HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF) is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe. The festival showcases the top short films produced 40 minutes or less.
The inaugural HollyShorts Film Festival took place in August '05 featured 23 short films from the U.S., UK, Poland, Canada and Thailand. The 2nd annual HollyShorts took place at Cinespace, Digital Supperclub in Hollywood, CA and featured 53 of the best short films from around the world. 13 different countries were represented. The third annual HollyShorts Film Festival took place August 10-12, 2007, drawing over $26,000 in prizes awarded. Best Short film honors went to "Songbird" Directed by John Thompson. Thompson was awarded a one week audio rental package courtesy of Action Audio and Visual, featuring sound and communications equipment rentals to utilize for his next film project. The festival featured Actor Adrian Grenier's short film "Euthanasia," a DJ performance from the legendary hip hop DJ Biz Markie and 57 short films in competition; three days of screenings, parties, insightful panels along with a slew of networking platforms for HollyShorts participants.
The 4th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival took place August 7-10, 2008 in Hollywood with top honors of Best Short Film going to “Bloom” directed Lance Larson. Larson was awarded $2000 VFX package courtesy of Clifton Post for his next project. The Best Student Short honors went to David Jibladze, for his short film “Beholden.” Jibladze took home a 5-day HVX-200, HD Camera rental package courtesy of Martini Crew Booking. Best Director went to Benedict Campbell for his short film “Lloyd Neck.” Best Director, Best Student and Best Short awards took home free Hollywood Screenwriter software from Write Brothers courtesy of Haydenfilms.
The festival’s awards ceremony and closing night reception took place in Hollywood, following a star-studded opening night celebration at the Egyptian Theatre, a music video celebration at Nacional in Hollywood and the festival’s short film competition screenings at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 Theatres. During the HollyShorts opening night ceremony on Thursday August 10, which featured appearances and short films from actors Jessica Biel, David Arquette and Josh Brolin, the festival awarded legendary filmmaker David Lynch the 2008 HollyShorts Visionary Award; Oscar winner Paul Haggis with the 2008 HollyShorts Outstanding Achievement in film award and fast-rising actress Paula Garces with the 2008 HollyShorts Future Star award.
At the HollyShorts inaugural music video competition, the festival awarded two winners for Best Music Video, “La Chica Y Su Bolsa” Directed by Daniel Campos and “Good Morning Herr Horst” Directed by Lovisa Inserra. The music video Audience choice winner went to “Temporarily In Love” Directed by Randy Scott Slavin. All HollyShorts film winners took home a free film distribution kit from Film Specific and one year premium membership to Film Specific. Winners also received free filmmaker software packages from HollyShorts sponsor Showbiz Software and will receive Stash DVD’s from sponsor Stash Media.
The 5th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival® (August 6-13, 2009) took place in Hollywood and featured a star studded, Red Carpet Opening Night Reception event at the Directors Guild of America (DGA). The festival featured participation from industry heavyweights including: Demi Moore, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Kirsten Dunst, Eli Roth, Darren Lew, Jason Biggs , Carter Smith and David Prior. The week-long festival featured screenings at the DGA, Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theatre in Hollywood and a number of industry panels and receptions at the to venues in the city.
The 6th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival® took place August 5-12, 2010 in Hollywood and featured a major opening night reception, week-long screenings of short films and feature films in Hollywood, high level industry panels, keynotes, awards and receptions for the community and filmmakers. Grand prizes were awarded for Best Short and Best Director courtesy of Company 3 valued at $20,000. Openfilm also sponsored the festival and screened their top 5 finalists for their $250,000 Get It Made Competition, at the fest. James Caan attended the opening night ceremonies and named the finalists.
The 7th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival wrapped last night with a standing room only awards ceremony at the Geisha House in Hollywood live-streamed courtesy of Dyal Productions and hosted by Actress Sheila Shah. Audience choice winners from each program will be announced later this weekend. The HollyShorts Best Overall Short Film prize, which wins a $10,000 in post production and finishing services package from Company 3, went to “Mrs. Peppercorn’s Magical Reading Room” by Mike Le Han. The HollyShorts Best Director Award which wins a $10,000 post production and finishing services package from Company 3, went to Christian Swegal, Director of “Stasis.”
Continuing the tradition of growth, the 8th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival opened at the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd to over 900 guests. The evening was capped off by the HollyShorts Visionary Award being given to Joe Carnahan.
The fest took place all week at the Chinese Theatre and concluded with over $50,000 in prizes and awards being given out to winners selected out of 341 projects in competition. Highlights include:
The 8th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival (www.hollyshorts.com) wrapped with a standing room only awards ceremony at Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. The ceremony was hosted by Amy Paffrath, host of MTV’s Jersey Shore After Hours. The HollyShorts Best Overall Short Film prize, which wins a $10,000 in post production and finishing services package from Company 3 went to “ASAD”. Director Bryan Buckley was on hand to accept. The HollyShorts Best Director Award which wins a $10,000 post production and finishing services package from Company 3, went to Grainger David for his short film “The Chair.” Best Documentary Short went to Stephanie Butler’s “Bo.” The Method Studios Best VFX Award went to “The Wheel” by John Roberts. Igor Aleksov took home the Best International Short prize for “Episodizt.” Best Animation Short went to“Luminaris” by Juan Pablo Zaramella and Best Student film went to Dreamland directed by Alla Volkova, her AFI thesis project. The 8th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival had the most attendance in the festival’s history. Highlights include an opening night ceremony at the history Chinese Theatre that drew nearly 1,000 attendees and fest screenings, panels and post receptions taking place in venues throughout Hollywood during the entire week. Each HollyShorts 2012 winner receives a 1st look distribution deal with the ShortsHD television channel.
The 2012 Winners List
Best Short Film ASAD directed by Bryan Buckley
Best Actor Robert Chester Smith in The Hiccup
Best Actress Grace Kaufman in Buttons in the Ground
Best Director Grainger David for The Chair
Best Female Director Elayne Blyth for Noeima
Best Producer Stephanie Scire for Atlantis
Best Cinematography Xiaosu Han & Andreas Thalhammer for Asternauts
Best Editing Joe Greco for Sin Dolor
Best Score Edison Jarrin for Tumbleweed
Best Animation Luminaris directed by Juan Pablo Zaramella
Best Comedy Love and Germaphobia directed by Tyler Spindel
Best Documentary Bo directed by Dave Schwep & Kelly McCoy
Best International Episodizt directed by Igor Aleksov
Best Narrative Cherry Waves directed by Carey Williams
Best Drama Prora directed by Stephane Riethauser
Best SciFi The End directed by Ted Marcus
Best Horror Mo-Don-pae-mil-li (Modern Family) directed by Kwang Bin Kim
Best Student Film Dreamland directed by Alla Volkova
Best Action The Crocodile directed by Steve Acevedo
Best Web Series Sitting Babies directed by Cameron Fay
Showbiz Future Filmmaker Award Sin Dolor directed by Joe Greco
Best Commercial True Power directed by Karel van Bellingen
Best Music Video Kindness Boomerang directed by Orly Wahba
Method Studios Best VFX The Wheel directed by John Roberts
HollyShorts/NociCortinfestival Jury Award Oroverde directed by Piereluigi Ferrandini
Jury Honorable Mention 92 Skybox Rookie Card directed by Maury Steinman
Jury Honorable Mention The Queen directed by Adam Rose
Special Jury Selection Crazy Beats Strong Every Time directed by Moon Molson
Special Jury Selection Maddoggin directed by Terrence Heuston
The 9th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival (www.hollyshorts.com) came to a wrap with 1,000 attendees celebrating the festival’s Awards ceremony celebration at the Roosevelt Hotel Ballroom and lobby hosted by Digital LA’s Kevin Winston. The HollyShorts Best Short Film Grand Prize went to Mitsuyo Miyazaki for her short film Tsuyako. With the prize, Miyazaki takes home a $10,000 post-production and finishing services prize from Company 3. She also wins an all expense paid trip to Wellington New Zealand courtesy of Starnow to show her film there. Also taking home a $10,000 post-production prize from Company 3 for the Best Director Category was Sacha Feiner for Un Monde Meilleur (A Better World). The short film Sahasi Chori by Erin Galey took home two HollyShorts Awards, one for Best Producer and the Women in Film Director’s Award, garnering her a $5000 camera package courtesy of Martini Crew Booking.. The Method Studios Best VFX Prize went to Peter Szewczyk for Our Lady of Lourdes. With the win, Method awarded Peter with a $10,000 post prize.
The Panavision Future Filmmaker went to Karaoke! By Andrew Renzi. Panavision awarded Andrew with a $10,000 prize.
ShortsHD presented the short film Amazonia by Sam Chen with the DirecTV Everywhere Award.
The 2013 Winners List
HOLLYSHORTS BEST SHORT FILM-Tsuyako by Mitsuyo Miyazaki
· BEST DIRECTOR-Sacha Feiner for Un Monde Meilleur (A Better World)
· METHOD STUDIOS HOLLYSHORTS BEST VFX – Our Lady of Lourdes by Peter Szewczyk
· BEST COMMERICAL- Happiness in the Air by Hugh Mitton (Best Commercial Award wins a $5,000 post production and finishing services prize from Company 3)
· BEST MUSIC VIDEO-Vengeance Rhythm by Christopher Ullens de Schooten (Best Music Video Award wins a $5,000 post production and finishing services prize from Company 3)
· BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY-Brightwood by Connor Hair.(The HollyShorts Best Cinematography Award wins a $5,000 post production and finishing services prize from Company 3)
· BEST ACTOR-Gabe Fazio for the film Gun
· BEST ACTRESS-Carla Quevedo for the film Side Effects
· BEST ACTION-The Forge by Stephen Reedy
· BEST DRAMA-ROTKOP by Jan Roosens and Raf Roosens
· BEST ANIMATION-Alienation by Silvia Carpizo
· BEST COMEDY-Loveseat by Matthew Richmond
· BEST 3D SHORT-Le Grand Combat by Jean-Nicolas Rivat
· 3D SHORT Runner up- Eysian Fields by Ina Conrad
· BEST DOCUMENTARY-Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution by Matthew VanDyke
· BEST EDITING-I’m Right Here-Christopher Soren Kelly
· WOMEN IN FILM DIRECTORS AWARD-Erin Galey for her short Sahasi Chori
(Women in Film Directors Award receives a $5,000 camera rental prize package from Martini Crew booking)
· BEST STUDENT-MAGNESIUM by Sam de Jong (Best Student Award receives a $5,000 camera rental prize package from Martini Crew booking)
· BEST HORROR FEARNET AWARD-Do You Believe in the Devil by Alex Grybauskas
· BEST THRILLER-Lapsus by Karim OUARET
· BEST CROWD FUNDED FILM-And After All by Julian Ungano
· BEST INTERNATIONAL-Tweesprong by Wouter Bouvjin
· BEST NARRATIVE-GUN by Spencer Gillis
· BEST PRODUCER-Sahasi Chori by Erin Galey
· BEST SCI FI-Frost by Jeremy Ball
· BEST TRAILER- Rainbow Bay by Mack Lindon
· BEST SOUND-The Fifth Horseman by Kari Barber
· BEST WEB SERIES-Inside Joke On Gentrification by Brian Neaman and Michael Southworth
· PANAVISION FUTURE FILMMAKER AWARD-Karaoke! By Andrew Renzi
· HOLLYSHORTS SPECIAL JURY AWARD- The River by Sam Handel
· HOLLYSHORTS SPECIAL JURY AWARD-A Great Man by Joshua Dawson
· HOLLYSHORTS SPECIAL JURY AWARD- Death of a Shadow by Tom Van Avermaet
· HOLLYSHORTS MENTION-Cootie Contagion by Josh Smooha
· HOLLYSHORTS MENTION-Marla by Nick King
· HOLLYSHORTS MENTION-8:47 by Nik Kacevski
Fest Sets Dates for 10th Annual Anniversary Edition
During the celebration the festival set it’s dates for next year’s festival, it’s 10th Anniversary edition. The 10th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival and Film Conference/Film Market will take place August 14-23, 2014 in Hollywood. The festival also announced it will unspool a screenplay competition for next years festival, submissions now open at: www.festhome.com
The 9th edition of the HollyShorts Film Festival featured over 12,000 attendees with 8 days of screenings, daily networking events, panels and seminars during the HollyShorts Film Conference and Awards. 2013 Visionary Award honoree Matthew Modine closed the festival with the theatrical premiere of his collection of short films at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
The 10th Annual HSFF and Film Conference/Film Market took place August 14-23 at the world famous TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and the 2nd annual HollyShorts Film Conference took place at the Roosevelt Hotel. 2014 Overall Best Short and Best Director will receive $10,000 each for post production work courtesy of Company 3. The 2014 winners of Best Music Video, Best Cinematography, and Best Commercial will each receive $5,000 for post production work courtesy of Company 3. 2014 Best Student film and Best Female Director winners will receive a $10,000 camera rental packages courtesy of Martini Crew Booking. Method Studios awarded the 2014 Best VFX short with $10,000 in post production services. PANAVISION awarded $10,000 to Douglas Jessup's short GLOW. Over $140,000 in prizes were awarded from Final Draft, Showbiz, Jungle, Red Giant,
Black Magic Camera, True Vision Entertainment, and many others.
15,000 attended the 2014 fest and film conference over 10 days.
The 2015 11th annual HollyShorts Film Festival and Film Conference/Market took place over 10 days August 13-22 2015 at the TCL Chinese Theatres and Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, with Best Short Film, a $15,000 cash prize courtesy of ZYPE being awarded to SHOK.
The 12th annual HSFF took place August 11-20th 2016 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Award winners participated in our academy qualifying theatrical run.
The 13th and 14th annual HSFF best short film winners received Oscar Qualifying status as HollyShorts is now an Academy Qualifying Festival!
The 15th annual HSFF will again take place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres and Harmony Gold Theater August 8-17 2019!
HSFF Alumni include Josh Brolin, Terence Nance, Kirsten Dunst, Demi Moore, Joe Carnahan, Darren Lew, David Arquette, Dash Mihok, Ryan Eggold, Neil Labute, Zachary Quinto, Adam Brody, Pras Michel, Francois Jaros, Jon Heder, Russo Brothers, Bill Plympton, Felicia Day, Nash Edgerton, Jaime Linden, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Fergus, Jessica Biel, Malcolm Barrett, Carter Smith, Jason Biggs, David Pryor, Jimmy Jean Louis, Paula Garces, Adrian Grenier, David Lynch, Paul Haggis, Bragi Schut, David Weinstein, William Olssen, Alex Ferrari, Larry Hankin, Lance Larson, John Thompson, Nick Carmen, Scott Porter, Kat Coiro, Joel David Moore, Mary Pat Bentel, Denis Hennelly, Richard Riehle, Biz Markie, Joe Carnahan, Matthew Libatique, Matthew Modine, David Rodriguez, Kat Coiro, Bryan Buckley, Carey Williams, Anthony Hemingway, Chadwick Boseman, Moon Molson, Neal Dodson, and many, many other great filmmakers and actors. Industry attendees include Shorts TV, Indieflix, Indiepix, Snagfilms, Hulu, Netflix, Google Play, Lionsgate, Grindstone, Sony, 20th Century Fox, CAA, William Morris, Gersh, UCLA Extension, General Assembly, Seattle Film Summit, Seed and Spark, Indiegogo, and many others!
