by Liz Wiest, Staff Writer

Los Angeles’ fastest-growing Oscar-qualifying shorts festival is back again with a killer lineup for its 20th anniversary. Starting from humble beginnings at The Space Theatre to now the esteemed TCL Chinese Theatre and Cannes Festival, HollyShorts has become one of the best platforms for indie filmmakers and their work to gain prestige and visibility. And with this year’s jury panel boasting names such as Rosario Dawson, Rachel Brosnahan and Lio Tipton, its sure to promise another year of excellence. This year’s fest begins August 8th until August 18th, below are my top picks for shorts I hope to cover in the next week and a half.

Call Back
Written and Directed by Blaise Beyhan

From esteemed NYC-production company Big Indie Pictures, Call Back follows the story of an aspiring actor who is forced to confront the darker parts of the industry and rethink his life choices. Having worked for Big Indie myself, I’m curious to watch their emergence into the shorts-world and also interview director Blaise to help shed some light on the project. 

Lesbophilia
Written by Tennessee Martin
Directed by Michelle West

From director Michelle West and writer/producer Tennessee Martin, Lesbophilia is a dark absurdist comedy about radical acceptance when a bisexual woman attends her ex-boyfriend’s funeral with her new girlfriend. The short is sponsored by Queer Koalas who’s mission is to involve the LGBTQIA+ community in NFT and web3 initiatives. 

Triptych
Written by Atticus Hoffman and Roland Walters
Directed by Sophia Ray

A dark exploration into art and ambition, Triptych follows an inflammatory art dealer who decides to destroy a Bosch painting as performance art. Directed by Sophia Ray and produced by Script Compass and Academy Films, the short seeks to understand the Faustian bargains artists make for a shot at greatness. 

Waving
Written and Directed by Rolfin Nyhus and Steven Brumwell

Starring Ralph Ineson of Harry Potter fame, Waving is a short designed to break the stigma of OCD and educate viewers on the authentic inner experience of those who live with it. After my diagnosis with it last year, I’m certainly intrigued by the content enough to see how this film will break down the often-misunderstood illness.

One for the Road
Written by Corey Slater
Directed by Daniel Carsenty

As a lifelong horror fanatic, I was elated to hear HollyShorts had a Stephen King-inspired film in their lineup, causing me to immediately request a screener for One for the Road. Director Daniel Carsenty and writer Corey Slater obtained the rights from King himself and are looking forward to using his themes to visually explore the dark sides of humanity. 

HollyShorts film festival begins August 8th until August 18th, tickets are available here.