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The fourth annual 815HORTS Film Festival returns Friday-Saturday, November 14-15, 2025, in Rockford, Illinois. This year's 815HORTS has again expanded to include: five dedicated short film screening blocks; the Illinois Film Office’s Shortcuts Student Film Contest; premier educational sessions highlighted by the return of Tribeca Festival’s shorts programmer; the first feature length film screening in the festival’s history; and a screening of the Sundance Film Festival Shorts Tour for the fourth-straight year. A portion of event proceeds benefit Founders Commission (501(c)(3)).815HORTS is proud to partner with the Illinois Film Office on the Shortcuts Short Film Contest, which is a statewide short film contest curated for Illinois students/residents ages 22 and under. The winner of Shortcuts will receive $250 and the winning short film will be screened at 815HORTS.
2025 815HORTS SCHEDULE
Friday, November 14, 2025
- 5 p.m. - Doors Open, 5HORT Industry Mixer
- 6 p.m. - 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour
- 8 p.m. - Illinois Film Office's Shortcuts Screenings + Unveiling of Contest Winner
- 9:30 p.m. - 5HORT After-Party
Saturday, November 15, 2025
- 10 a.m. - Doors Open, 5HORT Morning Mixer
- 10:15 a.m. - Animated Short Films Screening Block
- 11 a.m. - "815 Live: Direct from Tribeca", Q&A featuring Madison Egan, Tribeca Festival
- 12 p.m. - "City Stage BTS Lunch + Learn", Lunch Q&A featuring Josiah Sjöström, City Stage Studios
- 1 p.m. - Short Documentary Premiere: Silicon Prairie Dreams (Directed by James Enzo Forni)
- 1:45 p.m. - "Lawful Break-In", Panel + Q&A featuring James Enzo Forni, Octane Rich Media,
and Elaine Wyder, Convex Legal
- 2:30 p.m. - Documentary Short Films Screening Block
- 4:30 p.m. - Live Action Short Films Screening Block
- 7 p.m. - Illinois Film Festival Premiere: See Her Be Her (directed by Jean Fruth)
- 9 p.m. - See Her Be Her Panel + Q&A featuring Denae Benites, USA Baseball Women's National Team, and Dr. Leslie Heaphy, International Women's Baseball Center
- 9:30 p.m. - The 5HORT Awards, Closing Remarks + 5HORT After-Party
2025 815HORTS PARTNERS
- Academy: City of Rockford
- Champion: Illinois Film Office
- Friend: Ron Clewer, Comcast/Xfinity, Don Hatton
- In-Kind: Rockford Film Office, District Bar & Grill, IFA Chicago
- Nonprofit: Founders Commission
Partnerships + Inquiries?: Contact [email protected]
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
City Stage Studios, 201 S 5th St, Rockford, IL 61104, United States
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