8th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Contest

WINNERS are announced! CONGRATULATIONS! Please share your support on the lounge post here.

You've made a short film. You've put in your time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, and perhaps even some serious money into your project. Your goal isn't only to get your film seen, but to get it seen around the world and by people who can make a difference in your career. Would being screened by an Oscar qualifying film festival matter? How about having it screened for over 1,000 executives including managers, agents, producers, film financiers and more? Look no further.

The most prestigious short film competition on the planet is back. For the 8th straight year, Stage 32 is looking for the best short films for our 8th Annual Short Film Program. For the last 7 years, we've screened our winning filmmaker's films at some of the most prestigious festivals around the world, and for our stable of 1,000+ Stage 32 executives, and this year will be no different.

In this DIY, control your own material world, legions of filmmakers are turning to short films to have their voices heard. Further, with more and more film festivals adding short programs into their lineups and with so many filmmakers shooting short films as proof of concept to showcase their talents, short films are finally getting the attention they deserve.

Our top 5-10 winning filmmakers receive:

• Inclusion in our 8th Stage 32 Short Film Program - The most anticipated short film program in the business.
• Their film screened theatrically at the 2023 Hollyshorts Film Festival in Los Angeles
• Participate in a Filmmakers Q&A Panel hosted by Stage 32
• Their film screened online to a worldwide audience on Stage 32 - This global screening will be available to all of our 100,000+ members on the platform
• Their film showcased to over 2,000 executives who work with Stage 32 - All of our executives will be able to view an online screening of the program. If a meeting is requested between the executive and the filmmaker, we will facilitate.
• Our Grand prize winning director will be flown to Los Angeles (travel permitting)- Walk the red carpet at Hollyshorts!

We welcome entries from filmmakers all over the world. Last year's contest produced entries from Stage 32 members in 40 countries and resulted in a curated program of 7 incredible and well received short films made by filmmakers from 3 countries.

Over the last 6 years, our winning filmmakers have gone on to be signed (UTA, Echo Lake, Verve, and more), financed, and produced. One of our winning screenwriter/directors even went on to have one of the biggest spec sales in recent years, with Warner Brothers winning a bidding war which was based off a short film!

The Stage 32 Short Film Contest gives you the opportunity to show your chops and shine by providing access to some of the top executives in the business and exposure to film festival and worldwide online crowds. This is access, opportunity, and exposure you won't find anywhere else!

The Stage 32 Short Film Program has been featured to critical acclaim in Variety and Indiewire.

Congratulations to our 2023 Stage 32 Short Film Program Winners!

For the first time in Stage 32 Short Film Program history, our judges have decided on TWO grand prize winners, this was an incredible year filled with tremendous talent. Congratulations to the winners!

Congratulations to our 2023 Stage 32 Short Film Program Finalists!

Congratulations to our 2023 Stage 32 Short Film Program Semifinalists!

Congratulations to our 2023 Stage 32 Short Film Program Quarterfinalists!

Screening in Special Stage 32 Short Film Program at the 2023 Hollyshorts Film Festival

The top 5-10 films will be screened in a special Stage 32 Shorts Program Showcase at the Oscar-qualifying 2023 Hollyshorts Film Festival!

Special Worldwide Online Screening

The top 5-10 Short Films will be screened online to a worldwide audience on Stage 32 in a special global event!

Exposure to over 1,000 Stage 32 Executives

The top 5-10 Short Films will be placed in a special private section on Stage 32 and sent to over 2,000 Stage 32 executives who will be able to view the films. If there is interest we will facilitate the meetings between interested parties and the filmmakers.

Grand Prize Winning Director Will Be Flown to LA for Hollyshorts

The grand prize winning Director will be flown to Los Angeles, CA for the Hollyshorts Film Festival (travel permitting) to walk the red carpet!

Update on our winner, Gwenn Joyaux (Tomorrow Island)

Gwenn Joyaux (French born director based in Argentina) is now represented by Le'Ander Nicholson from Believeland Management

Update on our winner, Virginia Bach (Tell Him)

Virginia is now in talks with Zero Gravity for representation!

Update on our Finalist Sy Huq (Things That Fall)

Sy is now in talks with Zero Gravity for representation!

Update on our finalist Dicky Chalmers (Angel)

Dicky Chalmers is not in talks with David Chien from Art/Work Entertainment for representation!

Update on our finalist Olivier Dressen (Passport)

Olivier Dressen is not in talks with Brooklyn Weaver from Energy Entertainment for representation!

Update on our Finalist Steve Desmond (Monsters)

We screened Steve Desmond's film Monsters in front of executives from WME, Whitewater, Lionsgate and more and he went on to have a massive bidding war for his spec Harry's All Night Hamburgers, which was picked up by Warner Bros. and now has Ted Melfi attached to direct!

Update on our Finalist Aaron Bierman (Burning Bright)

Aaron Bierman's film was screened at the Hollyshorts Film Festival and the Raindance Film Festival and Aaron went on to be represented by legendary agent David Boxerbaum, partner at Verve Literary and Talent Agency after Verve watched his online screening on Stage 32.

Update on our Finalist Zara Burdett (Maneater)

Zara's film, Maneater was screened at the Hollyshorts Film Festival and the Raindance Film Festival. After we set Zara up on meetings around town she has signed with UTA and Echo Lake Entertainment!

Update on our Finalist Dinh Thai (Monday)

Dinh's film Monday earned rave reviews and we sent him on meetings around town based on his unique style as a filmmaker. He has signed with Paradigm Agency and Kaplan / Perrone Management and won NBCU's Next Generation Filmmaker and Outstanding Director Awards.

Update on our Winner, Terez Koncz (The Letters)

Terez has been set up on meetings internationally - with an award-winning producer in the United States, as well as with a veteran executive who is based in Budapest, Hungary. She is now meeting with Good Fear Film + Management to discuss representation in the US!

Update on our Winner, Lisanne Sartor (Six Letter Word)

Lisanne Sartor, writer & director of Six Letter Word, has taken her short as a proof of concept and finished her feature script. Through Stage 32, her film, Six Letter Word, screened at the Richmond Film Festival and the Hollyshorts Film Festival and in front of Lionsgate, Samaco Films, Whitewater Films, Kodak, Legion M and CAA. She is now directing the feature version of this film and is out to actresses to package the project!

Update on Our Winner, Director Matt Kazman (Killer)

Stage 32 member Matt Kazman's film, KILLER, premiered worldwide in the Stage 32 Short Film Program at the Raindance Film Festival where Matt was featured in Variety. Through Stage 32 Matt went on to meet with many executives and has since signed with UTA and Rise Management. Matt's film KILLER went on to screen as an official selection at Sundance Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, IFFBoston, Florida Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival. Matt has gone on to work on Middle of The Night Show for MTV.

Q&A with the filmmakers at the Hollyshorts Film Festival