Aspen Shortsfest Youth Film Competition

Aspen Shortsfest is an annual, Oscar-qualifying international short film festival held in Aspen, Colorado and organized by **Aspen Film**. The festival showcases a curated selection of narrative, documentary, and animated shorts from around the world, typically under 40 minutes, and includes special programs such as a **Youth Jury** made up of local high school students and a **Mini-Fest** that brings films to schools in the Roaring Fork Valley. While the main Shortsfest competition is primarily for adult and professional filmmakers, high school students can participate through the educational and youth-focused components—most notably by applying to serve on the **Youth Jury**, attending teen-focused screenings, and taking part in Q&As and filmmaker discussions. These opportunities give students firsthand exposure to world-class short films, insight into the film industry, and experience critically evaluating cinema, which can be valuable for aspiring filmmakers, critics, or media students.