written by Sarah Chaisson-Warner
Since the founding of our Short Film Fund, we have financed over 20 films, providing cash grants, mentorship, equipment rental, and more to help emerging writers and filmmakers take their films from page to screen.
But did you know many of our winning films are available to watch – for free? We’ve compiled a list of several of our past seasons’ winning films (many of whom have gone on to garner some serious awards!) and where you can watch them:
THE ORGY by Sam Baron
A heartbroken guy throws caution to the wind and goes to an orgy.
- Where to Watch: Short of the Week
- About Sam: Sam Baron is a writer and director based in London. His short films have been viewed 6 million times online. He has written for the TV shows CHLOE (BBC/Amazon), LOCKWOOD & CO (Netflix) and THE UNDERTOW (Netflix); has developed original TV projects with Netflix, BBC and Sky; and has written feature scripts for directors James Marsh, Scott Z. Burns and Alice Seabright. Since THE ORGY, he has made two other short films starring BAFTA nominee Amit Shah: TALL DARK AND HANDSOME and BIG EARS.
- Notables: THE ORGY won best short film in the Oslo Independent Film Festival and the Emden International Film Festival. It is currently being developed into a TV show with Sony Pictures.
CHAMP by James Gould-Bourne and Ben Tricklebank
Jake might only be 12, but that’s old enough to be a man as far as his dad is concerned. The only problem is that Jake isn’t sure he’s ready to grow up – at least not in the way that his dad wants him to.
- Where to watch: Vimeo
- About James: James Gould-Bourn is a novelist and screenwriter from Manchester, England. After several years working for landmine removal organisations in Africa and the Middle East, he decided to enroll on the Faber Academy’s six-month Write a Novel course in London. His debut novel, Keeping Mum, was published in 2020.
- About Ben: Ben is a celebrated multi-disciplinary artist and director, helming interactive films, virtual reality installations and digital experiences. Ben’s commercial work includes films for Hennessey, Sony Bravia, Lexus, Mini Cooper, and Playstation in partnership with agencies like Droga5, DDB, BBH, Ogilvy & Mather, and Google Creative Lab. His work has garnered awards from Cannes Lions, D&AD and The One Show, among others. His interactive documentary film, “Clouds Over Cuba,” received international accolades including an Emmy.
- Notables: CHAMP was nominated for the Judges’ 6 (Best Film) at Exit 6 Film Festival and premiered online on Omeleto.
A WEDDING DAY by Brendan Beachman
For newlyweds Brad and Jill, it seems the honeymoon is over before it even begins. When an eccentric stranger named Jess White stumbles into the couple’s first argument as man and wife, the day takes an abrupt turn and changes their lives forever.
- Where to watch: Directors Notes
- About Brendan: Brendan is a graduate of Montana State University, where he studied film/photography, with an emphasis on screenwriting/directing and production design. In 2009, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film. He cut his teeth writing/directing/producing/ editing/sound designing, hundreds of advertisements and is now a full-time commercial director with worldwide representation. He has also written and directed many award-winning short films, including the semi-biographical dark comedy, “Intersection.” He has several feature film projects in varying stages of development.
- Notables: A WEDDING DAY won the Jury Award for Best Short & Best Ensemble Cast at the Highland Park Film Festival, won festival honors for Best Narrative Short at the Newport Beach Film Festival, and won the Audience Award for Best Short Film at the Julien Dubuque Int’l Film Festival.
MISS FORTUNATE by Molly O’Shea
If luck is a lady, grief is a bitch. A young woman loses her mother and finds herself. A coming of rage story.
- Where to watch: Vimeo
- About Molly: Molly O’Shea is a writer and actress. She cut her teeth working with the critically acclaimed, Olivier-nominated immersive theatre company You Me Bum Bum Train. It was there she was headhunted by BBC Entertainment, sealing her fate as a producer in the making. At 18, Molly was told that although she was talented she was too fat to play pretty and too pretty to play fat. Identifying as neither of those things, she cried for several years before writing a one-woman show that explored this dichotomy. It premiered in 2019 to rave reviews and received four stars across the board.
- Notables: MISS FORTUNATE won Best Film and Best Screenplay at Exit 6 Film Festival and was the winner for Outstanding Comedy at Short. Sweet. Film Fest.
THIRSTYGIRL by Alexandra Qin
When her estranged alcoholic sister lands in the hospital after a relapse, Charlie reluctantly agrees to drive her from New York to rehab in Kentucky. But she must deal with a secret addiction of her own along the way.
- Where to watch: Vimeo
- About Alexandra: Alexandra is an award-winning screenwriter and independent filmmaker based in New York with a background in technology, social justice, and visual/performance art. She was born and raised in Paris, France, to a half-French, half-Filipina mother and a Chinese father. She is currently developing her first feature, THIRSTYGIRL, the screenplay for which was also the Grand Prize Winner of the 2022 Page Awards, a 2022 Nicholl Semifinalist, and the Winner of the 2021 Finish Line Social Impact screenplay competition.
- Notables: THIRSTYGIRL was an Official Selection at Sundance and won Best International Short Film at the Shared Visions Film Festival and Best Film – USA at Cortinametraggio. It also won the inaugural Shorts to Features Honor at Gotham Week. The feature film is now being produced by Asher Goldstein (American Born Chinese), Carlos Lopez Estrada (Didi), and Valerie Bush (Didi).
Now that you’ve seen some of the past winners’ films, consider submitting your script for this coming season! Our Short Film Fund provides an opportunity for emerging writers, directors, and producers from around the world to receive much-needed financial support to get their work produced and seen. We accept narrative short films (live-action & animation), web series pilots, and proof-of-concept shorts for TV series and features. Click here for more information and to enter!
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After 15 years of working in state and national politics, Sarah Chaisson-Warner is moving into the entertainment industry. As the former Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Athena Magazine for Girls, Sarah is now focusing her passion for creative arts through screenwriting. Many of her feature-length scripts focus on the often unseen experiences of gay women throughout American History, and she is also currently writing a sci-fi TV series and a family Christmas script.
