for Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under.
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The Dangerous Type
Diane, a mechanic in a small midwestern town, would do anything to leave her boring life behind. One day a mysterious stranger breaks down while passing through. Boy, does he have a great car—cherry red, smooth leather interior, and best of all… an empty passenger seat.
In competition for Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under and Best U.S. Short.
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The Departure
It's the summer of 2004 in Morocco, and 11-year-old Adil is upset by the visit of his father and big brother, who will leave for France in just a few days...
In competition for Best of the Festival Award and Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes.
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Dirt Devil 550 XS
A conversation about the purchase of a new vacuum cleaner between roommates unexpectedly turns into a poetic and humourous exploration of their group dynamic, their daily lives together and democracy.
In competition for Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes.
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Don vs Lightning
All Don wants is a quiet life in the Scottish Highlands. Unfortunately the universe has other plans.
In competition for Local Jury Award and Best Comedy Short.
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Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma
In 1970 a group of Black educators in Chicago developed a flashcard set of the alphabet to provide Black-centered teaching materials to a vastly white landscape of text books and learning materials. Through 26 individual scenes, each representing a letter and artist Topaz Jones' corresponding update to their meanings, Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma is a view into his and America's Black identity.
In competition for Young Cineastes Award.
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Dosing
It's late at night, Frank's essay is due at 9am the next day, and he’s currently done no work for it. So, in the hope of improving his concentration—he indulges in some psychedelic micro-dosing. This should go well...
In competition for Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under, Best Student International Short, and Best Midnight Short.
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Double Happiness
It's a day of celebration, and this traditional Chinese wedding has reduced parents to their most childish behaviors. The marrying couple are worn out with their parents' agendas and all of the wedding rituals. Can they survive the madness, with their love intact?
In competition for Best Student U.S. Short.
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Double Murder
Alone on vacation in rural Montana, a woman becomes haunted by the local news story of a double murder.
In competition for Best U.S. Short.
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Doublespeak
A young woman grapples with the aftermath of reporting sexual harassment in the workplace, and having to go back to work.
In competition for Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under and Best Student U.S. Short.
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Drought
Carine, a real estate agent in Beirut, finds herself in empty apartments waiting for clients to show up. She creates an intimate relationship with these empty homes that echo her loneliness and sexual dissatisfaction. Finally, she decides to go outdoors and look for a physical experience...
In competition for Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under.
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Dustin
In an abandoned warehouse, a crowd is dancing as one to techno music. Among them is Dustin, a young trans woman and crew: Felix, Raya and Juan. As the night draws on, collective hysteria morphs into sweet melancholy, and euphoria into yearning for tenderness.
In competition for Best of the Festival Award and Best LGBT+ Short.
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Dying in Your Mother's Arms
If losing a child to an illness is one of the worst things that can happen to a family, Dr. Nadia Tremonti has made it her mission to make it better. It’s not easy, but as a pediatric palliative care physician, she works to ensure that terminally ill children receive quality end-of-life care.
In competition for Local Jury Award and Best Documentary Short.
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