American Cinema Editors (ACE) is proud to announce two 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, for the first time, accept submissions from YouTube and other digital platforms across ALL existing categories. Additionally, ACE will present YouTube with the ACE Award for Creative Innovation, recognizing its profound impact on visual storytelling at the 76th Annual ACE Eddie Awards taking place Friday, February 27, 2026 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, as previously announced.. 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
The newly approved Best Edited Short category will celebrate exceptional editing in short-form storytelling. Eligible submissions will include:
- Theatrical short films (such as those eligible for Oscar consideration)
- Original short-form content made specifically for digital platforms
- Narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental works
While some short films receive limited theatrical distribution, most are consumed online—making it timely to recognize both traditional and digital short content within one unified category. Full details will be announced on the ACE website prior to the next submission period.
Digital Content Now Eligible in All Categories
In addition to the new short film category, ACE has broadened eligibility for all of its existing competitive 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.
YouTube to Receive a Special ACE Award
To honor its transformative influence on the world of storytelling, ACE will present YouTube with a Special Award for Creative Innovation at the 76th Annual ACE Eddie Awards. The recognition is given in the spirit of previous honors bestowed upon pioneering companies such as Avid, and celebrates YouTube’s role in empowering a global generation of visual storytellers.
“YouTube has radically expanded the boundaries of who can tell stories and how those stories reach audiences,” said Anita Brandt-Burgoyne, ACE, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee. “This award celebrates its role in democratizing visual storytelling and inspiring a new generation of editors.”
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.