^{The Oscar® Qualifying HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL returns for its much-anticipated 18th edition from August 11- 20th, 2022}

^{From an impressive 5000 entries, 161 female directors and 101 BIPOC directors and nearly 400 films form this year’s exciting program, the yearly} 

Oscar® Qualifying HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL , now on its 18th edition, is set from August 11 through August 20, 2022.

^{As previously, the winners of HollyShorts’ three top prizes will be eligible for nomination at the 2023 Oscars®. Six HollyShorts films were nominated for the 2022 Academy Awards® with two wins for Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed’s THE LONG GOODBYE and Ben Proudfoot’s THE QUEEN OF BASKETBALL.}

^{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.} 

^{Leading films for the 18th edition include FIVE CENTS, starring Emmy Award-winner Brian Cox (Succession); AURINKO IN ADAGIO, produced by Lena Waithe (The Chi); LIFE AND DEBT starring Rosario Dawson (Rent); BAINNE, directed by Jack Reynor (Midsommar) and starring Will Poulter (The Revenant); the all-star short NORTH STAR featuring the multiple award-winning Kevin Bacon, Emmy nominee Colman Domingo (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Laura Innes (ER), Chris Sheffield (The Maze Runner), and Malcolm Gets (Suits); THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, starring Zachary Levi (Shazam!); BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, featuring Academy Award nominee June Squibb (Nebraska) and dearly missed multiple Emmy Award-winner, Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show); documentary short STILL ROLLING PAPERS, which follows internationally acclaimed rapper Wiz Khalifa; THE ONE, directed by Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries) and starring Madeline Brewer (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Indya Moore (Pose); TARA MESSENGER OF DEATH starring Grammy and Emmy Award nominated stand-up comedian Margaret Cho; COLOR ME JANE, starring Penn Badgley (You); DON’T WORRY, IT’S GONNA BE OK, directed by Izabel Pakzad (Birds of Prey) and produced byJames Franco (The Disaster Artist); MARKED, starring Academy Award-nominee Eric Roberts; and CELEBRITAS EX MACHINA featuring Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV), Sean Astin (Stranger Things), and Danny Trejo (Machete).} 

^{Additional noteworthy selections include Dylan Bloom’s ELEVATE, produced by Live Action Short Academy Award-winner Andrew Carlberg (Skin) and starring Tracie Thoms (Rent) and Jason Butler Harner (Ozark); HOME, starring Max Irons (The Wife); IN TRAINING, directed by Kayla Compton (The Flash); BUS GIRL, starring Jessica Henwick (The Matrix Resurrections); MALLEABLE, produced by Emmy Award winning Lena Waithe (Master of None); MELONS, starring Brian Huskey (Veep) and Martin Mull (Arrested Development); NEW MOON, starring Emmy Award nominee Colman Domingo (Zola); NINETY-FIVE SENSES, from successful directing partnership Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess, starring Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?); PROXY, starring De Wanda Wise (Netfllix’s She’s Gotta Have It); WILD BITCH, both directed by and starring Kate Nash (Glow); BOOMERANG, starring Marin Hinkle (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel); BLACK EWE, starring Peter Gadiot (Queen of the South); SAFE, starring Will Patton (Yellowstone); THE MANAGER POSITION, from Academy Award-winning producer Andrew Carlberg; UNBOUND, starring Lauren Lapkus (Orange Is the New Black); URSULA, starring Martin Starr (Silicon Valley); WALTZ OF THE ANGELS, featuring Lisette Alexis (Total Eclipse) and Jason Dolley (The Ranch); THE BOND, starring Yolonda Ross (The Chi), SAUERDOGS, starring August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds); and SHEDDING ANGELS, starring Calum Worthy (The Act).} 

^{To view the full list of official selections visit:  https://hollyshorts.com/official_selections_2022}

^{HollyShorts screenings will take place from August 11-20 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}

^{To purchase an All Access Early Bird Badge visit: Hollyshorts2022.eventive.org/passes/buy}