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The Palm Springs International ShortFest will return June 23-29 for the 32nd annual short-form film showcase.

Last year, the festival programmed the Oscar-winning live-action short “The Singers,” the Oscar-nominated live-action short “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” the Oscar-nominated documentary short “The Devil Is Busy,” and the Oscar-nominated animated shorts “Forevergreen” and “Retirement Plan.”

Awards and cash prizes worth $25,000, including five Academy Award-qualifying awards, will be announced on June 28, and the Best of the Fest program will screen on the final day, June 29.

Thursday April 2

Jon M. Chu Joins USC School of Cinematic Arts Board of Aldermen

Filmmaker Jon M. Chu has been named to the USC School of Cinematic Arts Board of Advisors, the university announced.

Chu, an alumnus of the program, joins a high-profile group of industry leaders who help guide the school’s strategic planning, development and fundraising efforts. The board is chaired by Donna Langley and includes members such as Steven Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Coogler.

USC School of Cinematic Arts Dean Elizabeth M. Daley praised Chu’s long-standing connection to the institution and noted his continued commitment to students as a speaker and mentor. Langley added that their collaborative approach and industry experience will benefit emerging creatives.

Chu, a 2003 graduate of USC’s film and television production program, has remained active at the school, including launching the Jon M. Chu Motion Picture Arts Scholarship in 2021. He also received an honorary doctorate from USC in 2025 and delivered the university’s commencement address.

“USC is where my dreams of becoming a storyteller first took off,” Chu said in a statement. “I am a product of the generosity of this community, of alumni and mentors who opened doors I didn’t even know existed both in the craft and in myself.”

Chu is known for directing major studio projects, including “Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights,” as well as “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good.” He is currently developing new projects including a Britney Spears biopic and “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss.

Wednesday April 1

National Hispanic Media Coalition to Honor Apple TV’s “The Studio,” Belissa Escobedo, Beth de Araújo and “Kpop Demon Hunters” Writers Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan

Comedians Chris Estrada and Frankie Quiñones will host NHMC’s annual Impact Awards Gala on Friday, April 24 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

“Latinos have been an integral part of Hollywood since its inception, building it, shaping it, fueling its creativity and sustaining its culture,” said NHMC President and CEO Brenda Victoria Castillo. “This year’s honorees are the latest examples of how our voices make an impact and lead their work to awards and cultural recognition. We are honored to recognize this incredibly talented group.”

“The Studio” co-creator, writer and co-executive producer Frida Pérez, actress Keyla Monterroso Mejía, music editor and composer Lorena Pérez Batista and composer Antonio Sánchez will accept the Beyond the Lens Impact award for their collective contribution to the hit Apple TV comedy. “Happy Place” star Belissa Escobedo will be recognized with the award for Best Actress in a Series, in recognition of her contribution to Latino visibility on screen.

Beth de Araújo will receive the Visionary Impact award for her feature film “Josephine.” The film premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the audience prize and the grand jury prize, and screened in the main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival. “KPop Demon Hunters” co-writers Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan will receive the Storytelling Impact Award for the Netflix film, which won the Academy Award for best animated feature last month.

Concourse Media Hires Jack Sheehan as President of Worldwide Sales

Distribution company Concourse Media has hired Jack Sheehan as the company’s new president of worldwide sales. Sheehan will lead global sales strategy, working with CEO Matthew Shreder and the company’s financial partners to launch market-ready projects.

Sheehan was previously president of worldwide sales and development at Archstone Entertainment, where he oversaw sales and acquisitions for a series including “Chili Finger,” the newly released sci-fi comedy “Operation Taco” and “American Dreamer” starring Peter Dinklage and Shirley MacLaine. Prior to Archstone, he was Vice President of Sales and Acquisitions at Lotus Entertainment, a WME trainee film agent, and worked at Universal and Sony.

“As Concourse breaks new ground in film financing and sales, I’m thrilled to join Matt and the rest of the team to help expand and accelerate that growth,” said Sheehan. “There has never been a greater hunger for original stories for mass audiences, and Concourse is in the prime position to fulfill it. I thank Scott, Michael, Heather, Alex and Anne at Archstone for the incredible memories on set, in the markets and in between, and I wish them all the best in their next chapter.”

Tuesday March 31

Whoopi Goldberg Joins Animated Film “Captain Zero: The Movie” as Executive Producer

Whoopi Goldberg has joined the production team of “Captain Zero: The Movie,” the upcoming animated film from Cutting Edge Animation. Goldberg will serve as executive producer alongside collaborator Tom Leonardis under their One Ho Productions banner.

“Captain Zero” is a 2D animated action drama that follows Haitian-American teenager Xerxes Hughes as he “navigates life as a student, son and friend while secretly living as a superhero, battling a dangerous cyberbully and confronting the living embodiment of his own depression.”

The film features a voice cast including Keith David (“President Curtis”), Zolee Griggs (“Wu-Tang: An American Saga”), Gary LeRoi Gray (“The Fairly OddParents”), Angelica Ross (“American Horror Story”) and Z Cher-Aimé, with additional cast to be announced.

“Captain Zero: The Movie” expands on the material presented in the animated short “Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II,” which premiered in June 2025.

“When I first heard about this project, I loved the theme of getting to a better place,” Goldberg said. “It’s about not falling into an abyss of sadness and isolation and reminds us that we are not alone and that whatever happens, we can get through it. That resonated deeply with me, so I was delighted to take part.”

The production team also includes Ross, Troy Pryor, Coty Galloway and Cher-Aimé, who also wrote the feature, along with Andre Engco. The film is currently in development.

Global Sales Launch for Art World Documentary “The Hammer”

Global sales have begun for “The Hammer,” a documentary about the life and career of legendary auctioneer Simon de Pury. Sales will be handled by executive producer Catherine Quantschnigg.

Directed by Simon Wallon, “The Hammer” will give audiences a rare insight into de Pury’s life, focusing on his journey from managing private collections to major auction houses such as Sotheby’s. The film features contemporary artists such as Marina Abramović, Jeff Koons and Chloe Wise.

“Simon de Pury has long been a singular figure in the art world, but this film reveals the man behind the myth. In these uncertain and unstable times, art remains a powerful unifier and ‘The Hammer’ offers both insight and entertainment. We are excited to present the film to international buyers,” Quantschnigg said in a statement.

“The Hammer” is co-financed and co-produced by Aleksey Ageyev, Simon Wallon of Kiss & Kill, Julia and Victoria Zayceva of Forma Pro (Latvia), Asya Nikolaeva of On a Whim Films, Mike and Tanya Ovcharenko of Lazy Mike Gallery, David Unger of Artist International Group and Daniel Braun of Submarine Entertainment, along with Black Square Magazine.

Monday March 30

Film Independent Unveils 2026 Screenwriting Lab Fellows, Awards $25,000 Climate Grant

Film Independent has named seven fellows to its 2026 Screenwriting Lab, with the annual program launching on April 6, the organization announced Monday.

Selected writers Andrés Pérez-Duarte, Emma He, Maddie McCann, Sam Osborn, Rammy Park, Alissa Torvinen and Alejandra Vasquez will participate in the intensive lab, now in its 27th year, which focuses on developing feature-length fiction scripts through one-on-one mentoring and workshops.

“We are very excited to support this outstanding group of writers who approach their work with nuance and creativity,” said Dea Vázquez, associate director of fiction programs.

Lab 2026 creative advisors include Linda Yvette Chávez, Phil Hay, Javier Fuentes-León, Matt Manfredi and Robin Swicord, along with a roster of guest speakers. Among them is HIKARI, who previously developed her first feature film at the lab, following in the footsteps of alumni such as Chloé Zhao and Andrew Ahn.

Additionally, Torvinen received the second annual Climate Entertainment Development Grant, a $25,000 award presented in partnership with Plot Shift Media. The grant supports Torvinen’s feature film “Extinction of the Badger Duck,” a project focused on the rediscovery of a mythical bird and the frenzy it provokes.

The Screenwriting Lab has served as a launching pad for notable independent projects, including recent festival titles and award-winning feature films. The program is part of Film Independent’s broader Artist Development initiatives, which aim to support emerging filmmakers through labs, mentoring and grants.

Film Independent produces the annual Film Independent Spirit Awards and has spent more than four decades championing independent storytelling.