2026 Official Selections
We would like to congratulate all the filmmakers whose films were selected for the 2026 edition of the Pensacon Short Film Festival. We are very happy that we will be screening the following films during Pensacon 2026. Please check closer to the event for the schedule of the screenings.
The selected films are as follows:
Backseat
Written, directed, and produced by Huston Pardee
Beyond the Score
Written and directed by Sara Valenzuela; produced by Rylee Rebol
BRIDGE -My Little Friends-
Written by Takahiro Nagano; directed by Kazuyuki Ishihara; produced by Makoto Mizusawa
Produced in Japan
Burnt Orange
Written and directed by Sharmila Ray; produced by Sharmila Ray, Matthew Keene Smith, Livi Nichols, Robert Javier
Crab Man
Written and directed by Mark Owens; produced by Christina Rosman
Cyko KO
Written and directed by Robert Feldman; produced by Justin Trevor Winters, Steve Whiskeyman, Tom Akel, Tom Defeo
Dear Ethan
Written by Alexander Haudek; directed by Alexander Haudek, Cameron Webb; produced by Dylan Gedney
December
Written by Kainen Kellum, Dalten Martin, Andrea Kellum; directed by Dalten Martin; produced by Andrea Kellum, Jeremy Kellum, Brivel Bariki
Dobrina
Written, directed, and produced by Hannes Rall
Produced in Singapore
Ekelbrode
Written by Ben Montgomery-Pierson, Sascha Montgomery-Pierson; directed by Ben Montgomery-Pierson; produced by Salem Daniel
Embers End
Written and directed by Malia Ludwick; produced by Jade Moller.
Everything Is Shattered
Directed by Walter Santucci
Franken Struck
Written and directed by Sommar Boulware; produced by Kansas McWhirter
Ghost Investigations – Curse of Bermudez Manor
Written, directed, and produced by Jared Ditman
Give My Regards
Written, directed, and produced by Tony Jonick
Happily Ever After Matchmaking Co.
Written and directed by Katherine Johnson
Harper
Written and directed by Emily Ward; produced by Keira Schehl
He Ain’t Here
Written and directed by Patrick Martin; produced by Malia Ludwick
Invasion ’53
Written and directed by Danielle Weinberg; produced by Danielle Weinberg, Kurt Uebersax
Language Back
Directed by Dusan Harminc; produced by Dusan Harminc, Kimberly M Blaeser
Little Thieves
Written and directed by Blake Rice
Lovecraft In Florida: DeLand and the Barlow House
Written, directed, and produced by Mike Lyddon
Malevolence – Chapter 1
Written, directed, and produced by Jared Ditman
Midnight Monsters
Written by Keely Myers; directed by Lauren Best; produced by Emma Stapel
NAKAY: Gold & Blood
Written by Fabio Cento, Marco Daeron Ventura; directed by Fabio Cento; produced by Charles Emmanuel Pellissier
Produced in Italy
Next Show in 90 Minutes
Directed by John T. Hill
Overtime
Written by TL Westgate, Christa Luzynski; directed by Trent Duncan
Patchwork
Written and directed by Karsyn Fletcher; produced by Karsyn Fletcher
Pow!
Written and directed by Joey Clift; produced by Tom Chorlton
Pulled Taut
Written and directed by Ellie Roberts; produced by Mac Muggeo
Ragtime Follies
Written and directed by Rylee Rebol; produced by Sara Valenzuela
Reliquary: Confession
Written by Michael La Breche; directed by Lindsay Morrison; produced by Michael La Breche, Lindsay Morrison
Sculpted
Written and directed by Jade Moller; produced by Ellie Roberts
SnowBugs
Directed by Jenny Schuermann; produced by Gillian McDerment
Star-Crossed
Written by Bud Myrick, Kevin Hoffer; directed by Bud Myrick; produced by Michael Greenspan, Bud Myrick
Stardust Bowl
Written and directed by Lauren Best; produced by Emma Stapel
The Adventures of Captain Atom: Chapter 7
Written and directed by Eli Hutchinson; produced by Eli Hutchinson, Samuel McKinnon
The Enamel Cartel
Written, directed, and produced by Sj Kim
the fall by Ash the Ghost
Written, directed, and produced by Katie L Haughton
The Severing
Written by Reno van Zanten, Nicholas Kaiden; directed by Nicholas Kaiden; produced by Nicholas Kaiden, Reno van Zanten
Produced in Netherlands
The Winemaker
Written and directed by Sarey Martin; produced by Daria Matza, Stephen Kaiser-Pendergrast, Sarey Martin
The Wrongest Yard
Written and produced by Daphne Lewis; directed by Nick Smith
Two Coins Short
Written by Theresa Chaze; directed by James M Myers; produced by James M Myers, Ashley Shayne Schutt, Erin Quizon, Dedee Myers
Unwound
Written and directed by Keira Grace Schehl; produced by Emily Jane Ward
Up Close
Written and directed by Lukas Hassel; produced by Lukas Hassel, Henry B. Lee
We Regret to Inform You
Written by Zina Wilde; directed by Michelle Bossy; produced by Zina Wilde, Michelle Bossy, David M. Night Maire
What If?
Written, directed, and produced by Emma Bradley Bothwell
Info
Pensacon proudly presents the annual Pensacon Short Film Festival as one of its official events. As part of this convention, the films screened will celebrate science fiction, horror, fantasy, comic books, pop culture, animation, and documentaries. After each screening, there will be a short Q&A with filmmakers present.
Each Official Selection will be given two weekend passes to Pensacon (travel not included) to attend the screening, and filmmakers may participate in a Q&A session about their films immediately following the screening.
Over the past seven years, Pensacon has taken pride in screening some of the best short films from all around the world. In addition to the United States, we have had submissions from Australia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.
To submit a film, go to https://filmfreeway.com/PensaconShortFilmFestival.
Entry Rules
Awards
Awards include Best in Show (determined by Pensacon staff), Jury Selection (chosen by a panel of Pensacon guests), and Audience Choice (voted on by audience members during all screenings). Specific categories are also awarded, which may change from year to year depending on entries.
Past Winners
2025 Winners
Congratulations to the following winners of the 2025 Pensacon Short Film Festival:
- Best in Show – “Verflechtung” (Switzerland), written & directed by Philip Hofmänner, Simon Jonas Pflanzer; produced by Philip Hofmänner.
- Jury Selection – “Vainglorious” (United States), written & directed by Oshiomati Gabriel Ugbodaga; produced by Sebastien Abou-Chakra.
- Audience Choice – “112 Steps” (United States), directed by James J Sidletsky & Bryanna C Cantrell; written by James Sidletsky; produced by Bryanna C Cantrell.
- Best Animated Film – TIE: “Catch and Exterminate” (United States), written & directed by Summer Purks; produced by Katie Limentato; and “Mateo and The Toymaker” (United States), directed & produced by LB Bunch; written by Dominique Riley.
- Best Documentary – “The Fire In Me” (United States), directed, written & produced by Terah K. Hensley.
- Best Fantasy Film – “Together Forever” (United States), directed, written & produced by Lauren Butterfield.
- Best Horror Film – “Dormant” (Netherlands), directed, written & produced by Niels Bourgonje.
- Best Music Video – “Fight” (United States), directed by Kevin Wayne.
- Best Science Fiction Film – “Where Are All the Gay Superheroes?” (United Kingdom), directed & written by Tom Paul Martin; produced by James Page.
2024 Winners
Congratulations to the following winners of the 2024 Pensacon Short Film Festival:
- Best in Show – “Blood Fury” Written, directed & produced by Inconstant Jordan.
- Jury Selection – “Lands of Steel,” Written & directed by Cyril Vrancken; produced by BC Movies.
- Audience Choice – “Goro Goro,” Directed by Ryotaro Sawada, Agatha Tiara Christa; produced by Gillian McDerment.
- Best Animated Film – TIE: “Sulayman,” Written & directed by Blog Caliguia; and “Goro Goro,” Directed by Ryotaro Sawada, Agatha Tiara Christa; produced by Gillian McDerment.
- Best Fantasy Film – “Doorway,” Written, directed & produced by Siddharth Gautam.
- Best Horror Film – “Neon Hereafter,” Written & directed by Pacey Hansen; produced by DeMori Hawkins.
- Best Science Fiction Film – “Grounded,” Written by Alexander Wedlock; directed by Aidan Hakwins; produced by Gbemileke Otudeko.
2023 Winners
Congratulations to the following winners of the 2023 Pensacon Short Film Festival:
- Best in Show – “Welcome Home Eugene!” Written by Noah Jorgensen, Nolan Watt; Directed by Noah Jorgensen; Produced by Samara Fitzgerald.
- Jury Selection – “There’s Something Wrong with Paul,” Written & Directed by Mark Clauburg; Produced by Chris J Cullen, Alex Aldea, Lucille Clauburg and Gail Dehren.
- Audience Choice – “Hellscape,” Written & Directed by Sam Sorenson; Produced by Leigh Sorenson.
- Best Animated Film – “The Interrogation,” Written, Directed & Produced by Marisa Cohen and Peter Issac Alexander.
- Best Comic BookSuperhero Film – “Agent Heads,” Written by Ajay Varma Nandyala and Joseph Van Landschoot; Directed by Ajay Varma Nandyala; Produced by Ajay Varma.
- Best Doctumentary – “A Door Away,” Written, Directed & Produced by Alex H. Rafi.
- Best Fantasy Film – “The Barmaid and the Serpent,” Written & Directed by Rose Louise Hoover; Produced by Andrew Bourne.
- Best Horror Film – “Hellscape,” Written & Directed by Sam Sorenson; Produced by Leigh Sorenson.
- Best Pop Culture Film – “Duplicitous Minds,” Written by Catalina Yue; Directed by Rober Rippberger; Produced by Catalina Yue.
- Best Science Fiction Film – “Launch at Paradise,” Written by Daniel Mitura; Directed by Carrie Anne Quinn; Produced by David M. Night Maire.
2022 Winners
Congratulations to the following winners of the 2022 Pensacon Short Film Festival:
- Best in Show – “Streamer Stalker” written by Gaelan Draper & Connor Del Rio; eirected by Gaelan Draper; produced by Matthew Brady
- Jury Selection – “Cutter” written & directed by Dan Repp & Lindsay Young; produced by Scott Honey & Bears Rebecca Fonte
- Audience Choice – “Woodland Cemetery” written, directed & produced by Niels Bourgonje
- Best Animated Film – “Meanwhile, at the Abandoned Factory…” written & directed by Michael Cusack; produced by Richard Chataway
- Best Documentary – “Sophie in Furbyland” directed by Pacey Hansen
- Best Fantasy Film – “The Center of Physical Therapy for Questing Gentlefolk” written, directed & produced by Katherine Johnson
- Best Horror Film – “Woodland Cemetery” written, directed & produced by Niels Bourgonje
- Best Pop Culture Film – “Break Any Spell” written & produced by Lisi Purr; directed by Anton Josef
- Best Science Fiction Film – “Dreamster” written & directed by Ludvig Gur; produced by Ralph D’Amato & Daniel Lagersten
- Best Superhero or Comic Book Film – “ALiEN” written by Adrian Hargrave; directed by Shahbaz A. Khan; produced by Sarah Gambles
2021 Winners
Congratulations to the following winners of the 2021 Pensacon Short Film Festival:
- Best in Show – “Monstrus Circus” written, directed, and produced by Jordan Inconstant
- Jury Selection – “It’s Okay” written by Audrey Flegel; directed by Justin Giddings & Ryan Welsh; produced by Audrey Flegel, Stephen Laferriere, Heather Ensley, Rebekah Walendzak, Paul Culos, Michael Perez
- Audience Choice – “Gone” written by Sam Siversson; directed by William Jackson; produced by Simon Daniele
- Best Animated Film – “Hero” written and produced by Aoze Luo, Ziqian Zhao, Huaiyuan XU & Xiantao Zhu; directed by Aoze Luo
- Best Documentary – “The Flip Side” written, directed and produced by William Stead
- Best Fantasy Film – “Pine Mountain Overnight” written and directed by Geena Marie Hernandez, produced by William Stead
- Best Horror Film – “Shaken” written and directed by Chayse Banks, produced by William Stead
- Best Pop Culture Film – “The Legend of Stella” written by Maren Curtis; directed by Aileen Sheedy; produced by Molly Preston
- Best Science Fiction Film – “Sundown Trail” written and directed by Luke Guidici; produced by Luke Guidici, Patrick Reasonover, Matthew Edwards, and Victoria Hill
- Best Superhero or Comic Book Film – “Imperceptible” written and directed by Alexa Shackelford; produced by Alexa Shackelford and Franz Salvatierra
2020 Winners
- Best in Show – We Got a Monkey’s Paw
- Jury Selection – Balloon
- Audience Choice – All Boys Die
- Best Animated Film – Serpendipity
- Best Documentary – Becoming Wonder Woman
- Best Fantasy Film – Dispel
- Best Horror Film – Can Someone Hear Me?
- Best Pop Culture Film – Furtherance
- Best Science Fiction Film – Infinity 7
- Best Superhero or Comic Book Film – Capitán Kinesis
2019 Winners
- Best in Show – “Outpost” written & directed by Justin Giddings & Ryan Welsh; produced by Cindi Rice & Lynn Thomas
- Jury Award – “The Phantom Menace” written & directed by Charlotte Barrett & Sean Fallon; produced by Bettina Barrow & Anna Margaret Hollyman
- Audience Choice – “The Gift of the Red Fern” written by Kevin Brackett; produced by Robyn McSheehy Hartman & Kelly Hall; directed by Robyn McSheehy Hartman
- Best Animated Film – “Rebooted” written & directed by Sagar Arun & Rachel Kral
- Best Comic Book Film – “The Cape” written & directed by Andrew Olson; produced by Jacob W. Gilbert & Andrew Olson
- Best Documentary – “Cap City Video Lounge” directed by Rhea Begazo & Hunter Black
- Best Fantasy Film – “Breaking Up” written & directed by Greg Vestal; produced by Bre Knittel
- Best Horror Film – “Deep Dish Apocalypse” written by Trey Nichols; directed by David Codeglia; produced by Ron Morehouse & Emily Bell
- Best Science Fiction Film – “Margaret and Gary” written & directed by Fredric Lehne
2018 Winners
- Best in Show – “Sunny and Gerd in Spring Cleaning” written, directed and produced by DaCosta Bayley
- Jury Selection- “The Amazing Neckbeard” written and directed by Aaron Legg
- Audience Choice – “The Tolls” written by Wylie Herman and Liz Anderson; directed by Liz Anderson; produced by Michael Balke and Richard Southard
2017 Winners
- Best in Show – “The Edge” (“La Lisière”) written by Tom Gobart and Simon Saulnier; directed and produced by Simon Saulnier
- Jury Selection- “Pirate Parts” directed by Shabnam Shams, Megan Robinson, and Sara Chantland; produced by John Harden, Sheila Harden, and Don R. Lewis
- Audience Choice – “Future Boyfriend” written by A. Vincent Ularich; directed by Ben Rock; produced by Ron Morehouse and Emily Bell
2016 Winners
- US Best in Show – “My Luchador” written and directed by Shea Sizemore; produced by Chip White
- International Best in Show – “Willa” (Germany) directed by Helena Hufnagel; written by Sina Flammang (based on a short story by Stephen King); produced by Helena Hufnagel and Tina Kringer
- Jury Selection- “New” written and directed by John Harden; produced by John Harden, Sheila Harden, and Don R. Lewis
- Audience Choice – “Expiration Date” written and directed by Jeffrey Frame; produced by Zack Kepner
2015 Winners
- Best in Show – “Defense Mechanism” directed by Sebastian Munoz
- Jury Selection – “E.M.M.A.” directed by Stephen Herman
- Audience Choice- “Chondriac” directed by Austin Hermann