The Rogers Short Film Festival has a category for everyone!

2026 categories

Documentary

Documentaries on any subject and by any producer except those who are in the K-12 category. K-12 documentarians, please submit your film in the K-12 category.

Abstract/Experimental

Abstract/Experimental films use the medium in non-traditional ways, such as expressing an artistic vision, having an asynchronous or no soundtrack, and/or not having a linear narrative.

Zero to Sixty

Narrative films or filmic content that are less than one minute total running time such as super shorts, commercials, PSAs, TikTok and other social media content.

K-12

Narrative Film, Documentary, Animation, Experimental. Grab a camera and show us what you got! Open to all filmmakers in the K-12 educational levels.

Post-Secondary

Narrative film and animation. Open to postsecondary, undergraduate, and graduate students of colleges, universities trade, and technical schools.

Amateur

Narrative film and animation. For nonprofessional filmmakers not backed by a production company or distribution platform and are self-financed.

Professional

This category is for professional filmmakers producing narrative films and animations. "Professional" is defined as a Producer/Director who works in the film industry, has a project budget of $20,000 or more, and may have the support or backing of a production company or distribution platform.

2025 AWARD WINNERS

BEST OF FEST

“Toots.”
by Chris Alan Evans

PROFESSIONAL

“Mudpuppy”
by Cole Borgstadt

AMATEUR

“The Mirror”
by Ben Harrison

STUDENT, K-12

“Metamorphosis”
by Bryn Wright

STUDENT, 
POST-SECONDARY

“the spades club”
by Clara Hopkins

ABSTRACT/EXPERIMENTAL

“Blah Blah Blah”
by Tom Baker

ZERO TO SIXTY

“Sad Psycho”
by Billy Chase Goforth

DOCUMENTARY

“A Fishing Story”
by Jet Gatewood

2024 AWARD WINNERS

BEST OF FEST

“Otherside”
by Kristen Buckels

PROFESSIONAL

“Clownfish”
by Clayton Henderson

AMATEUR

“The Chain”
by Tom Hipp

STUDENT, K-12

“Drought”
by Zoe Marie Brown

STUDENT, 
POST-SECONDARY

“Mono No Aware”
by CJ Mirch

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