New Category for Shorts / Digital Content is Now Eligible
American Cinema Editors (ACE) is proud to announce major developments that reflect its commitment to honoring editorial excellence across all formats. The ACE Board has officially approved a new competitive award category—Best Edited Short—and will accept submissions from YouTube and other digital platforms across compatible existing categories. These updates reflect ACE’s response to the evolving media landscape and its support for the creative work emerging across both traditional and digital spaces.
Best Edited Short: A New Award for a New Era
Submission Guidelines & Qualifications
Narrative, documentary, animation
Length: Under 40 minutes
A short film may qualify through one of the following:
- Film Festival Screening: The film must have been officially selected and premiered at a U.S. film festival with a formal selection process during the qualifying period: January 1 – December 31.
- Television, Streaming, or Theatrical Run: Must have aired or premiered on TV, appeared on a streaming platform, or had a theatrical run during the calendar year.
- Online Release: Original content posted for the first time during the qualifying period on a verified or established channel (e.g., 100,000+ subscribers or recognized audience). Accepted platforms include reputable YouTube/Vimeo channels or an official curated Short Film Platform (for example, Short of the Week, Film Riot, or New Yorker Shorts). Personal or private accounts are not eligible.
Note: A film may submit only once. Films initially screened at a festival cannot submit a second time via a streaming platform in a different qualifying period.
Digital Content Now Eligible Across Compatible Existing Categories
In addition to the new short film category, ACE has broadened eligibility across compatible existing categories to include work released exclusively on platforms like YouTube. Whether reality or variety series or feature-length documentaries, these projects will be judged by the same rigorous artistic and technical standards ACE applies to all entries. This shift acknowledges the caliber of editing now seen in digital-first storytelling and ensures that editors working in these formats are recognized for their craft.
A Vision for the Future, Rooted in Tradition
“This is not about catching up to a trend,” said ACE Executive Director, Jenni McCormick. “It’s about planting our flag and saying: ACE is committed to leading the way into what’s next—without ever losing sight of where we came from.” The new Eddie Award category and expanded eligibility reflect where storytelling is going—and they keep ACE right at the heart of it with the goal of honoring the giants of editing and nurturing the next generation concurrently.
About American Cinema Editors
American Cinema Editors (ACE) is an honorary society that has been championing the art, craft and business of film editing since 1950. Through signature events like EditFest Global, the ACE Eddie Awards and Invisible Art/Visible Artists, the organization celebrates the vital role of editors in storytelling and provides a dynamic global platform to illuminate the craft. ACE is committed to elevating the profile of film editing, fostering a diverse and inclusive community and educating future generations through a variety of active mentorship and scholarship programs. Through its programs, publications (CinemaEditor), podcasts (Editors on Editing, Global Editing Perspectives) and active educational activities, this collective of accomplished film editors is at the forefront of both preserving cinematic history while simultaneously preparing the next generation of film editors in a continuously evolving artistic climate.
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