Grab some popcorn because the Indy Shorts International Film Festival is rolling the tape tomorrow, Tuesday, July 18, through Sunday, July 23.

We’re pressing play with a preview of everything you need to know so you can sit back + enjoy the show. I almost want the pun here to be that we're running the movie previews, since "preview" is also a movie word!

📽️ What is it?

Indy Shorts is an Academy Award-qualifying international film festival presented by Heartland Film. It’s become the largest shorts festival in the Midwest and has been held in Indianapolis since 2018.

Indy Shorts is one of only 34 festivals in the world to qualify films for Academy Awards in all three short film categories — Live Action, Documentary, and Animation. Over the years, 33 short films at Indy Shorts + Heartland’s International Film Festival have been nominated, with 10 going on to win Oscars.

Jury members made up of filmmakers and industry professionals will help select this year’s top winners for Academy Award qualification + cash prizes.

This year's film festival theme is "Camp Indy Shorts." | Photo by Heartland Film

🎟️ This year’s festival

Indy Shorts is back with s'more short film fun with this year's theme:unitalicized, see what you think Camp Indy Shorts. There will be 165+ short films — ranging from horror, comedy, documentary, narrative, and animated — curated into 29 themed screenings that will run ~60-100 minutes. Three programs are made up of 20 shorts created by Hoosiers or filmed in Indiana.

Filmmakers will be traveling from all over the world to take part in the festival, with some participating in audience Q+A sessions after the screenings. Check out the Camp Guide to learn more.

Pro tip: if you're going to an outdoor screening at Newfields, bring some bug spray. | Photo by Heartland Film

📺 Where can I watch?

This year, moviegoers can screen the short films at Living Room Theaters, Newfields, the Fort Ben Cultural Campus for a family-friendly screening, or virtually in the comfort of your own home.

Check out the different ticket + fest pass options. Pro tip: Heartland Film Members get 20% off when logged in with their member email.