By Gene Kruckemyer
The 16th annual Love Your Shorts Film Festival will screen Feb. 12 to 15 at the Historic Ritz Theater Sanford.
Seventy-six films in competition from 15 countries will be shown in blocks of Comedy, Drama, Animation, Documentary, Sci-Fi/Horror, International, Florida Flavor, and E for Everyone, which is family friendly. Also scheduled are an opening-night variety of films, a filmmaker education program, and a Best of the Fest competition of all the category winners on closing night.
“I’ve been on the film fest circuit for over 10 years and attend a lot of fests every year. Love Your Shorts is one of the best — hands down,” said TL Westgate, a film director and actor from Altamonte Springs and instructor at LA Film School..
Several of Westgate’s films have been screened at the festival in the past, and this year he is the director/actor in one film and an actor in another.
“I get really excited each year I'm accepted as they put on a top-notch showcase of the best films from around the world,” he said.
Films screened at the festival are a maximum of 30 minutes. Past entrants have gone on to win Oscar and Emmy awards.
Last year’s Best of the Fest film — I’m Not a Robot — went on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short.
Kicking off the festival is a free Education Day program for novice and veteran filmmakers. This year’s program will include tips and insights from members of the Organization of Independent Filmmakers, a Central Florida group that promotes the film industry in the state. A selection of some of their shorts also will be shown. The program begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 12.
Ritz Theater Sanford is part of the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center and is one of a few historical theaters remaining in Florida. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
For ticket options and schedule, check out the festival website at LoveYourShorts.com. And to stay up-to-date on the festival buzz, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/LoveYourShorts.
Fact Box
Who: 2026 Love Your Shorts Film Festival
What: 16th annual festival featuring 76 films from 15 countries hosted by a Sanford 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
When: Feb. 12 to 15
Where: Ritz Theater Sanford at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, 201 S. Magnolia Ave., Sanford
Tickets: $12 for individual blocks of films, (except $5 for the E for Everyone block), and $85 for a weekend pass to all films. Available through the LYS website LoveYourShorts.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LoveYourShorts
Schedule
All events are in Ritz Theater Sanford at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, 201 S. Magnolia Ave. Some films (except those in the E for Everyone block) may contain adult content; viewer discretion is advised.
•Thursday, Feb. 12 Education Day
7 to 9 p.m. – A free program of tips for novice and veteran filmmakers, and a selection of films by members of the Organization of Independent Filmmakers.
•Friday, Feb. 13
7 p.m. Opening Night films (a variety of all film genres)
•Saturday, Feb. 14
10:30 a.m. – E for Everyone (family friendly films)
1 p.m. – Animation
3 p.m. – Documentary
5 p.m. – International
8 p.m. – Comedy
10 p.m. – Sci-Fi / Horror
•Sunday, Feb. 15
1 p.m. – Drama
3 p.m. – Florida Flavor
7 p.m. – Best of the Fest (competition of all the block winners)
