The Palm Springs International Shortfest has unveiled its winners for 2026 during a recent award ceremony. This year, the festival presented five films with Academy Award qualifying awards, allowing their creators the opportunity to submit for Oscar consideration.

The Best of the Festival Award, which came with a $5,000 cash prize, was awarded to the film Fruit, directed by Jen Nee Lim from Singapore. The jury comprised notable figures including Dana Ledoux Miller, Gus Van Sant, Julia Aks, and Kayla Foster.

In addition to the main award, a Special Mention was given to the film Hyena, directed by Altay Ulan Yang from the USA/China.

For the Best Animated Short category, the winner was Fačuk, a collaboration between Croatia and Slovenia, which received a $1,000 cash prize. The jury for this category included John Kelly, Wilson Chapman, and William D. Caballero.

These awards highlight the vibrant creativity within the short film community and provide a platform for filmmakers to gain recognition on a global scale. The Palm Springs International Shortfest continues to be a significant event in the film festival circuit, celebrating diverse storytelling and artistic expression.