Gus Van Sant, Dana Ledoux Miller, and Julia Aks to Serve on Palm Springs International ShortFest Juries

Palm Springs, CA (June 16, 2026) – The Palm Springs International ShortFest announced the programs and participants for its annual Forum, as well as the jury members who will present Academy Award-Qualifying, Student Short, and Special Jury Awards. Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, the 32nd edition of the festival will take place June 23–29, 2026. The ShortFest Forum, held at the Hilton Palm Springs, will feature a dynamic lineup of thought-provoking panels, intimate roundtable discussions, and interactive sessions designed to connect filmmakers with industry professionals. Festival screenings will be presented at the Festival Theaters in Palm Springs from June 23–29, 2026.

 

Juried award winners will be announced on Sunday, June 28 drawn from five Oscar®-qualifying award categories and accompanied by cash prizes totaling $30,000. Bennett Awards is the Official ShortFest Awards Sponsor. Jurors include:

 

Best of the Festival Award

Dana Ledoux Miller — Writer/Director/Producer (Moana 2)

Gus Van Sant — Director

Julia Aks — Director/Actress (Jane Austen’s Period Drama)

Kayla Foster — Producer (Your Monster)

 

Best Animated Short

John Kelly — Director at Dolphin’s Barn Pictures

Wilson Chapman — Animation Editor at IndieWire

William D. Caballero — Director/Producer at Colibri Creative Media

 

Best Documentary Short

Ash Cook — Founder, Video Store•Age

Micah Gottlieb — Artistic Director at Los Angeles Festival of Movies

Rebekah Louisa Smith — Film Festival Strategist at The Film Festival Doctor

 

Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes

Jesy Odio — Production Manager at FUJIFILM

Maura Towey — Director of Development at Love & Squalor Pictures

Talia Shea Levin — Director, Writer, Producer

 

Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes & Under (Sponsored by SAGindie)

Alana Ford — Agent at Gersh

Mia McNiece — Senior Editor, News and Awards at Gold Derby

Peter Van Steemburg — Talent Manager at XYZ Films

 

Best International Short

Ernie Quiroz — Film Programmer (Santa Barbara, the Loft, Phoenix Art Museum)

Irene Suico Soriano — Short Film Programmer at Sundance Film Festival

Eleanor Wilson — Writer/Director (Wicker, Save Yourselves!)

 

Best U.S. Short

Steven Snyder — Producer at Cienega Films

Hayley Marie Norman — Filmmaker

Daniel Cardone — Senior Manager, Nonfiction Programs & Fiscal Sponsorship at Film Independent

 

Best Comedy Short

Max Geschwind — Media Finance Coordinator at CAA

Rika Dharmesh Bhakta — Independent Producer

Alex Huston Fischer — Writer/Director (Wicker, Save Yourselves!)

 

Best LGBTQ+ Short

Abby Wright — Founder/Festival Director at Femme Filth Fest

Dino-Ray Ramos — Founder, Diaspora

Ro Haber — Director (We Are Pat)

 

Best Midnight Short

Ashleigh Snead — Producer

Pip Ngo — EVP of Sales and Acquisitions at XYZ Films

Yulissa Morales — VP of Distribution and Creative at Epic Pictures | Dread

 

Best Student International Short

Adam Keresztes — Lead Shorts Programmer at Calgary International Film Festival

Séverine Tibi — Co-Founder, Producer at Sevana Films

Zegan Doyle — Programmer at AQUA Film Club, SXSW, Film Independent

 

Best Student Documentary, Best Student U.S., and Best Student Animated Short

Ambriehl Turrentine — Programming Manager at Denver Film

Edda Manriquez — Program Director, Femtastia Fest

Noah Baldwin — Executive Assistant/Internship Coordinator at Tremolo Productions

 

This year’s Forum programs and participants include:

 

Ask Me Anything: Festivals

Friday, June 26 — 10:00am – 11:00am

A Forum favorite! Meet programmers from festivals around the country for a candid and eye-opening conversation. Learn about how selection processes work, do’s and dont’s for submissions, and how to make the most of your film festival experience. Bring all your questions and don’t be shy as the audience will be the moderators!

 

Panelists: Katie Bignell (Founder, Festival Formula), Ernie Quiroz (Film Programmer, Santa Barbara International Film Festival; The Loft Cinema; Phoenix Art Museum), Irene Suico Soriano (Short Film Programmer, Sundance Film Festival), Gabe Van Amburgh (Senior Manager of Film & TV Fest Programming, SXSW), Jennifer Van Camp (Programming Manager, Palm Springs International Film Society)

 

Pitch Perfect: a Masterclass

Friday, June 26 — 11:30am – 12:30pm

Your favorite interactive panel returns – join a group of seasoned executives and filmmakers to discuss the do’s and don’ts of the pitching process, how to polish your delivery, and what a memorable pitch looks like. Submit your idea ahead of time for the chance to pitch live to the audience and receive feedback from the panel! Three pitches will be pre-selected and confirmed prior to the panel. Panel is open to all, advance registration required for those wanting to pitch.

 

Panelists: Sue-Ellen Chitunya (Producer at 263 Reels Productions), Kyle Greenberg (Head of Marketing & Distribution at Utopia), Angela Lee (Director of Artist Development at Film Independent), Hayley Marie Norman (Filmmaker), Erin Brown Thomas (Filmmaker and Curator with Salute Your Shorts Film Festival)

Moderator: Mia McNiece (Senior Editor, News and Awards at Gold Derby)

 

You, Me and the AI We Know

Friday, June 26 — 1:30pm – 2:30pm

AI is rapidly changing the filmmaking landscape — but what does that actually mean for shorts filmmakers working with limited budgets, small crews, and ambitious ideas? This panel explores the future of AI in the shorts filmmaking landscape. Panelists will discuss real-world applications, lessons learned, guardrails we should consider, and where the line between efficiency and artistry lives. Whether you’re AI-curious or already experimenting, this conversation is designed to unpack its impact, and understand how we might use it to expand creative possibilities while staying grounded in authentic voice and vision.

 

Panelists: Jacob Adler (Musician and Filmmaker), Jeffrey Bowers (Creative & Partnerships Producer at Asteria) Laura Coover (R&D Lead at Orbital Studios), Lizz Lyons (Development Executive at Promise)

Moderator: Aidan Kelley (News & Interview Editor, Collider)

 

Producers on Producing

Friday, June 26 — 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Join us as we dive into the producing side of the short filmmaking process, offering a practical roadmap for finding new producing collaborators and turning ideas into completed films. Producers will demystify their roles on and off set and share insights on budgeting, fundraising, crew-building, festival planning, and navigating creative challenges on limited resources.

 

Panelists: Andrew Carlberg (Producer at The Carlberg Company LLC), Ebony Elaine Hardin (Producer), Talia Shea Levin (Director, Writer, Producer), Jesy Odio (Production Manager, FUJIFILM)

Moderator: Wilson Chapman (Animation Editor, IndieWire)

 

One on Ones Session 1: Collaborator Matchup

Friday, June 26 — 4:45pm – 5:45pm

Are you a director seeking a producer for your new project? An actor looking for the writer that will have your next meaty role? Whatever hat(s) you might wear in the filmmaking process, let us step in and help you find your next great collaborator through these informal, general meetings. Advance sign up not required – come with an open mind and you may just meet your next creative partner!

 

You’ve Made a Short…Now What!?

Saturday, June 27 — 10:00am – 11:00am

Join a mix of veteran industry and filmmaker guests as they answer the question that’s top of mind after you wrap up your shoot: what’s next? From the transition to feature filmmaking, to figuring out how to leverage exposure with the short you just made, hear guidance and ideas for the future.

 

Panelists: William D. Caballero (Director/Producer, Colibri Creative Media), Pip Ngo (EVP of Sales and Acquisitions, XYZ Films), Nick Ogiony (Agent, CAA), Peter Van Steemburg (Talent Manager, XYZ Films), Eleanor Wilson (Writer/Director, Wicker; Save Yourselves!)

Moderator: Dino-Ray Ramos (Founder, Diaspora)

 

One-on-Ones Session 1: Industry Executive Mentors (Filmmakers only)

Saturday, June 27 — 12:00pm – 1:15pm

Don’t miss the chance to meet in person with an industry professional as part of our One on Ones. These general meetings are designed to allow you the opportunity to ask burning questions about areas of the industry you are interested in working in or learning more about, general career advice, or ways to best position yourself and your work as you move forward. Limited seating — advance sign-up required.

 

Participants: Noah Baldwin (Executive Assistant/Internship Coordinator, Tremolo Productions), Ian Bignell (Strategist, Festival Formula), Katie Bignell (Founder, Festival Formula), Rebecca Linfoot (VP of Film & Television at Metronome Film Co), Ash Cook (Founder, Video Store•Age), Laura Coover (R&D Lead at Orbital Studios), Imani Davis (Film Programmer at American Cinematheque), Jay Glazer (Manager and Producer at Neon Kite), Bill Hargreaves (Festival Director, San Jose International Short Film Festival), Alberto Medina (Founder, BASH Entertainment), Yulissa Morales (VP of Distribution and Creative, Epic Pictures | Dread), Edda Manriquez (Program Director, Femtasia Film Festival), Jaqueline Mosher (Manager at Industry Entertainment), Karen Noble (Director, Filmmaker & Content Strategies, Universal Film), Ahbra Perry (VP at Chroma Narrative Distribution), Catalina Rojter (Producer at PASTEL), Nick Romano (Vice President, Features, 18Hz), Rebekah Louisa Smith (Film Festival Strategist, The Film Festival Doctor) , Willie Trieger (VP, Development at Sight Unseen), Ambriehl Turrentine (Programming Manager, Denver Film), Abby Wright (Founder/Festival Director, Femme Filth Fest), Heidi Zwicker (Senior Programmer, Sundance Film Festival)

 

One-on-Ones Session 2: Filmmaker Mentors (Filmmakers only)

Saturday, June 27 — 12:00pm – 1:15pm

Don’t miss the chance to meet in person with an established filmmaker as part of our One on Ones. These general meetings give you the opportunity to ask burning questions about their careers, aspects of filmmaking you are interested in learning more about, general advice, or ways to best position yourself and your work as you move forward. Limited seating — advance sign-up required.

 

Participants: Pranav Bhasin (Director), Andrew Carlberg (Producer), Rona Edwards (Producer), Marissa Goldman (Director), Lucas Ford (Producer), Valerie Steinberg (Producer), Ro Haber (Director), Maria Hatzakou (Director), Alex Huston Fischer (Director, Wicker; Save Yourselves!), Dwayne LeBlanc (Director), Rachel Moss (Director), Diego Najera (Producer, Artefacto Cinema), Erin Ploss-Campoamor (Producer), Monika Skerbelis (Producer), Steven Snyder (Producer, Cienega Films), Briana Pozner (Director) Daniel Talbott (Director, Orphan Andy Films), Erin Brown Thomas (Filmmaker and Curator at Salute Your Shorts Film Festival), Severine Tibi (Producer, Sevana Film), Katie White (Producer), Alex Williams (Producer)

 

Roundtable Meet & Greet: Representatives & Development (Filmmakers only)

Sunday, June 29 — 12:30pm – 1:30pm

Our signature roundtable event returns! In an intimate group setting, hear directly from development executives, agents and managers about how they build relationships with the filmmakers they work with, what they look for, and how your work can stand out from the crowd. Bring your questions – we’ll rotate every 20 minutes, so you’ll be able to meet with 3 speakers total. This event is first-come, first-served with limited seating so we recommend arriving early.

 

Participants: Ahkeyah Andrada (Director of Development at Lord Miller), Rika Dharmesh Bhakta (Independent Producer), Alana Ford (Agent, Gersh), Max Geschwind (Media Finance Coordinator, CAA), Marc Mounier (Manager, Entertainment 360), Maddie Neil (Agent, WME), Matt Rosen (Literary Manager, Navigation Management), Helena Sardinha (Head of Development at Simbelle Productions), Maura Towey (Director of Development, Love & Squalor Pictures), Natalia Williams (Manager, M88)

 

Roundtable Meet & Greet: Programmers & Artist Support (Filmmakers only)

Sunday, June 29 — 2:30pm – 3:30pm

In an intimate group setting, hear directly from programmers and institutions running artist support programs about how they select projects, what they look for when programming, and what opportunities exist for your project. Bring your questions – we’ll rotate every 20 minutes, so you’ll be able to meet with 3 speakers total. This event is first-come, first-served with limited seating so we recommend arriving early.

 

Participants: Daniel Cardone (Senior Manager of Nonfiction Programs & Fiscal Sponsorship at Film Independent), Micah Gottlieb (Artistic Director at Los Angeles Festival of Movies), Eliza Hajek (Manager of Development at SAGindie), Adam Keresztes (Lead Shorts Programmer at Calgary International Film Festival), Craig Parish (Senior Programmer, Slamdance), Ina Pira (Head of Curation at Vimeo), Francis Román (Senior Film & TV Programming Manager at SXSW), Sudeep Sharma (Programmer, Sundance Film Festival), Paul Sloop (Director of Programming, Cleveland International Film Festival), Matthew Takata (Assistant Director of the Feature Film Program’s international work at Sundance Institute)