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Aspen Film, the year-round film arts and education organization, announced the winning films from its 34th Aspen Shortsfest in an awards presentation held Saturday, April 5. One of only five Oscar-qualifying festivals in the U.S. strictly dedicated to short films, Aspen Shortsfest is recognized as one of the world’s premier short film festivals.

This year’s edition featured 68 short films from over 29 countries, including 11 world premieres. Each of the 10 programs contained a wide variety of shorts, from comedies to dramas and documentaries to animation.

Aspen Film’s Shortsfest Competition Jury awarded films in six categories: animation, comedy, documentary, drama, short short (films 10 minutes in length or under), and student short. Winning films in all but the student short category become qualified for the 2026 Academy Awards.

“I could not be more ecstatic about our 34th Shortsfest,” said Aspen Film’s Executive and Artistic Director Susan Wrubel. “Our programming team’s curation landed so well with the audience; the theater was packed throughout the week with people returning to see additional programs; our filmmakers equally raved about being in the company of such incredible talent and having the ability to engage with each other and our fantastic industry guests.”

Shortsfest award winners will receive cash prizes of $1,250 or $2,500 in the following categories:

STUDENT SHORT

BREASTMILK, directed by Ifeyinwa Arinze (US, Nigeria) – winner

JURY STATEMENT: “For its self-assured portrayal of a complex and powerful time of life and the protagonist’s multifaceted conflict with everyone around her including herself, this film deeply moved and impressed the jury.”

SHORT SHORT

AN ONGOING LIST OF THINGS FOUND IN THE LIBRARY BOOK DROP, USUALLY BEING USED AS BOOKMARKS, directed by Kayla Abuda Galang (US) – winner

JURY STATEMENT: “Several love letters, an orange peel, an unstamped passport — these are the ephemera that provide proof of life in this 3-minute short. The jury was struck by the simple poignancy of this remarkable film, which moved us with its exploration of things forgotten and found.”

ANIMATION

QUOTA, directed by Job, Joris, and Marieke (Netherlands) – winner

JURY STATEMENT: “Only in animation can a short, where every single character’s head explodes, also deliver a deeply prescient message about climate change. Among so many wonderful animated films at the festival, the jury believes that this one encapsulates all that makes animation one of the most powerful and boundless mediums for storytelling due to its spectacular animation style, bonkers humor, and impactful message.”

Special Mention: WILD FLOWERS directed by Thierry Sirois and Rudolph Saint-Gelais (Canada)

DOCUMENTARY

CLASSROOM 4, directed by Eden Wurmfeld (US) – winner

JURY STATEMENT: “Remarkable for its bold and truthful exploration and confrontation of the prison industrial complex — and its effects on all of us, both inside and out — this film is a testament to human resilience, courage, and hope. We hope it causes us all to thoughtfully consider the reform of this system.”

Special Mention: LIVESTREAMS WITH GRANDMA PUZZLES, directed by Emily Sheskin (US)

COMEDY

JANE AUSTEN’S PERIOD DRAMA, directed by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder (US) – winner

JURY STATEMENT: “This film impressed the jury for its unwavering commitment to its outlandish concept and its ability to bring together multiple ingenious ideas with impeccable attention to every facet of comedic filmmaking.”

Special Mention: NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, directed by Emily Everhard (US)

DRAMA

A BEAR REMEMBERS, directed by Linden Feng and Hannah Palumbo (UK) – winner

JURY STATEMENT: “This film impressed the jury for its ambitious vision, detailed design, and earned sentimentality. It offers a spiritual meditation on the passage of time, lost history, found friends, and the value and importance of connection to ourselves and nature despite how far society progresses technologically.”

Special Mention: ASTRO, directed by Tim Ewalts (Netherlands)

ELLEN JURY

GEORGIE, directed by Jennie Butler (US) – winner

JURY STATEMENT: “There were so many spectacular shorts to choose from, and we had a tough time reaching a decision. We finally settled on a documentary that reveals the emotional complexities of a man who learns to live with his choices and its consequences. It’s a film about love, loss, and incarceration. It was deeply cinematic, funny, smart, strange, and beautiful.”

YOUTH JURY

JULY 4TH, EAST NEW YORK, directed by Adewale Olukayode  (US) – winner

YOUTH JURY STATEMENT: “This film captured our attention from the moment it started playing on the big screen at the Wheeler Opera House. What truly set it apart was its portrayal of the complexities of growing up in today’s world: The young characters, each coming from different backgrounds, and the sense of community that developed throughout the film. The use of symbolism through cinematography and lighting added an immense layer of depth to the story. This film speaks not only to the youth, but also to adults who continue to suffer from the injustices rooted in American history.”

Special Mention: 1 HIJO & 1 PADRE (A SON AND HIS FATHER), by Andrés Ramírez Pulido (France, Colombia)

AUDIENCE AWARD

DEATH BY NUMBERS, directed by Kim A. Snyder  (US) – winner

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