HollyShorts Film Festival Celebrates 21 Years With Star Studded Lineup Including Stephen Fry, the Late Michael Madsen, Lena Waithe, Stormzy, Idris Elba, Slick Rick, Kit Harington, Chris Pine, Letitia Wright, Snoop Dog, Viola Davis and Chloe Sevigny
The HollyShorts Film Festival returns this summer for its 21st edition, continuing its legacy as one of the world’s premier showcases for short-form cinema. Taking place from August 7–17, 2025, at the iconic 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 7000 submissions worldwide.
This year’s program includes high-profile entries from acclaimed talents Stephen Fry, Idris Elba, and Viola Davis, whose work adds to the festival’s unique blend of Hollywood prestige and independent storytelling. Known for spotlighting rising filmmakers and innovative voices, HollyShorts continues to serve as a launchpad for the next wave of cinematic talent.
Renowned celebrity jacket designer Jeff Hamilton will debut his documentary Welcome to My Roots and be honoured with the Sports Culture Icon Award. Best known for crafting iconic jackets for legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Madonna, Hamilton’s influence spans fashion, sports, and pop culture. Directed by David Serero, the documentary delves into Hamilton’s Moroccan roots and his remarkable journey through the world of design. Featuring appearances by LeBron James, Snoop Dogg, DJ Khaled, and more, the documentary will premiere on opening night in the Sports Category.
Loren Waters Tiger
Other notable documentary entries come from Loren Waters with Tiger, following the daughter and family of legendary Muscogee Creek artist Jerome Tiger, and Glenn Kaino with Hoops, Hopes & Dreams, which tells the story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used basketball to mobolise young voters – planting the seeds for a political strategy that shaped Obama’s rise. Viola Davis narrates Emmai Alaquiva’s The Ebony Canal: The Story of Black Infant Health.
This year’s live-action selections showcase a dynamic slate of acclaimed talent and visionary storytelling. Letitia Wright makes her highly anticipated directorial debut with Highway to the Moon, while Andrew Leeds brings star power to Bulldozer, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Joanna Leeds, Tim Bagley, Nat Faxon, Allen Leech, Kate Burton, Chris “CP” Powell, Mary Steenburgen, and Nick Armstrong.
Voice recordings document Aurora Brachman and LaTajh Weaver’s study of two Queer Black women in Hold Me Close, whilst Nimco Sheikhaden’s Exodus captures a similarly intimate portrait, following two formerly incarcerated women on their journey to reclaim their lives and humanity.
Stormzy in Big Man
Academy Award winner Aneil Karia directs global music icon Stormzy in Big Man. A Friend of Dorothy, directed by Lee Knight, stars the brilliant talents of Stephen Fry and Miriam Margolyes. Executive produced by Cate Blanchett, 11:11 marks a striking entry from Mahnoor Euceph.
The official lineup of HollyShorts 2025 films here…
Jeremie Cander’s Grief Retreat
Other notable entries include The Second Time Around from Jack Howard, starring Caroline Goodall, and Boy Fighter, directed by Julia Weisberg Cortés and starring Michael Mando. Taylor Bakken’s What’s the Deal with Birds is executive produced by Patty Jenkins and Chris Pine. Jeremie Cander’s Grief Retreat comes to the screen with executive production by Issa Rae, while Meron Alon’s Too Good stars the inimitable Jean Smart.
Tony Mucci’s Money Talk$
Tony Mucci’s Money Talk$ boasts a star-studded ensemble, including David Mazouz, 24kGoldn, Fredro Starr, Tyler “Hook” Senerchia, and Bo Dietl, whilst Freddie Fox’s The Painting & The Statue brings a surreal spark of connection vividly to life, with Chris Overton at the helm as Executive Producer and a standout cast including Tanya Reynolds, Mark Gatiss and Asim Chaudhry. Meanwhile, Jessica Sanders’ I Want to Feel Fun delivers a sharply improvised comedy starring Simon Rex and Esther Povitsky.
Michael Madsen in The Things We Carry
Sam Hendersen brings the ever-pressing tragedy of America’s school shootings and their aftermath to the fore in ADO, with a moving performance from Jenifer Lewis. The cycle of gun violence in America is similarly explored in Thibaud Goarin’s The Things We Carry, starring Michael Madsen, whilst Salvador Paskowitz invites audiences to heaven’s bar in The Big Everything. Rupert Ratcliffe’s Going follows Genevieve O’Reilly and Nicholas Pinnock through a strikingly contained vision of a world on the brink.
Miranda Kahn’s Fame and Other Four Letter Words
2025 Tony Winner Darren Criss stars in Warren Fu’s intriguing entry Under the Infinite, whilst Lesley Ann Warren shines in Tom Koch’s Olive, an intimate look at family ties from YDA Silver Screen winner Tom Koch. In Better Life, executive produced by Randall Park, a radical medical breakthrough offers one Chinese father a last shot at the American Dream – through his unemployed adult daughter. From Miranda Kahn comes Fame and Other Four Letter Words, a heartfelt yet biting take on a self-centred society consumed by image. Haley Joel Osment and Finn Wittrock star in John de Menil’s Main Man, whilst Joe Swanberg features in Chasing the Party, Jessie Komitor’s provocative tale of youthful fantasy unravelling.
Isabella Ares and Gabby Fiszman’s Holy Smokes
The fresh female-led comedy Holy Smokes, directed by Isabella Ares and Gabby Fiszman, stars Mena Suvari and Kevin Smith in an irreverent twist on faith, friendship and modern morality. Meanwhile, Academy Award nominee Cathy Moriarty comes to the screen in Matthew Campanella’s explorations of Catholic guilt in Sunday Sauce. The magnetic Lena Headey brings star power to Iris Dukatt’s striking entry of revenge and revolution in Long Pork, whilst Ryan Farhoudi’s haunting short Road Kill features dynamic talent from Skyler Gisondo, Jonathan Tucker and Alycia Debnam-Carey. Not forgetting, How I Learned to Die, directed by Manya Glassman and executive produced by Spike Lee.
John Kelly’s Retirement Plan
This year’s animation entries include John Kelly’s Retirement Plan, an award-winning entry at both SXSW and Palm Springs 2025, which tells a simplistic yet poignant reflection on the passing of time, narrated by Domhnall Gleeson. Academy Award Nominee Aaron Blaise’ Snow Bear showcases stunning 2D hand-drawn visuals reminiscent of classic animated films, whilst Martine Frossard brings to life beautifully unique surrealist animation inspired by plant life in Hypersensitive.
Naomi Noir’s Meanwhile, Mother’s Child
Helmed by a collective of 7 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.
Notable music videos include Jeremy Renner’s heartfelt and touching tribute to his daughter – Wait – directed by Evan Hara, HollyShorts Festival will also host the west coast premiere of VICTORY — the cinematic visual album from Hip-Hop icon Slick Rick, starring Idris Elba, Nas, Giggs and directed by Meji Alabi.
The festival also remains a respected 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. These honours make HollyShorts a key destination for filmmakers looking to make their mark at the highest level.
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.
Celebrating over two decades of cinematic innovation, HollyShorts continues to champion bold, original storytelling and remains a vital force in the global short film community.
Leave a Comment