“This is the festival to attend to jumpstart your career.”
  • Close-up of a person's face with intense eyes, illuminated by red and blue lighting, with dark curly hair.

    Horror (upcoming)

    10.19.25 6:00-10:00PM

    Join Horror lovers from all corners of the industry to come together and celebrate the next generation of great Horror talent.

  • Silhouette of a person wearing a hat at sunset with colorful glowing outline.

    Comedy

    05.04.25 6:00-10:00PM

    Sold-out, 400+ submissions; screened 6, honored Kyle Mooney (SNL).

  • An elderly man with glasses and gray hair is in a dimly lit room, aiming a gun.

    Horror

    10.20.24 6:00-10:00PM

    Sold-out, 350+ submissions; screened 7, sponsored by Canva + Kodak.

  • A young woman healthcare worker with dark hair making a peace sign with both hands, wearing gloves and scrubs, smiling softly, in a room with a blue wall and medical equipment in the background. A man in medical scrubs is in the background, slightly out of focus.

    Comedy

    05.05.24 6:00-10:00PM

    Sold-out, 10 selected films from all over the globe, night backed by Canva + Yerba Mate.

  • A young woman with long dark hair, tears running down her face, looking intensely at the camera in a close-up shot.

    Horror

    10.22.23 6:00-10:00PM

    Sold-out, 215 submissions from 35 countries, first ever 50/50 Audience Award. Held at the Robert Zemeckis IMAX Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.

  • A person with curly dark hair and wide eyes looks surprised or concerned in a dimly lit room with pink and yellow lighting.

    Comedy (Sketch Fest)

    05.07.23 6:00-10:00PM

    Sold-out, 30 submissions from 1 city, industry professionals from CAA, UTA, and Universal all in attendance. Held at the Ron Howard Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.

50/50 is a biannual international short film festival based in Los Angeles, spotlighting emerging filmmakers (ages 22–35).

With its Comedy Festival in May and Horror Festival in October, 50/50 offers emerging filmmakers a unique opportunity to share their work with both seasoned and early-career professionals—fostering genuine conversation in a thoughtful, intimate setting.

Our most recent edition received over 400 submissions, featured 6 official selections, and honored SNL’s Kyle Mooney.

Past sponsors include Canva, Kodak, ShotDeck, Olipop and more. Films screen to a curated audience of industry professionals, including reps from CAA, UTA, and A24. Our next festival — 50/50 Horror Fest — takes place October 19, 2025. 

A man with curly hair, wearing a button-up shirt and a festival badge, holding a pink can of beer, smiling, at a film festival event.
Young man holding a black tote bag with the logo 'SHOTD'ECK' printed on it, at a dark indoor event.
Two men are sitting on black leather armchairs on a stage, engaged in a conversation. Behind them is a large poster with a stylized image of lips and the text '50/50 Film Fest' and 'Arlie Mooney'. The stage has a brick wall to the right and a carpet
Three young adults at a social gathering, holding drinks, standing close together and looking at the camera.
Two men hugging at a crowded indoor event with warm lighting and exposed brick walls. One man is wearing a cap and smiling, while the other has his back to the camera. Multiple people are visible in the background.
Two young women smiling at a party or social event, with other people in the background.
Group of nine people standing together at an event, smiling at the camera, with a backdrop featuring logos and the text 'SHOTDECK' and 'COMEDY 2025'.
People sitting in a row at an event, smiling and engaging with each other.
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Episodes every Tuesday

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Episodes every Tuesday ☆

50/50 Podcast

Two young men are playfully stacked, with the man with curly hair leaning on the other man's shoulder while the other man looks into the camera.

Join us as we sit down with voices from all corners of the entertainment industry, offering educational insight into process, production, and execution.
Hosted by festival founder Luke Steinfeld (Filmmaker) and 50/50 Head of Talent Wyatt Sarkisian (Maximum Effort), the podcast builds on the mission of the festival: to nurture and empower the next generation of industry talent.

HOW TO…