The 2009 LA Shorts Fest ended July 31, 2009 with its awards ceremony at Cinespace, 6356 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028.

Now in its 13th year, the screenings were held at Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theatre, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048, from July 23 to July 30, 2009.

LA Shorts Fest honors those individuals who have achieved excellence in short films. As the largest short film festival in the world with more than 280 film screenings and 9 days of educational panels, interactive and entertaining events, the festival has become the industry standard for showcasing and awarding undiscovered talent.

The LA Shorts Fest '09 award winners in the Best Music Video, Best Creative Commercial and Best Documentary are:

Best Music Video: MAN-SIZED WREATH, Directors: Crush Toronto, Gary Thomas
Best Creative Commercial: FREE DORITOS!, Directors: Joe and Dave Herbert
Best Documentary: WE LOVE YOU, Director: Jonathan Kalafer

Special Recognition Awards:
THE DEVIL'S WEDDING, Director: Dan Cadan
THE TAXIDERMIST, Director: Bert & Bertie

Best Independent Filmmaker Award: I'M NOT MATT DAMON, Director: Jim Rothman

The following LA Shorts Fest '09 award winners are automatically eligible to be submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Academy Award consideration.

Best Experimental: SKY PEOPLE, Director: Shanti Thakur
Best Animation: ALMA, Director: Rodrigo Blaas
Best Comedy: BOUTONNIERE, Director: Coley Sohn
Best Drama: HOTEL, Director: Tim Conrad
Best Foreign Film: SIDNEY TURTLEBAUM, Director: Tristram Shapeero
Best of the Fest: THE 8TH SAMURAI, Director: Justin Ambrosino

In the past, 33 films have received Oscar nominations with 11 winning the coveted Oscar statue.

La Maison en Petits Cubes "The House of Small Cubes"- Director Kunio Kato won LA Shorts Fest BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM AWARD in '08, and 7 months later received the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 2009 Academy Awards.

"Spielzeugland (Toyland)" screen at LA Shorts Fest in '08 and went on the win the Oscar for Best Live Action Short. "This Way Up", another alum of LA Shorts Fest '08 received an Oscar nominee in the animation category.