The mission of 24fps is to celebrate and encourage student and independent filmmakers. Festival public screening programs are designed to highlight the creator as much as the work itself. All exhibited films are introduced by a commentator, and filmmakers in attendance are given the opportunity to speak to the festival audiences at the close of their film’s exhibition.

The films are presented as part of three curated programs. All films are screened in the festival exhibition venue, the landmark Paramount Theatre.

The Paramount is a restored 1930s performing arts facility, home to the Paramount Film Series, ballet, opera, concerts, musical theater, countless local organizations, and the 24fps International Short Film Festival.

The facility features state-of-the-art digital projection and sound, making it one of the most well-equipped theatres in the Southwestern United States. The facility is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2024 over 2,000 projects were submitted to the 24fps International Short Film Festival. Of those projects, 30 will be selected to screen as part of our 20243 Competition and Public Exhibitions.

Now in its 25th year, the 24fps International Short Film Festival has earned a reputation for presenting some of the most acclaimed and challenging exhibition programming on the festival circuit.