About WSTL
The WRPN.TV Short, Tight & Loose Global Film Competition — WSTL — is an IMDb-qualifying online festival built for one thing: shorts. That includes webisodes and TV series, in any genre and any language, from filmmakers at every career stage. Presented in association with DOFIFF.com and the WRPN.TV Entertainment Network, WSTL is where filmmakers come to expose their shorts to a worldwide audience they wouldn't normally reach.
Official Selections and winners can opt into streaming on the WRPN.TV Entertainment Network, sharing screen space with Hollywood celebrity interviews and curated programming for international viewers — free, ad-free, no paywall. And a small group of top winners — Best of Festival, Best of Show, and Outstanding Excellence — receive a guaranteed distributor review by Adler & Associates (established 1999) and partner companies, at no additional cost and with no extra contracts or fees.
WSTL is run by active committee members of UFFO.org, the international non-profit dedicated to best business practices for film festivals.
What Makes Us Unique
What really sets WSTL apart is what happens when a film isn't accepted. Instead of a silent rejection, you can request a personalized feedback letter — a real explanation of what held the film back and how to strengthen it — and resubmit for free once you've made the changes. For first-time and emerging filmmakers, that's rare. It's also why so many of our submitters come back season after season.
Feedback, Resubmission, and Development Rules
WSTL focuses on feedback as the key element that most festivals ignore, so filmmakers always receive a clear outcome instead of a dead-end rejection.
If Your Film Is Accepted
- Your film is considered competition calibre and is accepted to compete in WSTL.
- It becomes eligible for WSTL awards and may be considered for WRPN.tv exposure and distributor review opportunities reserved for select top winners.
If Your Film Is Not Accepted
- You receive a letter outlining what aspects of your film are keeping it from being accepted into competition.
- You have the chance to make corrections and resubmit your film for free after revising, turning your entry fee into a guided improvement process instead of a single yes or no.
Your Development Rules
- Improve your product: revisions guided by feedback help you create a stronger, more marketable version of your film.
- Enhance your festival results: a more polished cut raises your chances of being accepted and winning awards at WSTL and other festivals, adding more official selection laurels to your film.
- Grow your craft: detailed notes highlight both problem areas and strengths, giving you forethought that carries into your next project and helps you improve as a filmmaker.
For first-time filmmakers, this combination of specific feedback plus a free resubmission path is rare, which is why WSTL emphasizes development as much as competition.
Awards and Prizes
- Top honors include Best of Festival, Best of Show, Outstanding Excellence, Awards of Excellence, and Awards of Merit.
- Sub-category awards recognize achievements such as cinematography, original theme song, script, concept creativity and originality, direction, special effects, research, lead actor or actress, and supporting actor or actress.
- Select winners may be invited to screen on WRPN.tv and may receive guaranteed distributor review from Adler and Associates and other partners with no additional fees or contracts.
Dates and Deadlines
- Season: 2026 Edition
- Opening Date: May 18, 2026
- Early Deadline: June 30, 2026
- Regular Deadline: July 31, 2026
- Late Deadline: August 31, 2026
- Notification Date: September 20, 2026
The submission platform page contains the most accurate and up-to-date schedule and additional category details.
Browse previous seasons and winning films: Winter 2023 Winners, Fall 2022 Winners, Spring 2022 Winners, and more from the archive.
