The HollyShorts Film Festival returns this summer for its 21st edition celebrating the art of short-form filmmaking. Taking place from August 7–17 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Los Angeles — and streaming globally via Bitpix — this milestone year will feature a star-powered and diverse lineup, chosen from a record 7,000 submissions worldwide.
Notable names from the worlds of film and entertainment appearing in the lineup include Stephen Fry, the late Michael Madsen, Lena Waithe, Stormzy, Idris Elba, Slick Rick, Kit Harington, Chris Pine, Letitia Wright, Snoop Dog, Viola Davis and Chloë Sevigny. The selected films include projects executive produced by the likes of Cate Blanchett, Spike Lee, Issa Rae and Patty Jenkins.
The festival remains an Oscar-qualifying event, offering Academy Award consideration in four major categories: Best Short Film Grand Prize, Best Short Animation, Best Documentary Short, and Best Live-Action Short.
Among this year’s animation offerings will be SXSW and Palm Springs ShortFest award winner Retirement Plan, by John Kelly, which tells a simplistic yet poignant reflection on the passing of time, narrated by Domhnall Gleeson. Academy Award Nominee Aaron Blaise’s Snow Bear showcases stunning 2D hand-drawn visuals reminiscent of classic animated films, while Martine Frossard brings to life beautifully unique surrealist animation inspired by plant life in Hypersensitive.
Helmed by a collective of seven directors, The Shyness of Trees pairs luminous, glowing animation with a deeply moving narrative — an evocative blend that has already drawn over 199k views on YouTube. Meanwhile, Mother’s Child, directed by Naomi Noir, lays bare the emotional and heavy burden of motherhood through artistic entanglements with nature. From the visionary trio Gervasio Canda, Paula Boffo and Patricia Plaza comes Luz Diabla, a tense and atmospheric animation that follows the night of a young urban raver in the middle of the Argentine Pampas. Finally, Greg Franklin’s The Whistle comes to the screen with executive production by Josh Gad, a powerful animation set in Nazi Germany in 1938 and based on a true story.
Across ten days of screenings, panels, red carpet premieres, and networking events, HollyShorts will once again offer a hybrid experience. In-person events will be held in the heart of Hollywood, while a curated selection of films will be available for international audiences via Bitpix TV, the festival’s official streaming platform. The celebration will culminate in the HollyShorts Awards Gala on August 17, where winners will be revealed.
See the full list of official selections at HollyShorts.com.
