The Palm Spring International ShortFest, set to run this year from Jun 19-25, will apply the grant towards the 2012 ShortFest forums.

“We’re hugely grateful to the Academy for their support of our efforts to provide student and emerging filmmakers with the kind of intensive practical and creative opportunities they need to further their knowledge, capabilities and career prospects in the film industry,” Shortfest director Darryl MacDonald said.

“This grant will enable us to expand both the scope of programming and the numbers of filmmakers served by the ShortFest Educational Forums.”

The festival hosts a series of panels, masterclasses, presentations and one-on-one meetings for filmmakers.

More than 300 short films are showcased from more than 40 countries at the event.