Los Angeles, CA. We are excited to announce our HollyShorts Film Festival jury members Adaku Ononogbo, Blair Underwood, and Bryan Cranston. Also David Dastmalchian, Janina Gavankar, Jeremy Swift and Jennifer Morrison. Joanna Quin and Stephanie Laing. Filmmakers and stars include double OSCAR® winner Ben Proudfoot, and British legend Sir Steve McQueen. Also Academy Award® winner Travon Free, Jamie Lee Curtis and Gemma Arterton
HollyShorts OSCAR®-qualifying film festival does it again with an impressive opening night line-up. It features Sir Steve McQueen’s prostate cancer documentary EMBARRASSED which stars Idris Elba who shares “the stats are shocking”. Also fellow star Morgan Freeman insists “get on your duff, and go and get your exam”. And Chiwetel Ejiofor CBE adds “it’s really important to get the message out there”.
Double OSCAR® winner Ben Proudfoot’s MINK! tells of Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Rory Keenan’s BUMP stars British fan favorite Gemma Arterton. Frank Chi’s 38 AND THE GARDEN is produced by OSCAR® winner Travon Free and revisits an Asian American athlete’s story.
Mike Kearby’s comedy THE PROBLEM WITH TIME TRAVEL touches on climate change. Whilst Tara Westwood’s TRIGGERED stars Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Law and Order’s SVU Robert John Burke. Coral Amiga’s CROSSHAIRS shares the story of two boys whose friendship is derailed. Whilst Evan Miller’s THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS all-star cast includes Adrianne Palicki and Zachary Levi.
RETURN TO SENDER star Jamie Lee Curtis shares “On my sister’s 64th birthday she was sent walking sticks. She asked me if I sent them. I said I hadn’t and it began a creepy odyssey of where things she had never ordered came from. I shared that story with my director of development at Comet Pictures and co-writer of our feature film, MOTHER NATURE, Russell Goldman and RETURN TO SENDER was his response.
Russell is a graduate of Wesleyan and the two of us appreciate so much independent filmmaking and the wonderful opportunity that shorts give filmmakers to tell stories in condensed forms. As a producer I am particularly happy and proud of Russell and this wonderful effort made for nothing in a matter of days. Luckily, Allison Tolman agreed that the story had merit and a tense through line that made for a thrilling Short. She is sensational in the movie and we are very, very happy it has been selected as the opening night film.”
The Epic/Dread Horror Program opens with Kelsey Bollig’s KICKSTART MY HEART, Russell Goldman’s RETURN TO SENDER starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Allison Tolman. Alexandra Magistro’s LOVE YOU, MAMA starring Madeleine Arthur (ABC’s The Family), Samantha Sloyan (Midnight Mass) and Matt Biedel (Midnight Mass).
More exciting films in this strand include Alexander Thompson’s BLACK DRAGON (Rồng đen), Kantu Lentz’s COCHE BOMBA, Nuhash Humayun’s MOSHARI and Eli Power’s SKIN AND BONE stars the Oscar and Emmy nominated actress Amanda Seyfried, as well as Tony-nominated actor Thomas Sadosk..
Nicole Castro, Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont said in a joint statement: “It’s truly a pleasure to announce this year’s official selections for HollyShorts as we embark on our 18th anniversary of the Oscar-qualifying festival with 2 Academy Award winners this past year and 6 nominees.
This year, HollyShorts Film Festival has a record of 41 countries represented in the official selections, which truly speaks to the global impact short films are having. We can’t wait to share these incredibly talented short films at this year’s festival and thank all the filmmakers who have submitted along with all of our amazing staff and incredible sponsors for supporting us.”
This year’s hybrid celebration of short films will take place in-person with screenings at world-renowned TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and virtually through the official festival streaming platform BITPIX.
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