October 24 – 25, 2026
The Reel Champions Shorts Fest
Event Dates
Submissions Open
December 12, 2025
Final Deadline
June 12, 2026
Notification Date
August 15, 2026
Event Dates
October 24–25, 2026 · Los Angeles, CA
A Showcase for Up-and-Coming Women and Non-Binary Creatives
❋ Festival OverviewThe Reel Champions Shorts Fest is an annual, live short film festival spotlighting films by women and non-binary creators, with an emphasis on both directing and key creative roles behind the camera.
❋ EligibilityFilms directed by women or non-binary filmmakers, as well as films led by women or non-binary creatives in eligible department head roles (including cinematography, writing, editing, production design, and sound).
❋ SubmissionsSubmit via FilmFreeway & Hiike for consideration. Selected films will be screened live and eligible for awards and official selection laurels.
❋ Awards & PrizesJuried awards selected by mentors from TRC’s NEXT GEN Executive Diversity Mentorship Program, including genre, craft, and director categories.
festival tickets
Join us for the whole weekend! All Access Pass holders attend all 5 screening blocks and both panels, plus exclusive coffee with our partners on Sunday, October 25th.
Get TicketsAccess to Block 1: Beauty of Relationships, Panel 1: Leading through Endings with Laverne McKinnon, Block 2: Time to Reflect, and Block 3: A Wild Ride.
Get TicketsAccess to Block 4: Stay Strong, Panel 2: Paving Your Own Path, and Block 5: Expect the Unexpected.
Get TicketsSaturday, October 24
12:30pm – 2:00pm Block 1: Beauty of Relationships ▼
Coconut Girl — dir. Ayesha Agarwal
The Quilters — dir. Hyo Kim
The Birthday — dir. Jannica Olin
You & Me (& Chaz & Rodney) — dir. Lilly Lion
Finding JaMia's Spirit — dir. Candace Patrick
Last Day of Us — dir. Shiao-ya & Maggie Huang
Fuck Your Policy — dir. TK James
2:30pm – 3:30pm Panel 1: Leading through Endings with Laverne McKinnon ▼
How female and non-binary leaders can rebuild trust and prevent risk-aversion from taking hold. Producer and career coach Laverne McKinnon shares tools for leading teams through endings — strategy shifts, restructures, leadership exits — without losing engagement, ownership, or the willingness to speak up.
4:00pm – 5:30pm Block 2: Time to Reflect ▼
Donor — dir. Erin Doyle Cooper
Gardeners — dir. Merry May Ma
Wheels of a Mother — dir. Celi Mitidieri
The Story of an Hour — dir. Lauren Loesberg
Better Life — dir. Jessica Liu
The Worm's-Eye View of the Bird — dir. Karen Zipor
Will You Be Waiting for Me? — dir. Conam Calderón
6:00pm – 7:30pm Block 3: A Wild Ride ▼
Content warning: self-harm
Couch — dir. Hannah Martinez-Montes
Head Case — dir. Georgia Sampson
Mind The Gap — dir. Brooke Scott
Intervention! — dir. AJ Prager
The Ticket — dir. Jayla Hodge, Jaylin Hodge, & Jerah Milligan
The Blue Diamond — dir. Sam Fox
Sunday, October 25
1:30pm – 3:00pm Block 4: Stay Strong ▼
Content warning: mild gore
Burning Question — dir. Rosie Sirk
MotherWound — dir. Hana Holloway & Camille Zapata
Tierra — dir. Elena Conic
Lock Jaw — dir. Nina Barresi
Tradwife — dir. Jacob Combs
3:30pm – 4:30pm Panel 2: Paving Your Own Path ▼
A conversation with accomplished multi-hyphenates who founded their own companies instead of waiting for others to give them creative opportunities.
Yessi Sanchez — Producer, Actress, Co-Founder of Artak Pictures
Pam Matew — Director, 1st AD, Founder of LA Director's Lab
Cate Fogerty — Writer, Director, Producer, Co-Founder of Vertical Sunsets
Chrissie De Guzman — Writer, Director, Producer, Co-Founder of Vertical Sunsets
5:00pm – 6:30pm Block 5: Expect the Unexpected ▼
#1 BAD DAD — dir. Natalie Camou
Little Sins — dir. Alana Anguren & Katrina Vergara
Merlyn's Beard! — dir. Almudena Zúñiga
Baby Daddy — dir. Mega Dafiaghor
Pool Guy — dir. Nancy Friedrich
May I Put You On Hold? — dir. Ash Blodgett
SAVERIO — dir. Ellen Ancui
FILM SELECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Check out the trailer from TRC Shorts Fest 2025 to see what our talented filmmakers brought showcased last fall. Ready to see your own work on the big screen? Submit your short for this year's festival happening October 24 - 25, 2026
Submissions closed - see you Oct 24-25*
TESTIMONIALS
“Amazing experience at TRC Shorts Fest 2025! They really care about their filmmakers, and I was super impressed with how organized everything was and the communication was great. We even took home the prize for Best Student Short. If you’re thinking about submitting, run don’t walk.”
“Thank you to the TRC Shorts Fest team for selecting RUYA for their first year! Though I couldn’t attend, Sydney, the President, found a way to ensure I was a part of the event through a video Q&A and blog spotlight. She was communicative every step of the way. TRC promoted the filmmakers and films on social media. I could tell the event was a fantastic opportunity for community building. I’m excited to submit to future iterations. Thank you again!”
“Fantastic experience! The showcase was full of amazing filmmakers, the panels were super informative and The Reel Champions and Cinematography for Actors staff were incredibly kind and present. Loved every second of it! If you are a female or non-binary filmmaker, don’t hesitate: submit. Did I mention the prizes???”
“I had the absolute BEST time at this event. Even though it was their first year, TRC is an incredible festival— and I’ve been to tons. They curated such high quality films for both blocks and I met so many talented filmmakers I intend to develop relationships with. I even won a prize for best experimental film— and they have sponsors that gave me actual prizes! So cool. Will absolutely submit again.”
