The HollyShorts Film Festival returns to the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, in a big way. Each year, we continue to be inspired and impressed by filmmakers from all over the world. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year’s festival will showcase a selection of 400 films from a record number of over 6,000 submissions. Among those chosen are films from Jamie Lee Curtis, Jody Foster, Zoe Saldaña, and Bella Thorne.
As with each year, a panel of jurors will select a film in four Oscar-qualifying categories: documentary short film, best short film grand prize, best short animation, and best short live-action. Those films will be given the honor of becoming eligible for Oscar nominations for next year’s awards. This year’s panel includes some big names in Hollywood, including Rachel Brosnahan, Danny Pino, David Dastmalchian, Rosario Dawson, Tyrese Gibson, and many more.
Four of Hollywood’s finest will also be honored at this year’s festival with awards that celebrate their contributions to the industry. Actor and director Alden Ehrenreich will receive the Luminary Award for his work on both sides of the camera. Tom Skerritt, a long-time film and television star, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for a career that spans over 60 years. Director Catherine Hardwick will be honored with the Visionary Award, and the Rising Star Award will go to young actress Lexi Underwood.
The excitement begins Thursday, August 8, in-person and online, and continues to the 18th when the festival winners will be announced.
To see the full line-up and get tickets, visit hollyshorts.com.
[…] Here are 20 shorts we’re looking forward to at this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival. […]