The SAG-AFTRA Foundation has announced the 10 films that will be featured as part of the revival of the Foundation’s Short Film Showcase, a curated selection of submitted short films and content, recognising projects made under a SAG-AFTRA contract, standout performances within short films, and films directed by SAG-AFTRA performers. Three hundred and forty SAG-AFTRA members participated in the selection process, which took place over the course of two months following the submissions deadline on January 23, 2025.
Five films will be screened in recognition of Excellence in Performance, while a second selection of five films will be screened in recognition of Excellence in Filmmaking. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation Short Film Showcase will be held on June 25 and June 26, 2025 in New York at the Foundation’s Robin Williams Center, and in Los Angeles at the Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists, for audiences of SAG-AFTRA members and invited industry guests. Following the screenings, Q&As with the filmmakers and casts will be recorded and published on the Foundation’s YouTube Channel.
“We are very excited to resurrect our Short Film Showcase this year, and to present one of our most outstanding slates of shorts to date,” said Courtney B. Vance, chairman of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. “The work of the artists featured showcases the power of great short filmmaking, and will provide an inspiring example for all filmmakers and performers. Personally, I am looking forward to seeing Marla Gibbs on screen at 93 years of age.”
The Short Film Showcase has been on hiatus since 2020, when it was canceled due to the global pandemic. Prior to that year, it had been operating as two separate showcases on the east and west coast since 2016.
For Excellence in Performance (in alphabetical order):
Buscando Alma directed by Melissa Fisher
Starring Carolina Gutierrez, Neher Jacqueline Briceño, Marc Anthony Samuel
CLAUD_IA directed by Gabriel Furman*
Starring Naiya Ortiz, Scott McCord, Kathleen Simmonds
George directed by Aaron Craig, Alex Craig
Starring Adrian Martinez, Angela Sarafyan
Mildred 4 a Million directed by Kim ‘Kimmie P’ Callaway
Starring Marla Gibbs, Brie Eley, Obriella Genesis Witron
Neo Dome directed by Bonnie Discepolo*
Starring Anna Camp, Michael Johnson, Valerie Steinberg
For Excellence in Filmmaking (in alphabetical order):
Darcine’s Day directed by Aaron Goffman
Starring Kyla Diane Kennedy, Brent Huff, Elizabeth Lamboy-Wilson
Dig Deeper directed by Girault Seger
Starring Victor Williams, Lee Wilkof, Grant Moore
Once More, Like Rain Man directed by Sue Ann Pien*
Starring Bella Zoe Martinez, Matt Jones, Joe Mantegna
This is Jan directed by Robert Larriviere*
Starring Lyle Brocato, James Dumont, Laura Flannery
The Woman From Hamburg directed by Michael Masarof
Starring Jenette Goldstein, Einat Holland, Casey Killoran
*Directed by a SAG-AFTRA member
Other events being scheduled around the Short Film Showcase include filmmaking workshops, information sessions about SAG-AFTRA’s various short film agreements, and panels about film festivals and content creation. Additionally, the Foundation will screen the shorts that were selected for the 2020 Short Film Showcase, which was canceled due to COVID-19.
For more information about the Short Film Showcase, email shorts@sagaftra.foundation
