Boston Short Film Festival Announces Award Winners of Its 11th Edition

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The 11th Boston Short Film Festival concluded last Friday after four days of celebrating outstanding short-form cinema at the Capitol Theatre. From Tuesday through Friday, audiences enjoyed a carefully curated program of 39 short films from around the world, reaffirming the festival's commitment to championing bold voices and the art of short filmmaking.

Festival manager and host Maarten Cornelis

The winning films reflect the remarkable breadth of contemporary cinema. Together, they explore resilience, memory, identity, history, and the human condition—from intimate personal journeys and stories shaped by war to visually daring experiments, surreal comedy, and reflections on art, family, and society. The selected winners demonstrate the power of short films to capture profound emotional experiences in remarkably concise and inventive ways.

"Looking at this year's award winners, what stands out is how each film approaches the human experience from a completely different angle," said Festival Director Kris De Meester. "Whether through quiet acts of compassion, the realities of war, childhood memories, absurd humor, artistic experimentation, historical reflection, or deeply personal family relationships, these filmmakers found unique and unforgettable ways to connect with audiences. That's exactly what the Boston Short Film Festival exists to celebrate."

The 2026 edition featured a carefully curated lineup of 39 short films representing a wide range of genres, styles, and perspectives. In addition to the in-person screenings, the festival's online Streaming Selection remains available for viewing through August 13: https://www.bostonshortfilmfestival.com/streaming

After much deliberation, the jury selected the following winners:

Best Narrative Short Film

Nightfaces (Austria) – Directed by Martin Winter & Stefan Langthaler

Best Documentary Short Film

Vita 2.0 (Ukraine) – Directed by Vita Stoikova

Best Animated Short Film

To the Woods (France) – Directed by Agnès Patron

Best Underground Short Film

Dead Tooth (France) – Directed by Romane Eilahtan

Best Experimental Short Film

Equal (United States) – Directed by Tom Bessoir

Best Boston Film

The Magician (United States) – Directed by Juan Gracia

Best Performance

Luisa Huertas & Óliver Cantú in Reliefs (Mexico) – Directed by Juan Manuel Gonzalez Fernandez

Congratulations to all the selected filmmakers and award winners. The Boston Short Film Festival also extends its heartfelt thanks to its audiences for joining us throughout the festival and supporting independent cinema. We look forward to welcoming filmmakers and film lovers back for the 12th edition next year.