Short Film News (SFN)- The Sundance Institute announced the short-film program for its 2010 film festival.

This year the Festival's Short Film Program comprises 70 short films from U.S. and international filmmakers selected from 6,092 submissions up 8% over 2009.

Sundance has a long legacy of supporting short filmmaking. "This year's short films show extraordinary creativity and originality. Year after year, it's a privilege to showcase incredibly high-quality filmmaking, courageous storytelling, and some of the most exciting new voices in independent film," said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Programmer.

Short films screen in Festival theatres prior to select feature films or as part of one of the Festival's seven short film programs. During the Festival, a Short Film Jury awards prizes based on outstanding achievement and merit in U.S. and International Short Filmmaking.

This year's Short Film Jury consists of Sterlin Harjo (Barking Water, Four Sheets to the Wind, Goodnight Irene), Christine Vachon (I Shot Andy Warhol, Boys Don't Cry, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), and Brent Hoff (Wholphin DVD).

The 2010 Sundance Film Festival runs January 21-31 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

The 2010 Short Film Program Awards Ceremony will be held Tuesday, January 26th and the complete list of films is available at www.sundance.org/festival.