Sudeep Sharma to Serve as Interim ShortFest Director

PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST ANNOUNCES PROGRAMMING VETERAN SUDEEP SHARMA TO SERVE AS INTERIM SHORTFEST DIRECTOR
ShortFest Returns to In-Person Screenings and Forum June 21-27

Palm Springs, CA (March 1, 2022) – The Palm Springs International Film Society announced
today that the annual Palm Springs International ShortFest, one of the largest showcases of
short-form cinema in North America, will return with in-person screenings June 21-27. For this
year’s edtion veteran programmer Sudeep Sharma will act as interim 2022 ShortFest Director,
with the planned maternity leave of PSIFF Artistic Director Lili Rodriguez."Sudeep's been an excellent collaborator, holding key roles at ShortFest for close to a decade,’” said Artistic Director Lili Rodriguez. “He cares deeply about the festival and understands what makes it special. We're thrilled that he's at the helm for 2022."

Since 2014 Sharma has served as director of programming for the Palm Springs International
ShortFest. He has concurrently been a programmer for the Sundance Film Festival focusing on
documentary feature films as well as many other festivals including LA Film Festival, Tribeca,
AFI Fest, Aspen ShortsFest, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and Indian Kaleidoscope Film
Festival, previously working as director of public programming for the Academy of Motion
Pictures Arts and Sciences. Sharma has taught film and TV history, industry and criticism
courses at universities throughout Southern California.

Kicking off on Tuesday, June 21, ShortFest will screen a full slate of films sat the Palm Springs
Cultural Center. The ShortFest Forum will also be held in its traditional live format with classes
and panels featuring industry representatives, filmmakers and additional guests. Awards and
cash prizes worth $25,000, including five Academy Award-qualifying awards, will be announced
on Sunday, June 26. Best of the Fest shorts will screen on the final day, Monday, June 27. Palm
Springs International ShortFest is a bellwether for Hollywood, with several of this year’s Oscar
nominees screened at 2021 ShortFest, including Affairs of the Art and Boxballet (nominated for
Best Animated Short), The Queen of Basketball, Three Songs for Benazir and When We Were
Bullies (nominated for Best Documentary Short) and The Long Goodbye, Please Hold and Pal
(nominated for Best Live Action Short).

More information on 2022 ShortFest programming and its schedule will be announced soon.
ShortFest passes will go on sale May 2, 2022. For additional information, visit
www.psfilmfest.org or call 760-778-8979 or 800-898-7256.

About Palm Springs International ShortFest 
Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, BIFA and Goya Awards as an award-qualifying festival, and
accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest
& Short Film Market is one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world.  The event
is produced by the Palm Springs International Film Society, whose mission is to nurture and
encourage new filmmaking talent, honoring the great masters of world cinema, and expanding
audience horizons. Visit https://www.psfilmfest.org/2022-shortfest.

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