The Oscar® Qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival returns for its much-anticipated 19th edition from August 10- 20th, 2023 with over 400 short films produced in 40 minutes or less.
Documentary short films selected for the 19th edition include “How to Rig an Election: The Racist History of the 1876 Presidential Contest” directed by Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, narrated by Tom Hanks, “They Came From All Over” directed by Academy® Award winner Rayka Zehtabchi, OSCAR® winner Ben Proudfoot’s “Forgiving Johnny” and Jordan Matthew Horowitz’s “Jack and Sam”, produced by Academy® Award winner Andrew Carlberg.
The star-studded live-action short film entries include Iain Softley and Disney Plus’ “The Shepherd”, produced by Alfonso Cuarón and featuring John Travolta, Christopher Patrick Macken’s “For the Safety of Theo” executive produced by Charlie Day, Jenn Shaw’s “Gaps”, produced by Queen Latifah, Bella Thorne’s “Paint Her Red”, Jorey Worb’s “Bite” starring Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars), “Shadow Brother Sunday” directed by and starring Alden Ehrenreich (Star Wars), Harry Holland’s “Last Call” starring Tom Holland and BAFTA Nominee Lindsay Duncan, Margaret Miller’s “Poof” starring Catherine Curtain, Academy® Award winner Chris Overton’s “In Too Deep”, Charles Whitcher’s “Mundo”, executive produced by Eva Longoria and “For People in Trouble” directed by Alex Lawther and executive produced by Matt Damon alongside Ben Afflick.
Animation short film entries feature WB’s “Daffy in Wackyland”, directed by Max Winston and OSCAR® nominee Andrew Pierce Chesworth’s “The Brave Locomotive”.Notable music videos include Lauren Keke Palmer’s “Big Boss” and Ron Mael, Russell Mael and Richie Starzec’s “Sparks” starring Cate Blanchett.
Additional selections include Karen Bryson MBE’s directorial debut “Monochromatic”, Kayla Abuda Galang’s “You Left Me on the Boulevard”, Lauren Finerman’s “Flower” produced by and starring Misty Copeland, Lola Blanc’s “Pruning” starring Madeline Brewer (The Handmaid’s Tale), Ethan Dolan and Grayson Dolan’s “Nothing Left to Give”, Conor Dooley’s “Gold and Mud” starring Ana Fabrega (Los Espookys) Rudy Martinez’s “Ham”, Oscar Boyson’s “Power Signal”, Michael Spiccia’s “I’m On Fire” starring Jamie-Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos), Sue Zarco Kramer’s “Swipe NYC” starring Lisa Edelstein (House MD) and Bridget Moynahan (Blue Bloods), Marta Szymanek’s “Eden” produced by OSCAR® nominee Maciej Ślesicki, Stephanie Kaznocha’s “Confessions” starring Sister Alva (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Eve Sigall (Yellow Jackets), Michael Schwartz’s “Snatched” starring Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Dany Pino’s “Unión de Reyes (Union of Kings)”, as well as Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon‘s “Restraining Order” produced by Oscar Nominee Kobi Mizrahi.
This year, the Academy® granted the festival their 4th OSCAR®-qualifying award for Documentary short film, this accolade will join their other three top awards, Best Short Film Grand Prize, Best Short Animation and Best Short Live Action. The winners of these awards will be eligible to be considered for a 2024 Academy® Award!
This year’s hybrid celebration of short films will take place in person with screenings at the world-renowned TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and virtually through the official festival streaming platform BITPIX.