The Talkies Short Film Awards is a new initiative launched by Talkies Community Cinema to celebrate outstanding short-form storytelling and creative talent. The awards include cash prizes, as well as audience and jury recognition, with selected films featured in public screenings. Building on a legacy of championing short films and supporting emerging talent since 2012, Talkies Community Cinema has a history of commissioning original short films. The awards seek English-language films that are "bold, fresh, and deeply human," encompassing fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental genres.