"The ShortList," a short film festival put on by TheWrap.com, has narrowed down its field of entries to a set of 12 finalists, which will complete for the prize of $60,000 in camera equipment for future projects.
The finalists come from three distinct categories: Animation, Fiction, and Documentary. You can check out all of the finalists on TheWrap.com, through the site's mobile platform, or on one of our sister sites, Film.com and NextMovie.com.
The films featured in the "ShortList" competition come from some of the world's most renowned film festivals, like the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Venice Film Festival and the LA Film Festival.
You can view all of the short films in the festival and cast your vote for your favorite heading over to the fest's official site. Voting is open until September 4.
Click past the jump to get a rundown on the 12 featured finalists.
ANIMATION:
DON'T HUG ME I'M SCARED (Dirs: Rebecca Sloan and Joseph Pelling), UK, 3 min.
A short film about how to think creatively.
Midnight Prize, SXSW Film Festival
METRO (Dir: Jake Wyatt), US, 5 min.
After a fox steals her train ticket, a young girl must pursue him.
Best Short, Nantucket Film Festival
NOTES ON BIOLOGY (Dir: Danny Madden), US, 5 min.
An organism adapts to its environment.
Best Animated Short, SXSW Film Festival
THE MAKER (Dir: Christopher Kezelos), Australia, 5 min.
A strange creature races against time to make the most important and beautiful creation of his life.
Best Animated Short, Newport Beach Film Festival & Best Animated Short, Sydney Film Festival
FICTION:
200 MINUTES (MINUTO 200) (Dir: Frank Benitez), Columbia, 18 min.
An elderly woman resigns herself waiting for death, convinced that it will come knocking at her door as soon as she has sold the last minute of a cellphone airtime.
Best Ibero American Short, Guadalajara International Film Festival
FISHING WITHOUT NETS (Dir: Cutter Hodierne), Kenya/US, 17 min.
A story of pirates in Somalia told from the perspective of the Somalis.
Grand Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival
THE CHAIR (Dir: Grainger David), US, 12 min.
One boy's reaction to a strange and deadly outbreak in his small town.
Best Narrative Short, LA Film Festival, Grand Jury Prize, SXSW Film Festival
THE FACTORY (Dir: Aly Muritiba), Brazil, 15 min.
An inmate convinces his mother to take a risk smuggling a cell phone for him into the penitentiary.
Best Live Action Short, CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival
THE PLAIN (A CHJANA) Dir: Jonas Carpignano, Italy/US, 19 min.
True events inspired this compelling tale of an African migrant worker and his best friend in the wake of the most significant race riot in Italian history. A stirring story of rebellion, solidarity and friendship.
Best Short Film, Venice International Film Festival
DOCUMENTARY:
AARON BURR, PART 2 (Dir: Dana O'Keefe), US, 8 min.
A contemporary re-imagining of the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr explores the idea of history as a contested narrative.
Grand Jury Prize, Dallas International Film Festival
A BRIEF HISTORY OF JOHN BALDESSARI (Dirs: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman), US, 5 min.
No more boring films! Everything you need to know about the godfather of Conceptual Art. Narrated by Tom Waits.
Best Documentary Short, Deadcenter Festival
THE LOVE COMPETITION (Dir: Brent Hoff), US, 15 min.
The Stanford MRI Lab hosts the world's first ever "Love Competition" in which 7 contestants have 5 minutes to neurochemically love someone "as hard as they can."
Special Jury Prize, Dallas International Film Festival