About WSTL
Welcome to the WRPN.TV Short, Tight & Loose global film festival competition, WSTL, an online venue for shorts only, including webisodes and TV series, presented in association with DOFIFF.com.
WSTL, in conjunction with WRPN.tv, offers a unique opportunity to expose your shorts to a worldwide community of video fans from many countries that filmmakers would not normally reach.
A select group of Best of Show and Outstanding Excellence award winners receive exclusive, guaranteed distributor review by Adler & Associates, established in 1999, and other partners, at no additional cost and without any extra contracts or fees.
What Makes Us Unique
- Our founders are active committee members of the Universal Film and Festival Organization, UFFO.org, an international non-profit dedicated to supporting and implementing best business practices for film festivals.
- Shorts only, including webisodes and TV series. There are no genre restrictions, and any language is accepted when either dubbed in English or presented with English subtitles.
- Official selections and winners may have the opportunity to expose their shorts on WRPN.tv, next to celebrity interviews and award-winning content. Participation is optional.
- Any film that is rejected receives a personal letter explaining the elements that caused the rejection, instead of a silent no.
- Multiple award levels are available, including Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit, and a wide range of sub-category awards such as best cinematography, original theme song, script, concept creativity and originality, direction, special effects, research, lead actor or actress, and supporting actor or actress.
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: 2025 Edition
- Opening Date: June 10, 2025
- Early Deadline: June 30, 2025
- Regular Deadline: July 31, 2025
- Late Deadline: August 31, 2025
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.