2022 PBS Short Film Festival

The award-winning PBS Short Film Festival brings 27 "Stories that Stick" for all to watch beginning July 11. Each film highlights the importance of storytelling in its own unique way, but only one will win the coveted Juried Prize.

JULY 11 - 22

The PBS Short Film Festival is part of a multiplatform initiative to increase the reach and visibility of independent filmmakers from across the country and amplify the voices of diverse content creators. Since its inception in 2012, hundreds of films celebrating love, acceptance, family, strength, equality, friendship, loyalty and more have been presented under the festival’s banner.  The 2022 festival carries the tagline “Stories that Stick” to highlight the impact of powerful storytelling.

Starting at midnight on Monday, July 11, audiences can watch and share all 27 films. In addition, a panel of nine jury members will select their favorite film of the festival for the Juried Prize. APT's popular art documentary series Monograph is excited to participate in the PBS Film Festival for our 3rd consecutive year! The episode Lo Harris was chosen to screen among some really amazing productions from throughout the PBS system. 

Jury members are respected professionals in independent film and public media and were invited by PBS to participate. They include Eric Gullive, American Experience Producer; Simon Kilmurry, International Documentary Association, Executive Director; Judith Vecchione, WGBH Educational Foundation, Executive Producer; Mike Sargent, Reelworld/Nightshift, Producer/Host; Adnaan Wassey, Digital Media Executive (formerly of POV); Antonia Thornton, Firelight Media, Artist Programs Coordinator; Wendy Llinas, PBS National Programming; Jada Leng, PBS National Programming; and Weenta Girmay, Firelight Media, Regional Initiatives Coordinator.

Films featured in the PBS Short Film Festival have been selected and provided by 16 public media partners and PBS member stations. This year’s lineup includes films from Black Public Media, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), Independent Television Service (ITVS), Latino Public Broadcasting, Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), POV, Reel South, Vision Maker Media and World Channel, as well as PBS local member stations, Alabama Public Television (APTV), KLRU-TV Austin PBS, Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), MPT Digital Studios, WKAR (Michigan State University), WMHT (New York) and WSIU (Illinois).

Generating more than 12 million streams over the course of the festival’s history, the Webby Award-winning PBS Short Film Festival continues to be an engaging annual digital event.