The Awesome Con Short Film Festival presented by Astray Productions is held annually at Awesome Con. We are looking forward to heading into our 11th year in 2026!
Each year fans gather to watch specially selected short films in the categories of Comedy, Drama, Horror, Action, Science Fiction, Documentaries, and more. Now going into our 11th year! The Awesome Con Short Film Festival is one of the most fun and most fan friendly film festivals that you’ll attend or be part of. The goal of the film festival is to get your film seen and noticed and enjoyed, by not just your friends and family and other filmmakers, but by a real audience. And the truth is, in this type of setting, you never really know who might be sitting and watching your film.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday – 6:45pm – Screening Room – Room 204 – Horror, Sci Fi, Action + Q&A with Filmmakers
Saturday – 1:30pm – Screening Room – Room 204 – Comedy and Drama + Q&A with Filmmakers
Saturday – 4:45pm – Screening Room – Room 204 – Short Film Festival Awards and MeetUp
Sunday – 2:00pm – Screening Room – Room 204 – Awesome Con Short Film Festival: And Beyond!
Horror, Sci Fi, Action
Awesome Con Short Film Festival: Horror, Sci Fi, Action – Friday march 13th
Awesome Con Short Film Festival, the film festival that brings fandom and filmmaking together returns for year 11! Day 1 begins with the Horror, Sci and Action film block. We always want to start the festival right with some frights and bites, mind altering sci fi and some fist pumping action by some of the best mind blowing filmmakers from around the world and locally. Viewer discretion is definitely advised.
All attendees will be able to take part in the voting for the prestigious audience choice award. PLUS take part in the raffle drawing at the end.
The screening is followed by an exclusive Q&A Panel with the the filmmakers moderated by actor Madelyn Farris Film
Screening 2hrs 22 mins – Filmmaker Q&A 25Mins
comedy and drama
Awesome Con Short Film Festival: Comedy and Drama – Saturday March 14th
Day 2 of Awesome Con Short Film Festival, the film festival that brings fandom and filmmaking together, is the Comedy and Drama film block! Grab your seat fast to this historically packed film block from these amazing filmmakers from around the world. We don’t want to give you any spoilers, but there’s a high chance you might laugh, cry, be weirded out, or feel motivated to take on the world and make it a better place. That’s what cinema does, doesn’t it?
All attendees will be able to take part in the voting for the prestigious audience choice award. PLUS take part in the raffle drawing at the end.
The screening is followed by an exclusive Q&A Panel with the the filmmakers moderated by actor Madelyn Farris Film
Screening 2hrs 22 mins – Filmmaker Q&A 25Mins
and beyond!
Awesome Con Short Film Festival: And Beyond! – Saturday March 14th
Anything can happen on the last day of the Awesome Con Short Film Festival! When we mean “And Beyond”, Seriously, this film block goes beyond. No genre is off limits, this is also the place where we try to sneak in some films that might not have fit in the other film blocks that are impossible to classify, and you might not get a chance to see anywhere else. This is always a must see film block, and a rocking way to end the festival and convention.
All attendees will be able to take part in the voting for the prestigious audience choice award. PLUS take part in the raffle drawing at the end.
The screening is followed by an exclusive Q&A Panel with the the filmmakers moderated by actor Madelyn Farris Film
Screening 2hrs 22 mins – Filmmaker Q&A 25Mins
HOST
JUDGES
AWARDS AND FILM MAKER MEETUP
Awesome Con Short Film Festivals 2026 Awards and Network / Meetup – Saturday March 14th
Who will win at the Awesome Con Short Film Festival 2026 awards?! Be here to find out. PLUS This also is the perfect opportunity to network with and meet film industry professionals, ask questions, give them praise, pick their brain, trade secrets, cast them in YOUR film, or just talk shop and maybe ask for a job.
NOMINATED FOR BEST ACTOR
NOMINATED FOR BEST VISUALS / CINEMATOGRAPHY
NOMINATED FOR BEST IN SHOW
Joe Carabeo is a cross platform artist on a journey to discover new ways to be more than just a storyteller. Armed with a Photography and Film undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, Joe has been a constant content creator since the days when he wanted to be a comic book artist in grade school.
Joe Carabeo is a cross platform artist on a journey to discover new ways to be more than just a storyteller. Armed with a Photography and Film undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, Joe has been a constant content creator since the days when he wanted to be a comic book artist in grade school.
Awesome Con Short Film Festival 2025 Winners
