~ 2026 winners & selection ~
16th edition. Tickets HERE.
FEATURE FILM
The Girl In The Shadows, directed by Darren K Hawkins, AUSTRALIA, 1h43. WINNER
Set in the regional city of Tamworth, New South Wales, the film follows Detective Shelley Tyrone, a driven and capable police officer marginalised as she battles PTSD and substance dependence. When a reclusive local man is found murdered, Shelley forces her way into the investigation. As the case reconnects her with a traumatic past, guilt, and suppressed violence erode any clear boundary between justice and culpability.
FRENCH SHORT FILM – NOMINEES
Anna and the Assassin, réalisé par by Alessandro Gazzara, 3′.
Du rose et des paillettes, réalisé par by Laura Storni, 3′.

Made up with a pink flower and glitter, Ketty tells why it’s the first time she has had this experience.
Embrasse-moi, réalisé par by Hristo Todorov, 12′.

A young guy, named Alex, and Philippe, a charming man in his fifties have a date. It is supposed to be just a quick sex affair, but things will turn out unexpectedly…
Just when Alex is about to leave, he discovers something that shocks him…
Gros Lot, réalisé par by Kilian Thomas | PAMA Alumni |, Milena Tessereau, 4′.
High Iso, réalisé par by Jérémie Veuthey, 11′.
Hors Service, réalisé par by Clara Jimenez, 8′.

On the night she fails a decisive exam, Audrey, a young waitress, begins her shift at a restaurant.
As the evening unfolds, reality starts to distort: the customers turn into reflections of her fears and failures. Trapped in her own judgments, she must find the strength to face herself.
L’invocation de Seyro, réalisé par by Jules Bontemps, Loïs Blanchard, 9′.

For Halloween, Steven sets up a fake demon summoning in order to trick his friend Jim. But how far will his prank go ?
La Facture, réalisé par by Anthony Légal, 7′.
Alain, wandering in the night after a breakup, calls on a prostitute to ask her for an unexpected favor that will change the course of an ordinary night.
Blessé après une rupture, Alain, errant dans la nuit, fait appel à une prostituée pour lui demander un service inattendu qui va changer le cours d’une nuit ordinaire.
Le Dernier Lutz, réalisé par by Anastasia Augst, 9′.

The Last Lutz follows the journey of Roxanne Martelli, a young figure skater on rollers, on the eve of her final competition.
Le Jour Des Adultes, réalisé par by David Capsir, 23′.
Discovering that Santa Claus doesn’t exist.
The biggest blow to our childhood dreams?
In a world where we haven’t lost our childlike sense of wonder, Stéphane, the owner of an architectural firm, experiences a midlife crisis when he discovers the truth about Santa Claus.
Le Pont, réalisé par by Jean-Baptiste Legendre, 8′.

The narrator was born in the village of Fourques, the same year the bridge was built.
His life lasted only until the day he crossed paths with “him, the man,” someone he doesn’t know how to address. Since then, he watches the life he never had. Playing with senses and references, the story offers a dive into the tragic fate of a child long after the tragedy.
Lueur, réalisé par by Lia Mouchenik, 10′.

Hospitalized, Axel lives secluded in his hospital room.
One night, he notices a young woman at the window and becomes attached to her presence. This silent encounter, suspended between dream and reality, leads him toward an irreversible outcome.
Mémoires Silencieuses, réalisé par by Gaetano Naccarato, 9′.

Set behind enemy lines in France during World War II, the film follows the journey of an American soldier as he navigates hostile territory — and his own inner battles.
Through his story, he reveals the weight of trauma and the emotional scars that war leaves behind. At its heart, the film explores a universal and deeply human theme: the unspoken truths and family secrets carried in silence by those who return from war, burdened with memories they may never be able — or dare — to share.
Mlle Cosmetik, réalisé par by Olivier Nelli | PAMA Alumni |, 3′.
Montre-moi, réalisé par by Célia Briand | PAMA Alumni |, 13′.
At a prestigious drama school, Nina, a young actress, is humiliated by a tyrannical teacher during an improvisation exercise that spirals out of control.
A tense drama about the violence that the artistic world tolerates in the name of creativity.
Nouveau Horizons, réalisé par by Omar Tebbiche, 15′.

Penelope, a young actress full of dreams, tries to make a name for herself in a relentless industry.
Between mediocre scripts, dubious offers and a day job she hides from everyone, she feels like her dream is slipping away. An event forces her to confront her fears, her guilt and her thwarted dreams. Shaken but finally clear-headed, she finds herself at a decisive crossroads. Will she have the strength and courage to take back control of her life?
Paper Plane, réalisé par by Erik Sémashkin, 5′.
Dans une cour de récréation, un réfugié ukrainien rejoint un groupe de garçons français pour lancer des avions en papier.
Cette activité, pourtant innocente, va provoquer une tension dans le groupe.
Rêve Party, réalisé par by Florian Velasco, Fabien Le Mouël, 7′.
A nightclub in the mid-80s.
Between dream and reality, between passion and reason: to choose or to endure…
Sublime, réalisé par by Pierre Toubas & Julien Duverger, 2′.
NOMINEES INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
A Burden to Bare, directed by Jorge Orellana, Canada, 29′.
A haunted bartender with a rare gift accepts a high-paying job at a private event, only to uncover a hidden death and become entangled in the unresolved grief of a fractured family.
Cantrik, directed by dinar safari, Indonesia, 17′.
In the ancient lands of Nusantara, a legendary dagger known as Keris Tirta Amara grants immense power and immortality to whoever possesses it. But the sacred weapon soon becomes the source of endless war and bloodshed.
La Transformation, directed by Jonathan Mourava, France, 3′.
An overweight man attempts to transform himself, haunted by his conscience.
As he pursues perfection, the line between effort and madness disappears.
Our Monsters, directed by Mia Mango Petrovic, Canada, 9′.
Two kids, Daniel and Peter, who team up to defeat the monster in Daniel’s closet.
The story begins with Daniel impatiently waiting until he hears Peter’s voice through his walkie talkie. The boys prepare for their mission, donning homemade armour and weapons.
The Last Rehearsal, directed by Carling Ernstzen, UK, 19′.
The Penningtons, directed by Eamon Walsh, USA, 14′.

In 2020, the crew of the online show The Truth Trackers went missing while investigating the Pennington family’s underground blackmail and snuff film empire.
This is a compilation of the footage that was mysteriously uploaded after that night, records obtained through freedom of information act requests and additional footage captured by live stream viewers.
Treinta Y Dos, directed by Carlota Beltrán, Spain, 15′.

After her grandfather’s death, a grieving Maria receives a chess board from his will.
All the pieces are made of glass except one: the white horse is made of wood, and Maria has a special fondness for it.
What’s In your Bag?, directed by Béla Baptiste, Austria / France / NY, 6′.
An interview, a celebrity with effortless charm, a designer bag, and the familiar ritual of personal revelation in this “inside look” series – shallow as it is invasive.
The host’s expectation for sanitized intimacy is soon subverted, as a polished, white smile transforms into something far more dangerous.
Will this still work…?, directed by Marco Girnth, Germany, 23′.

Klaus, 65, lonesome in his small world.
Caught by his daily routines, he lost the contact to the world around him. But life literally knocks at his door, and forces him to leave his cocoon… to let things happen again… to let “this still work…”
NOMINEES MUSIC VIDEO
Carpenter Brut – The Misfits / The Rebels, directed by Jean Delaunay, France, 4′.
Rebels at full speed through the City of Light.
The Misfits/ The Rebels explodes like a race toward freedom between neon lights, synths and chaos.
Follow Lita and Bret in a high-speed chase through Midwichpolis in an animated music video directed by Jean Delaunay.
Other I, directed by Alina Popescu | PAMA Alumni |, France, 3′.
In a vast cathedral devoted to a strange, otherworldly deity, a young girl offers gifts that begin as harmless tokens of devotion but escalate into brutal sacrifices of her own body.
NOMINEES SCORE
NOMINEES SCRIPT
1806, written by Maik Giessler, Germany.

A young French soldier is seriously wounded in the war of 1806 and finds refuge in a German village community – caught between enemy stereotypes, morality and the question of what humanity means in war.
14 Minutes, written by Elise Plakke, USA.

Women and men often stay in relationships in a comfort zone because it is easier to go along with a semi-fulfilling relationship than break it off to find the ultimate relationship. The film illustrates that learning to see the world through a different lens offers introspection and a chance to redefine ourselves.
Cactus, written by Olga Khokhlova, USA.

Linda is the plant lover who lives in the Washington D.C. area. During one of her Saturday trips to the local market, she picks up a cactus plant that is in desperate need of help. She buys it and gives it to her best friend at the local Horticultural Society to rehabilitate it.
Death Is Not The End (La Mort n’est pas la Fin), written by Jose Montalvo, USA.

In 1991 France, a mysterious woman claiming to be the Angel of Death upends a corrupt asylum, rallying fellow patients to rise against their brutal caretakers in a final act of vengeance.
Heartbeat, written by Mary Marcano, Colombia.

Heartbeat follows a five-year-old girl navigating life between abuse at home and survival on the streets of Caracas. Invisible to those around her, she finds comfort in a discarded teddy bear that becomes her only source of protection and love.
L’Amour Fatale, written by Catharine Rajan, USA.

Set in late 19th-century Paris, this classic-style film unravels the story of a passionate romance overshadowed by treachery and vengeance.
A man falls deeply in love with the enchanting young wife of Félix Bertrand, an affluent yet cruel lawyer. Unable to endure her suffering any longer, he crafts the ultimate plan to end her torment, leading to a murder that feels justified.
One Week with Gerald, written by Josh McConkey, USA.

Tom, a brilliant but disillusioned young medical student on the verge of dropping out, is assigned to care for Gerald—a 73-year-old World War II veteran with a sharp wit and a lifetime of untold stories.
What begins as a routine hospital rotation becomes an unforgettable week-long journey through courage, sacrifice, love, and leadership as Gerald reveals the defining moments that shaped his life during and after the war.
Return to Anglesia, written by Mimi Vlaovic | PAMA Alumni |, UK.

Stressed about her visa expiring in three days, Persa starts seeing the Government requirements as challenges of her boyfriend’s medieval fantasy video game.
Sins of the Father, written by Jaya George, USA.

Zara is an accomplished Nobel Laureate and Kiran is a highly esteemed practicing cardiologist. But it wasn’t always that way. Once upon a time they were both awkward students together in medical school embarking on a long and difficult journey to their goals. Falling in love over a naked corpse isn’t your usual meet-cute, but occasionally it happens.
The Rurals (Aldeans), written by Judson Vaughan, USA.

When a Galician couple’s bid for farming glory in their local village
competition goes hilariously awry, their quiet life is turned upside down as they find themselves thrust into a whirlwind of fame and unintended consequences.
Can their lives ever be the same again?
Wondercut, written by Marina Burana, Taiwan.

A group of broke friends at a gas station in the middle of nowhere are forced to make the best of a bizarre situation when the gas station becomes the site of a chaotic, particular invasion, sparking a series of absurd events that force them to confront their lives, their friendships, and the strange forces of nature.
NOMINEES STUDENT SHORT FILM
Mapo Tofu, directed by Yinhan Zu, China / USA, 6′.

A man eats a bowl of Mapo Tofu in the desert. Its heat triggers memories of emotional abuse, betrayal, and the crime that defined his life.
This is his execution site. As a condemned man, he recalls the only moment of happiness from his childhood before the gunshot ends everything.
Universal Trip, directed by Austin Stowe, USA, 7′.

Dean finds a mysterious device on his table. Not knowing what it does, he decides to press a button.
NOMINEES ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Fangio: Courage or Destiny (Coraje o Destino),, directed by Nicolas Pedro Villarreal, Argentina, 15′.
“Fangio: Courage or Destiny” follows a young boy as he is confronted with his future and the decisions he must make to fulfill his destiny.
Inspired by the 1955 Formula 1 Grand Prix in Argentina, where Juan Manuel Fangio had to suffer third-degree burns on his leg in order to win the race.
The Wall, directed by Hongchen Li, China, 5′.

The Wall unfolds in ancient China, where a young man dares to slip into a mansion under the cover of night, longing for his beloved. What separates them, however, is not distance, but the unyielding wall of tradition and class, an invisible boundary stronger than stone.
NOMINEES DANCE SHORT FILM
Behold, directed by Weisheng Xu, Tingting Zhang, China, 2′.

Set in a wet market, this work depicts a woman with an ambiguous identity deconstructing her body through fragmented dance movements.
Casi, directed by Jocelyn Laurent, Martinique, France, 4′.

Two bodies draw near, drift apart, brush against each other without ever meeting. In a suspended space, two beings embark on an obstinate quest: to reach the other, to touch, to resonate together.
Yet each attempt fades, each impulse dissolves into the unattainable. Between the burning desire for contact and the impossibility of achieving it.
NOMINEES DOCUMENTARY
Louisville Slugger: The Sound of a Nation, directed by Thomas Wavid Johns, France, 7′.
Louisville Slugger: The Sound of a Nation is a short documentary exploring the craft, ritual, and enduring mythology behind America’s most iconic baseball bat.
Through intimate access to the Louisville Slugger factory floor, the film traces how wood, labor, and sound converge to shape an object that has echoed across generations; from neighborhood sandlots to Major League stadiums.
Strange Age, directed by Fu Le, France, 25′.

Strange Age is a window on today’s youth. The documentary follows the journey of 13 young dancers enrolled in the contemporary dance training Coline, directed for 30 years by Bernadette Tripier.
The Unarmed: Firelock Silhouettes, directed by Suyu Sun, China, 2′.

In a land embraced by mountains, rituals repeat across generations: young men have their heads shaved, receive gunpowder and firearms, and become inheritors of the village’s cultural memory.
Beyond the ritual, a pair of eyes has always been watching. She stands silent, slightly bowed, in the shadows beneath the drum tower.
NOMINEES EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
Angoisse, directed by Araeia Robinson, USA, 4′.
Plagued by relentless anxiety, a woman is caught between the weight of the past and the grip of the unknown—until the voices of her ancestors become the only path home.
Marinating, directed by Helmie Stil, Sjaan Flikweert, Netherlands, 5′.

Marinating is a poem about the powerful vulnerability of opening your heart and your mind to another.
In this intimate description, two people surrender their brains, their own thoughts, to the other and allow themselves to be influenced. It is an equal act, in which they both yield.
My Playground – Air ballet, directed by Jorge Arana, USA, 3′.

Air Ballet is a poetic short documentary that explores where true freedom lives.
After decades flying some of the world’s most advanced commercial aircraft, a veteran pilot finds his greatest joy in the simplicity of a small open-cockpit biplane.
NOMINEES COMMERCIAL / DRONE
Spaceman’ VW – ID4 (spec spot), directed by Jorge Arana, USA, 2′.

Spaceman: Journey Beyond is a spec commercial that showcases an astronaut’s extraordinary journey across Earth.
The commercial combines stunning visuals with engaging storytelling, capturing the essence of exploration. This captivating journey highlights the spirit of discovery and emphasizes the limitless possibilities of electric vehicles.
The Spirit of Kea, directed by Edward Lee, United Arab Emirates, 1′.

True luxury isn’t found in what you see, but in how you feel.
The Spirit of Kéa is a multi-layered, sensory odyssey that transcends the traditional travel film. It is an invitation to step into a rich, textural ecosystem where the boundaries between the soul and the Cyclades dissolve.
NOMINEES CINEMATOGRAPHY
Louisville Slugger: The Sound of a Nation, directed by Thomas Wavid Johns, USA, 7′.
Louisville Slugger: The Sound of a Nation is a short documentary exploring the craft, ritual, and enduring mythology behind America’s most iconic baseball bat.
Through intimate access to the Louisville Slugger factory floor, the film traces how wood, labor, and sound converge to shape an object that has echoed across generations; from neighborhood sandlots to Major League stadiums.
Rêve Party, director of photography Jules Pajot, France, 7′.
A nightclub in the mid-80s.
Between dream and reality, between passion and reason: to choose or to endure…
Mémoires Silencieuses, directed by Gaetano Naccarato, France, 11′.

Set behind enemy lines in France during World War II, the film follows the journey of an American soldier as he navigates hostile territory — and his own inner battles.
Through his story, he reveals the weight of trauma and the emotional scars that war leaves behind. At its heart, the film explores a universal and deeply human theme: the unspoken truths and family secrets carried in silence by those who return from war, burdened with memories they may never be able — or dare — to share.
Le Dernier Lutz, cinematographer Jean-Mathieu Fresneau, France, 9′.

The Last Lutz follows the journey of Roxanne Martelli, a young figure skater on rollers, on the eve of her final competition.
NOMINEES DIRECTOR
Carlota Beltrán, for Treinta y Dos, Spain, 15′.

Carlota Beltrán is an emerging screenwriter and director who has created several intimate dramas and psychological horror short films.
Her work explores the human condition and the struggle to move forward through loneliness and loss.
Célia Briand | PAMA Alumni |, for Montre-Moi, France, 13′.

Originaire de Pau, après avoir obtenu un Master 2 en Psychologie, je décide de me faire plaisir et de tenter ma chance en tant que comédienne. Je m’installe alors à Paris en 2015 et je suis une formation de deux ans à l’école de théâtre Les Enfants Terribles. Depuis j’ai tourné dans plusieurs courts métrages, publicités, joué au théâtre et au cinéma. J’ai continué de me former au laboratoire de l’acteur et avec Jack Waltzer.
En parallèle, j’ai très vite été attirée par la réalisation et l’écriture. Je me suis essayée à cet exercice en participant au Nikon Festival et j’ai adoré l’expérience. “Montre-moi” est mon 5e court-métrage et mon premier 12 min, il est inspiré d’une histoire que j’ai vécue.
Dinar Safari, for Cantrik, Indonesia, 17′.

Abah Dinar is a Stunt Coordinator and Action Director with extensive experience creating action sequences for films, series, and commercials. Combining safety, precision, and cinematic impact, he brings directors’ visions to life through realistic and visually effective action scenes.
Through Java Stunt, he leads a skilled and responsive stunt team capable of supporting productions of all sizes. Known for his discipline and collaborative approach, he works closely with camera, lighting, art, and AD departments to ensure smooth and efficient shoots.
Hristo Todorov, for Embrasse-Moi, France, 12′.

Born in Bulgaria in 1980, Hristo Todorov graduated from the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia at the age of 22, with two specialties – Film Analysis and Film Directing. Later he directed programs for Bulgarian TV channels and several institutional films. Hristo also edited 3 feature movies, 1 TV series, several documentaries and many trailers.
In early 2017, Hristo moved to Paris, where he started making short films as an independent director.
Nicolas Pedro Villarreal, for Fangio: Courage or Destiny (Coraje o Destino), Argentina, 15′.

Nicolás P. Villarreal was born and raised in La Plata, Argentina. He studied at the Escuela de Animación y Cinematografía de Avellaneda where he earned a degree in 2D Animation.
While studying animation, he was taken under the wing of Miguel Alzugaray, a well-known fine artist from Argentina. He continued studying animation and fine art painting until he entered the Master’s Program at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Pierre Toubas & Julien Duverge, for Sublime, France, 2′.