The Sundance Film Festival has unveiled its 2025 Short Film Program, presenting 57 films selected from over 11,000 submissions, showcasing the future of short-form storytelling.
The festival, taking place from January 23 to February 2, 2025, will be held both in person at Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, and online from January 30 to February 2, 2025. Tickets for both formats will go on sale on January 16 at 10 AM MT, with pre-sale opportunities available for members, according to the Sundance Institute.
“Our program wouldn’t feel complete without a showcase of exceptional short films,” said Kim Yutani, Director of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival. “We’re thrilled to present the 2025 Short Film Program today. These works, diverse in style and subject matter, powerfully exemplify the artistry of short-form storytelling.”
Mike Plante, Senior Programmer for Short Film, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The Short Film Program highlights innovative storytelling and unique perspectives. With this collection, audiences will discover remarkable talent and inspired filmmaking from around the world.”
Among the selected shorts, which represent 28 countries and territories, are fiction, nonfiction, and animated films—demonstrative of the festival's commitment to diversity and innovation. The films were selected from 11,153 submissions, including 4,909 from the U.S. and 6,244 international entries.
According to reports, Utah filmmakers will be featured prominently within the lineup. For example, the short film "Paradise Man (ii)" is directed by Jordan Michael Blake, who lived for two years in Utah during his studies at BYU. Another film, "The Long Valley," directed by Robert Machoian, examines agricultural workers and is part of the nonfiction category.
Machoian is not just involved as a director; he also wrote the feature film "Omaha," which will premiere at the 2025 festival.
The short film lineup includes notable titles such as:
- U.S. Fiction Shorts: - "An Almost Successful Dating App Love Story" by Winter Coleman - "Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting" by Alexander Thompson - "Unholy" by Daisy Friedman
- International Fiction Shorts: - "Almost Certainly False" (Turkey) by Cansu Baydar - "People & Things" (Poland) by Damian Kosowski
- Animation Shorts: - "Bunnyhood" (U.K.) by Mansi Maheshwari - "Jesus 2" (U.S.A.) by Jesse Moynihan
- Nonfiction Shorts: - "The Long Valley" by Robert Machoian and Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck - "Hoops, Hopes & Dreams" by Glenn Kaino
Historically, the Sundance Film Festival has served as a launchpad for numerous prominent filmmakers. Notable alumni from its short film program include Andrea Arnold, Damien Chazelle, and Taika Waititi, who have all significantly impacted the industry.
The Sundance Institute actively promotes short filmmaking year-round through its Short Film Tour, which screens festival shorts at theaters across the U.S. and internationally, reinforcing its dedication to the craft.
Through its commitment to showcasing fresh voices and unique stories, the 2025 Sundance Film Festival continues to bolster its legacy as one of the foremost venues for cinema innovation. The festival's eagerly anticipated short film showcase symbolizes the richness of storytelling conceived within brief formats, making it wholly distinct and impactful.
For more details on the selected films or ticketing information, interested parties can visit festival.sundance.org.
