Erin Brown Thomas submitted to movie festivals greater than 900 occasions earlier than she made it into the Harvard of indie cinema, AKA Sundance. Ask the multi-hyphenate “Chasers” filmmaker and creative director of Salute Your Shorts Fest — an annual movie occasion that returned to Los Angeles this weekend (August 15-17) for its ninth 12 months — about her latest achievement, and she or he’ll offer you pithy recommendation like a non-public film tutor.
“A prophet’s going to prophet, even when there’s no revenue,” she just lately quipped of her ardour to IndieWire.
A psychologically lush episodic pilot shot as a 31-minute oner, “Chasers” sees Brown Thomas replicate on the numerous private {and professional} sacrifices she feels she needed to make to compete in leisure. The fearless filmmaker has confronted a number of headwinds over time however continues to seek out consolation within the Salute group, which balances artists with distinctive POVs and supporting authenti, good craft.
“Balancing conference with invention is among the candy spots in our lineup at Salute,” defined Brown Thomas. “Our mantra has at all times been, ‘Movies with aftertaste.’ Once we offer you a laurel, it means we consider you’ve a future. At any time when somebody picks the festivals they’re submitting to, I at all times inform them they need to guarantee that that laurel they may win truly means one thing. Ours completely does.”
Salute Your Shorts brings collectively a rising community of like-minded creators every summer season. Co-founded by Brown Thomas and Becky Murdoch in 2017, the small however mighty fest takes place on the Help League Theater in LA. “For eight of our 9 years, we’ve been in our present venue,” mentioned Brown Thomas. “Folks would possibly realize it from ‘The Workplace,’ the TV present, as a result of Andy does a play there. However it’s nestled behind Residence Depot and Goal in Hollywood, with an exquisite projector and solely 300 seats.”
In 2025, lead organizer Brown Thomas, govt director Elle Shaw, and programming director Lauren Reid Brown (Brown Thomas’ mom) obtained simply over 1,300 submissions for Salute. The employees, which additionally consists of programmers Jillian Corsie, Vincent DeLuca, and Kath Tolentino — and affiliate programmers Christopher Francis and Anna Lengthy — confirmed about 60 movies in 16 awards classes.
“Having somebody near you who actually believes in your factor, who will inform you that no matter pageant that rejected you is so silly and that they’re simply so incorrect, is significant,” Brown Thomas mentioned of coping with rejection. “You want that. With distance, you’ll both be taught that you just weren’t prepared and also you’re bettering, or that they actually have been silly and so they have been incorrect, and hey! The individuals who love you already knew that.”
The Help League Theater feels distinctly intimate and SoCal, however Salute Your Shorts pushes the boundaries of storytelling in a broader philosophical sense with its programming. IndieWire judged the style part and awarded the highest prize to Zoe Davidson’s “Clementine,” with “Two Folks Exchanging Saliva” from Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata named as our runner-up.
Through the years, acclaimed filmmakers — from the beloved Duplass brothers to the Daniels of “Every thing In all places All at As soon as” — have visited Salute. “A Lien” from govt producer Adam McKay went onto the 97th Academy Awards and was on the pageant final 12 months. Salute goals to grow to be an Oscar-qualifying shorts competitors sooner or later. Its documentary, animation, and narrative contests are juried.
In honor of the ninth Salute Your Shorts Fest, IndieWire pays tribute to bite-sized movies with 9 important ideas for pageant submissions from Brown Thomas. Discover a full listing of winners for SYSF 2025 beneath.
1. “Put Actual Effort Into Your Profile on FilmFreeway”
As soon as you realize about FilmFreeway, your potential within the pageant world grows exponentially.
“Up till the day that I made a decision that I needed to make a movie pageant, I had solely been utilizing it as a filmmaker,” mentioned Brown Thomas. “Then, I did slightly clicking round and I discovered you may create a movie pageant simply as simply as you may create a movie profile. That’s really all it takes.”
Making a compelling first impression anyplace on-line will be time-consuming, however Brown Thomas says it’s particularly price it for artists on FilmFreeway. Not solely does the portal permit you to discover new festivals, however it will probably additionally aid you maintain observe of who you’ve already paid to display your brief. In case you be taught {that a} sure kind of competitors isn’t working in your undertaking, then you may modify the kinds of festivals you’re submitting to — or enhance the impression you’re making by fixing your profile first.
“Quite a lot of filmmakers actually don’t use their web page to their benefit,” mentioned Brown Thomas, strolling IndieWire via her evolving appreciation of the platform. Her first suggestion? “Not sufficient folks spend money on hiring a poster designer,” she mentioned. “Actually. Extra folks will see your poster over the span of your profession than your film. Whether or not they’re on FilmFreeway or IMDB, that’s a reality.”
2. “Inform Your Movie’s Story, Whereas Understanding Your Viewers”
No quantity of selling can repair a nasty film, however as a programmer, Brown Thomas has realized which you can “educate” festivals the best way to think about your work whereas screening. “The primary viewers you’re advertising to is programmers,” she mentioned. “And you may present us the best way to see your movie via the way in which you select to speak about it and within the photos you select to accompany your software.”
After you’ve completed your undertaking (and beefed up your profile and poster for FilmFreeway), Brown Thomas recommends completely combing your software to make sure that your enthusiasm shines via. At any time when doable, filmmakers ought to purpose to play festivals that need to present their motion pictures — however that’s a two-way road and it’s essential to specific your earnest need for the chance.
“Look, there are many instances with Salute the place I haven’t cared that their poster was horrible, or no matter,” she mentioned. “However generally, you’ve to select and it comes all the way down to feeling like you may inform how a lot this filmmaker needs it, however ‘Oh, this particular person looks like they only submitted to submit.’”
3. “Do Your Analysis — and Don’t Fall for Scams”
Festivals can use smoke and mirrors too, after all. “Rip-off is a spectrum,” mentioned Brown Thomas. “On one far aspect, you’ve bought the people who find themselves not following via on their primary guarantees. These are sometimes on-line occasions that both don’t exist or really feel completely totally different from what was marketed.”
It can save you your self a number of problem by doing all your analysis, however if you happen to’ve already submitted to a seemingly authentic pageant, and also you’re not getting good outcomes, there will be nefarious causes for that too. “With out naming names, there are many festivals that simply don’t put sufficient care into programming,” Brown Thomas mentioned. “Possibly there’s much less rhyme or cause as to what’s getting chosen, or it could possibly be, ‘Oh, wow, these persons are actually solely deciding on their pals.’ That’s a model of a rip-off.”
There are festivals within the center, as properly. “It may also be, ‘Effectively, this pageant is doing every little thing it says it’s going to do, nevertheless it doesn’t add a number of worth,’” she mentioned. “You’ll suppose, ‘They’re good folks, and so they imply properly. However that laurel simply doesn’t imply sufficient.’ At all times ask, ‘Is that this how I need to spend my cash?’”
4. “Choose Your Festivals with Objective(s)”
Very similar to recruiters at universities, pageant organizers will think about totally different standards relying on the lineup they’re programming for, and their selections can shift based mostly on any variety of components. It’s best to have a matrix of concerns for when and the place you apply together with your movie, as properly.
“One class of pageant that I undoubtedly suppose is price submitting to is the Tax Deductible Trip,” mentioned Brown Thomas, laughing. “It is a enterprise journey the place you’ll have a beautiful time. Consider like, the Sedona Worldwide Movie Pageant or the Hawaii Movie Pageant. In case you’ve by no means been mountain climbing alongside these lovely vistas, and also you suppose you may take your movie there, take your movie there.”
One other pageant kind to contemplate? One thing Brown Thomas likes to name “The Artist’s Date.” Citing two beloved occasions for the filmmaker in Colorado — Crested Butte Movie Pageant and Ouray Worldwide Movie Pageant — she mentioned, “They really feel virtually like an artist’s residency. These are actually well-curated occasions the place the surroundings is gorgeous too. Very Julia Cameron, having a date together with your interior artist.”
Filmmakers also needs to hunt down the Better of the Greatest Networking. Rubbing elbows with of us at Sundance helped achieve “Chasers” status, however Brown Thomas is aware of higher than most that you could find essential connections in all types of locations. “Nice networking is often horizontal,” she mentioned. “You need to play alongside actually good movies so the friends that you just meet are folks you’ll truly join with.”
5. “Programming Will Educate You What Sort of Filmmaker You Are”
Smaller fests are sometimes geared towards fostering native expertise, and that may be an important place to begin if you happen to’re simply starting. (Heck, take a web page out of Brown Thomas’ ebook, and located your individual occasion!) However being based mostly in Los Angeles, Salute Your Shorts presents a singular problem to its programming workforce.
“My native viewers is individuals who make motion pictures,” mentioned Brown Thomas. “So, they’re going to be a lot tougher on sure issues. They’re going to be way more unforgiving about unhealthy performing, for instance, whereas somebody in center America is likely to be OK with a extra amateurish efficiency if it’s for the story.”
Programmers see the world via a cinematic lens, and filmmakers do too. It was combining these skillsets that made Brown Thomas succeed, she mentioned. Honing the Salute schedule for almost a decade was important to her work on “Chasers,” and watching motion pictures will assist you determine what to make.
“What you select to champion over and over is revealing and teaches you one thing about your self,” mentioned Brown Thomas. “I actually suggest getting on the opposite aspect if you happen to love festivals.”
6. “Being Memorable Is Extra Vital Than Being Good”
Having been on a number of movie pageant juries, this IndieWire author can personally promise you that folks like Brown Thomas like to stump for underdogs. For all her recommendation to remain formidable and engaged with the brief movie group, the director is equally fast to emphasise not letting perfectionism get in the way in which.
“At Salute, we’re extra involved with voice than polish,” Brown Thomas mentioned. “Being memorable is extra essential than being excellent. As a result of there could possibly be a movie that didn’t fairly work — but when what they have been making an attempt to do was attention-grabbing, and it’s like 90 % of the way in which there, and I can’t cease fascinated with it, then I need to work out the best way to program it and I need to discover a option to present it.”
Requested for a few of her favourite pageant submissions at Salute, Brown Thomas listed “I’m Comfortable, I Promise,” “The Burden,” “Starfuckers,” “Little Gray Bubbles,” and “The Theft” as standouts.
7. “Most Shorts Are Too Lengthy, however There’s a Candy Spot”
A brief doesn’t at all times should pave the way in which to a function movie, however length can significantly influence how smaller initiatives do on the pageant circuit. You’ll discover totally different recommendation on the market, and as at all times, there’s no accounting for style. However Brown Thomas supplied distinctive perception into what works at Salute.
“I’ve at all times had a comfortable spot for the longer ones, and I inform you, I discover that something over 22 minutes in our system usually doesn’t really feel too lengthy,” she mentioned. “I discover that issues consistently really feel too lengthy between 15 and 22 minutes. Anybody who’s doing one thing over 22 minutes is aware of that their brief is freaking lengthy, however they often have some extent and so they’re doing every little thing they will to maintain it as tight as doable.”
Sure, artists have a tough time killing their darlings — however that’s what makes movie aggressive.
“Pacing and realizing what to depart out are the most important parts of craft that folks overlook,” Brown Thomas mentioned. “Quite a lot of filmmakers don’t need to minimize issues as a result of they will’t discover something that’s unhealthy, particularly in comedy. However it’s a must to ask your self, ‘How lengthy does this idea deserve to be?’”
That mentioned, extra remains to be extra with regards to social media. After “Chasers” was accepted at Sundance, Brown Thomas went semi-viral on Instagram calling her forged and crew to inform them the good information.
“Once I bought the decision that we bought in, I used to be hysterical and actually wished instantly that I had seen my response,” mentioned the director. “I turned to my husband and my mother who have been with me on the time, and I used to be like, ‘Begin recording me. I’m going to name everyone.’ I made a reel out of everybody’s’s reactions and that bought a number of consideration on-line. I known as no less than 40 folks. We had over three hours of footage.”
Sharing that pleasure with the web has allowed numerous followers, together with IndieWire, to observe together with “Chasers” because it premiered at Sundance. Brown Thomas says she chooses to embrace social media as a method of “future-proofing” her profession and thinks different younger artists ought to do the identical. She posts her successes as a lot as her failures in an effort to at all times convey her viewers “alongside for the journey.”
“The creator financial system is essentially the most foolproof approach that we have now of charting a path ahead,” Brown Thomas mentioned. “It’s the one place we have now essentially the most company. The wins, the losses, the training alternatives, the, ‘Holy shit, I bought fortunate!’s — your viewers needs to be invited into that.” And they’re your viewers.
“Actually, you’re assembling an viewers each time you may get over placing your face on digicam,” she mentioned. “That is one thing you’re answerable for. As I am going into my subsequent function, I do know I need to share every little thing that occurs to me on set as a result of it would maintain me enthusiastic about tomorrow.”
9. “Salute Your Shorts!”
A palpable love of storytelling makes Brown Thomas virtually militantly optimistic about cinematic schooling and creative risk. Actually, she’s as intense as anybody who co-founded an occasion known as Salute Your Shorts needs to be. On the night time of the awards ceremony, the filmmaker bought caught between a rock and a tough place when she discovered herself busy handing out awards at Salute — whereas “Chasers” was busy successful the Greatest TV class at HollyShorts Movie Pageant, additionally in Los Angeles.
“Elle Shaw, who produced it, and Louie Chapman, our lead actor, went for me,” Brown Thomas later informed IndieWire by way of textual content. “We bought an e-mail saying we have been nominated, however I needed to introduce [our presenters] on stage through the precise time of the awards.” Notably, the indie pilot was up in opposition to Aneil Karia’s “Large Man,” which was distributed by Apple TV+ and makes Brown Thomas even stronger in a stacked area.
“I simply thought you’d discover that irony very humorous,” she mentioned to IndieWire. Nonetheless, the creative director for Salute Your Shorts and the filmmaker behind “Chasers” recommends discovering time to chill out and benefit from the motion pictures with no matter free time you’ve. In case you’re championing the artwork of brief movie — even in your option to a function! — then you need to need to perceive it and search folks out who might help you soar.
“In 2026, I might undoubtedly like to see an uptick in submissions as a result of it signifies that much more persons are discovering us,” mentioned Brown Thomas. “We’re a extremely small workforce and we work actually laborious to make this occur. It’s completed via a number of blood, sweat, and tears. It’s a number of love that pulls us collectively.”
Beneath discover the whole listing of winners for Salute Your Shorts Fest 2025.
Programmers Alternative Award: “The Music Retailer” (dir. Joe Gillette)
- Honorable Point out, Programmers Alternative: “The Life We Have” (dir. Sam Value-Waldman)
Viewers Alternative Award: “The Singers” (dir. Sam Davis)
- Runner-up: “Mildred 4 a Million” (dir. Kim Callaway)
Narrative Better of Fest: “Reside” (dir. Mara Tamkovich)
- Honorable Point out: “The Singers” (dir. Sam Davis)
Greatest Native Movie: “RAT!” (dir. Neal Suresh Mulani)
- Honorable Point out, Native Movie: “Public Freakout” (dir. Julia Bales)
Greatest Comedy: “Bulldozer” (created by Joanna Leeds)
- Honorable Point out, Comedy: “Blueberry” (dirs. Emil Brulin & Hampus Hallberg)
Greatest Drama: “Contours” (dir. Aisha Amin)
- Honorable Point out, Drama: “Corpse Fishing” (dir. Jean Liu)
Greatest Style Movie: “Clementine” (dir. Zoe Davidson)
- Honorable Point out, Style: “Two Folks Exchanging Saliva” (dirs. Alexandre Singh & Natalie Musteata)
Greatest Tremendous Brief — Below 5 Minutes: “Candy Talkin’ Man” (dirs. Dylan & Spencer Wardwell)
- Honorable Point out, Tremendous Brief: “Quota” (dirs. Joris & Marieke Job)
Greatest Animation: “Flower Present” (dir. Elli Vuorinen)
- Honorable Point out, Animation: “Dragfox” (dir. Lisa Ott)
Greatest Documentary: “Monster Slayer” (dir. Catie Skipp)
- Honorable Point out, Documentary: “Pee Shy” (dir. Steven Brokaw Jackson)
Greatest Experimental: “Kamikaze” (dir. Ray Smiling)
- Honorable Point out, Experimental: “On a Sunday at Eleven” (dir. Alicia Okay. Harris)
Particular Jury Award for Excellence in Directing: “Daly Metropolis” (dir. Nick Hartanto)
Greatest Cinematography – Lighting and Temper: “The Singers” — cinematography by Sam Davis
Greatest Cinematography – Creativity and Threat Taking: “Kamikaze” — cinematography by Timothy S. Jensen
Greatest Cinematography – Motion and Perspective: “RAT!” — cinematography by Emerson Duggan
Greatest Cinematography – Integration with Narrative: “Daly Metropolis” — cinematography by Guido Raimondo
