Chicago Shorts held the physical screening for its June edition yesterday at Facets Theatre in Chicago, presenting a curated selection of officially selected short films before announcing this season’s winners.
The festival is organized by a volunteer team with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity in independent cinema. Its stated mission is rooted in the belief that cinema was historically shaped as a form of mass culture, created to make artistic expression available to a wider public.
This edition’s live event faced some organizational challenges, including technical issues and the absence of the scheduled host. While such situations can occur in volunteer-run cultural events, the screening still provided an opportunity to present selected works and bring attention to the filmmakers involved.
Winners List – June Edition
| Category | Winner |
| Best US Short | Pink Trees |
| Best International Short | Marie-Thérèse |
| Best Student Short | Flicker |
| Best Documentary Short | Ridge to River: The Arkansas Traverse |
| Best Experimental Short | Fragments |
| Best Animated Short | What Could Have Been |
| Best Horror Short | Shelter |
| Best Comedy Short | O.G.R.A.F. |
| Best Thriller | KIOSK |
| Best Male Director | The Curse of Miriam |
| Best Female Director | Girl Dad |
| Best Short Script | Am Wasser |
| Best Actor | Gabriel Bush — The Bartender: Hail Mary |
| Best Actress | Kayla Emerson — Johnny Mac |
| Best First-Time Director | Self Custody |
| Best Music in a Short Film | The Tourist |
| Best Cinematography in a Short Film | Looking Forward to Yesterday |
| Best Women Emancipation Project | Unleashed, A Love Letter to Survivors |
| Best Human Rights Short | The Soldiers |
Chicago Shorts continues to position itself as a volunteer-led festival dedicated to independent cinema, inclusive participation, and the recognition of short-form filmmaking across a wide range of genres and categories.
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