The Independent Shorts Awards is a Los Angeles-based international short film festival that conducts monthly editions, which serve as qualifying rounds for its Annual Awards event. Each year, the Annual Awards showcase features 70-80 exceptional short films selected from the monthly competitions, including official nominees and a curated non-competitive section. The festival also emphasizes supporting student filmmakers through specific award categories. Many acclaimed artists, including Academy Award winners and nominees, have been recognized or involved with the festival.