The Oscar® Qualifying HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL returns for its much-anticipated 19th edition from August 10- 20th, 2023, from an impressive 6000 entries, female directors and bipoc directors and films from this year’s exciting program. 

This year, the Academy® granted the festival their 4th OSCAR®-qualifying award for Documentary short film, this accolade will join the other three top awards, Best Short film Grand Prize, Best Short Animation and Best Short Live Action. The winners from these awards will be eligible to be considered for a 2024 Academy® Award!

Just some of the documentary short films selected for 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’ “Jack and Sam” produced by Academy® Award winner Andrew Carlberg.

The star studded live-action short film entries include Iain Softley’s “The Shepherd”, produced by Alfonso Cuaró 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” and Charles Whitcher’s “Mundo”, Executive Produced by Eva Longoria.

Animation short film entries feature WB’s “Daffy in Wackyland,” directed by Max Winston and Oscar nominee Andrew Pierce Chesworth’s “The Brave Locomotive,” as well as Lauren Keke Palmer’s music video “Big Boss.”

Additional noteworthy 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 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 and Stephanie Kaznocha’s “Confessions” starring Sister Alva (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Eve Sigall (Yellow Jackets).

HollyShorts is devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panels and forums. The festival showcases the top short films produced 40-minutes or less.

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.

HollyShorts screenings will take place from August 10-20 at TLC Chinese Theatres, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. 3rd Level, Hollywood, CA, 90028, followed by the annual awards gala on August 20.

For additional information and tickets visit: www.hollyshorts.com