Pensacon Short Film Festival presented by Papa's Pizza

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Pensacon Short Film Festival presented by Papa's Pizza

It features the best short films of science fiction, fantasy, horror, animation, and more.

The Pensacon Short Film Festival is entering its 12th season as part of the official programming of Pensacon, the premiere pop culture convention on the Gulf Coast. Pensacon Short Film Festival, the 12th annual official event as part of Pensacon, the largest pop culture convention on the Gulf Coast. As part of this convention, the films screened will celebrate science fiction, horror, fantasy, com

ic books, pop culture, animation, and documentaries related to the previously stated genres. Each Official Selection will be given two weekend passes to Pensacon (travel not included) to attend the screening, and filmmakers may participate in a Q&A session about their films immediately following the screening. Over the past dozen years, Pensacon has taken pride in screening some of the best short films from all around the world. In addition to the United States, we have had submissions from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.

02/24/2026

Meeting talented filmmakers is one of the best parts of running the Short Film Festival. But watching those same filmmakers talk to each other, swap contact info, and actually connect? That might be my favorite thing about the whole weekend.
Sorry I didn't get a photo with everyone — there were a lot of you and the weekend moves fast.
Good luck on your next projects. We hope to see you back next year.

-Jeremy Branch

Pensacon

02/23/2026

Congratulations to the following winners:

BEST IN SHOW — Frankenstruck
JURY SELECTION — We Regret to Inform You
AUDIENCE CHOICE — The Enamel Cartel
BEST ANIMATED FILM — BRIDGE -My Little Friends-
BEST DOCUMENTARY — Language Back
BEST FANTASY FILM — Happily Ever After Matchmaking, Co.
BEST HORROR FILM — Up Close
BEST MUSIC VIDEO — Everything Is Shattered
BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILM — Invasion '53

02/19/2026

The Pensacon Short Film Festival would like to thank Jeremy Branch, Julio Diaz, April Edwards, LaVonne French, Steve Wise, and Adam Wood for judging the submissions and selecting the amazing films being shown this weekend at Pensacon!

02/18/2026

The Pensacon Short Film Festival would like to thank Pensacon 2026 guest Roland Paris for being one of our Jury members who selected this year's Jury Selection award. He's a fantastic comic book artist, so stop by his booth to tell him thanks and pick up a print from him or even ask for a commission!

02/17/2026

The Pensacon Short Film Festival would like to thank Pensacon 2026 guest Mark Maddox for being one of our Jury members who selected this year's Jury Selection award. He's an amazing illustrator and artist, so stop by his booth to tell him thanks and pick up a print or original art from him!

02/16/2026

The Pensacon Short Film Festival would like to thank Pensacon 2026 guest Scott Innes, the voice of Scooby Doo, for being one of our Jury members who selected this year's Jury Selection award. Stop by his booth and tell him thanks and pick up an autograph from him!

02/12/2026

We would like to thank our friends at Papa’s Pizza Downtown for sponsoring the Pensacon Short Film Festival. If you want fantastic pizza in downtown Pensacola, go to Papa's Pizza at 18 E Garden Street!

02/11/2026

PENSACON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Awards Ceremony and Best of the Fest Screening | 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Join us as we present the winners of the 2026 Pensacon Short Film Festival and stay after the awards ceremony as we screen all the winning films in their entirety. Awards include Best in Show (as determined by festival judges), Jury Selection (decided by a panel of Pensacon guests), Audience Choice (voted on by audience members during the screenings), and individual genre winners.

Content Warning — Some films may be unsuitable for all audiences. Viewer and parental discretion advised.

02/10/2026

PENSACON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Block 11 — Horror #2 | 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Burnt Orange | 10:00
A woman in arrears and behind on payments is haunted by phone-call debt collectors, but one collector wants to harvest something more. Is the figure in her head, or does she owe a cosmic debt?

Ghost Investigations - Curse of Bermudez Manor | 10:54

Reliquary: Confession | 11:29
A priest at a small town parish falls under the sway of the Reliquary and the Old One, Azathoth. Intoxicated with the dark truths shown to him, the priest takes to the confessional booth to tell an ancient tale to his captive audience.

The Wrongest Yard | 10:00
An authoritarian HOA rep is appalled when a strange new family moves into her neighborhood. They invite her in, but do they want her for dinner... or for dinner?

Up Close | 12:45
Stuck in a rut, a married man decides to make a drastic change to his life.

Vote for your favorite film to win the Audience Choice Award! Filmmakers representing their films in this screening may participate in a short Q&A after all films are shown, and audience members are welcome to ask questions.

Content Warning — Some films may be unsuitable for all audiences. Viewer and parental discretion advised.

02/09/2026

:2PENSACON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Block 10 — Local/Florida Films #2 | 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Beyond the Score | 2:32
When a conductor of the stars tries to enforce order, an innovative star leads him to discover the beauty of creativity within structure.

Two Coins Short | 6:16
A group of strangers find themselves together in a room with no idea how they arrived or what's happing next. A very mysterious and businesslike man escorts them in and out, without revealing what’s happening.

Midnight Monsters | 2:27
After bedtime, a baby bunny must face her greatest fears when a monster made of shadows steals her beloved carrot plushie.

What If? | 1:59
On the last day of school, awkward Cassidy has a huge crush on August, one of the “cool kids.” While working up the nerve to ask him out, Cassidy gets sucked into her overactive imagination of all the ways it could possibly go wrong.

The Enamel Cartel | 9:44
A fairy has to steal from a 10 year old boy to save her kingdom.

the fall by Ash the Ghost | 5:04
A stop motion music video for an indie artist.

Sculpted | 2:01
Jackie, A young woman with self-confidence issues, realizes her insecurities is affecting her friendship. Pushing herself, she takes a picture with her friend and regrets it. Through a hallway of laughing statues, she finds herself in a room with a statue resembling her. She finally comes to accept her beauty.

Patchwork | 2:37
A determined sprite builds a scarecrow to save her pumpkin, but when it grows too big, she must adapt in the face of change.

Pulled Taut | 2:11
Lucia, chronic overthinker, is encouraged to sign up for an archery class. A nightmare tests her resolve that night, which proves the most daunting challenge.

Overtime | 6:53
Taylor and Simon are stuck in the office on a weekend trying to finish a project. But overtime was never like this!

Vote for your favorite film to win the Audience Choice Award! Filmmakers representing their films in this screening may participate in a short Q&A after all films are shown, and audience members are welcome to ask questions.

Content Warning — Some films may be unsuitable for all audiences. Viewer and parental discretion advised.

02/08/2026

PENSACON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Block 9 — Animation for Adults | 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Franken Struck | 4:56
A reckless hand, a lethal play, a love so pure now ripped away. Forged hot from rage and shocking light, the Creature's love must set things right.

Dobrina | 5:00
Lotte Reiniger meets Sergio Leone in this animated short, where desire burns as bright as the desert sun.

Stardust Bowl | 4:55
Maci is blowing off her closing duties when she’s ordered to clean the arcade. Little does she know, the task at hand is monstrously deadly.

Ragtime Follies | 2:11
A young performer forgets to bring her tap shoes and must navigate how to still make music with her feet without her main instrument.

Embers End | 1:52
When his hammer shatters, a blacksmith makes a desperate trade for a new one. But the cost is hidden in every strike, revealed as the light fades.

Next Show in 90 Minutes | 7:20
A routine both natural and unnatural unfolds in the heart of one of America's most cherished landscapes.

Unwound | 2:26
Engineer Graham Winters has recreated a wind-up ballerina from his childhood music box. When it gains autonomy, he becomes trapped in a deadly, unraveling dance.

He Ain't Here | 2:45
Bella LeBlanc roams the Louisiana swamp at night. After discovering a satanic ritual, a monstrous roar draws her deeper into the dark, chasing the unknown.

Cyko KO | 16:05
SuperEarth’s greatest hero is here! Cyko KO is the fourth-wall breakin’, pinball-addicted, motorcycle-ridin’ hero you’ve been waiting for! In this retro-fueled animated pilot, Cyko faces his oldest rival, the overconfident wave-hog Cuda Cano, who challenges him to a “friendly” surf-off. But things take a turn when Cuda unveils a secret weapon: a remote-controlled giant squid designed to wipe Cyko out for good. Set in a candy-colored universe and inspired by classic Saturday morning cartoons, Cyko KO is a fast-paced, all-ages adventure packed with action, laughs, and fourth-wall-breaking fun. The pilot features a reunion of the cast of Napoleon Dynamite — including Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Jon Gries, and Haylie Duff — bringing a fresh spin to a nostalgic style. Created by Ringo Award–nominated comic artist Rob Feldman and based on his graphic novel through Rocketship Entertainment, this is just the beginning of Cyko KO’s turbo-charged ride through the SuperEarth Universe!

Vote for your favorite film to win the Audience Choice Award! Filmmakers representing their films in this screening may participate in a short Q&A after all films are shown, and audience members are welcome to ask questions.

Content Warning — Some films may be unsuitable for all audiences. Viewer and parental discretion advised.

02/07/2026

PENSACON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Block 8 — Science Fiction #2 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Star-Crossed | 14:01
A beautiful young woman craving connection risks revealing her true nature—only to fall for the wrong man, igniting a night of passion, poor decisions, and consequences you can't sweep under a rug.

The Winemaker | 16:20
Joanie is a winemaker with a secret of cosmic proportions. A menacing gadget delivers a message that forces her to make a decision: Will she abandon all she’s built or stay and finish the year’s vintage before her enemies come for vengeance?

Dear Ethan | 12:13
Far in the future, an android dedicated to the sole purpose of writing letters discovers he has a secret admirer among his clients. As the stoic android, C-16, tracks her down, he realizes that this isn't the first time they've met. At the same time, C16's owner learns of their reconnection—and prepares to punish C-16 for his delinquency.

Invasion '53 | 10:00
A man-eating alien crashes a suburban cocktail party. Starring Jeffrey Combs.

Vote for your favorite film to win the Audience Choice Award! Filmmakers representing their films in this screening may participate in a short Q&A after all films are shown, and audience members are welcome to ask questions.

Content Warning — Some films may be unsuitable for all audiences. Viewer and parental discretion advised.

Address

Pensacola, FL

Website

https://filmfreeway.com/PensaconShortFilmFestival

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