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40+ Film Screenings, Q and A with Filmmakers, and Awards!!
Filmmakers from all around the world. Best of the Best in Independent Cinema: Comedy, Drama, Experimental, Documentary, Animation, Music Video. Q and A includes meetings with filmmakers after each program screenings. Meet them all in person!! Program & Tickets
Promenade Playhouse / LA Performance Canter 1404 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 
SATURDAY
January 9th, 2016 Festival Opening & Screenings 4-6PM DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY SCREENINGS 1. Welcome to the Last Bookstore (12’) 2. Silencing the Gods (16’) 3. Bret Bocook: tip of the iceberg (7’) 4. Reclaiming Pakistan (9’) 5. The Man Behind 55,000 Dresses (17’) 6. Nepal Rises (21') Q and A with filmmakers Buy tickets for this program ($10 online, $12 door ) here 6-8PM DRAMA CATEGORY SCREENINGS 1. No Love Lost (15’) 2. Special Delivery (3’) 3. Tail (16’) 4. The Love Effect (30’) Q and A with filmmakers Buy tickets for this program ($10 online, $12 door) here 8-10PM MIX CATEGORIES SCREENINGS EXPERIMENTAL 1. Sleeping Wonder (10’) 2. Grief (7’) 3. Kensho (4’) 4. iNTERFACE (3’) MUSIC VIDEO 5.Tortuga - Pablo e il Mare (7’) 6. Not Even For You (4’) ANIMATION 7. In a Good Way (5’) 8. Bottomless (3’) Q and A with filmmakers Buy tickets for this program ($10 online, $12 door) here SUNDAY January 10th, 2016 Promenade Playhouse / LA Performance Canter 1404 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 12-2PM STUDENT CATEGORY SCREENINGS 1. Between The Lines (6’) 2. Strive (25’) 3. Matchgirl (4’) 4. 60 Minutes A Day (2’) 5. The Holy Cave (15’) 6. Delete (3’) 7. Shepherd's Pie (6’) 8. iDeal Wife (36’) Q and A with filmmakers Buy tickets for this program ($10 online, $12 door) here 2-4PM COMEDY CATEGORY SCREENINGS 1. Meeting Matt Damon (8’) 2. Harry- The Professional (3’) 3. The Script Re-Right (14’) 4. Opening Up (2’) 5. Dating in LA (5’) 6. Bam (6’) 7. The Business of Moochery (9’) 8. Sweet Caroline (22’) Q and A with filmmakers Buy tickets for this program ($10 online, $12 door) here 4-8PM LOS ANGELES CINEFEST FILM MARKET SCREENINGS Part of Hollywood Short Film Festival ALL FILM PASSES VALID 1. A Tale Told Heart (drama 24’) 2. The Journey (drama 12’) 3. As Long As It Takes (drama 75’) 4. As The Crow Flies (documentary 60’) Q and A with filmmakers Buy tickets for this program ($10 online, $12 door) here 9 -10PM AWARDS Buy tickets for Awards ($15 online, $20 door) here We have two animations this year. Screenings 8-10PM on Saturday.
In a Good Way (5’), Bottomless (3’) Q and A with filmmakers Last year Dominic Polcino received Award for Best Animation. Dominic is an animation director who has worked on The Simpsons, Mission Hill, King of the Hill, Rick and Morty and Family Guy. 
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PRESS RELEASE
Director and Producer, Founder of Hollywood Short Film Festival Mark Mos, is pleased to announce Hollywood Short Film Festival 2016. Awards Ceremony, Red Carpet, Screenings, Q&A with Filmmakers. Confirmed attendees at Awards Ceremony, Screenings and Meetings with Audience: Director/ Producer Matthew Olson, Welcome to the Last Bookstore Director/ Producer Rachael Ponn, Silencing the Gods Director/ Producer Stacey Stone, The Man Behind 55,000 Dresses Director/ Producer Drue Metz, The Love Effect Producer Lauren Skillen, Not Even For You Director/ Producer Between The Lines Director Hayley Nelson, Between The Lines Director/ Producer Marquette Jefferson, 60 Minutes A Day Director/ Producer Frieda de Lackner , Meeting Matt Damon Director/ Producer Sharon Feingold, The Script Re-Right Director/ Producer Cassandra Dunn, Opening Up Actor/Director/ Producer Ralph Mayer, Dating in LA Director/ Producer Dennis Overeem, Bam Director/ Producer Sam Hayes, The Business of Moochery Director/ Producer Zack Van Eyck and Actress Carolyn Meyer, Sweet Caroline Director/ Producer Dan Fowlks, A Tale Told Heart Director/ Producer Kevin Michael Irvine, As Long As It Takes Media Coverage, Bob Delgadillo Screenings: Saturday 4-10 PM, Sunday, 12-7PM Awards 8PM Promenade Playhouse 1404 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Program/Tickets/Films Details: hsff.weebly.com 
Festival Tickets are available via
EventBrite and Universe. 
Ads approved by Hollywood Short Film Festival
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Film & Screenings Details
Saturday, January 9th, 2016 Promenade Playhouse / LA Performance Canter, 1404 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 |
SATURDAY ALL FILMS PASS
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Document 4-6PM
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Welcome to the Last Bookstore
(12') short doc This short documentary focuses on the life of Josh Spencer, owner and operator of “The Last Bookstore”, located in Downtown Los Angeles. Against the closure of massive bookstore chains and the rise of eReaders, Josh has been able to create a local resurgence of the printed word. We explore his life as a father, husband, small business owner, and paraplegic as well as the store’s magnetic attraction of the community. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 4PM | official website | buy ticket here |
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Silencing the Gods
(16’) short doc In the rural districts of Uganda, strangers making false promises of sweet treats, money or jobs, are luring children to their death. Abductions are at the hands of a traditional healer, otherwise called a witch doctor, with the intention of human sacrifice. The practice of ritual mutilations and murder by witchdoctors is on the rise, with cases of children disappearing—as they walk to and from school, fetching water from communal wells, or simply playing with their friends by the sugarcane and corn fields. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 4PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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Bret Bocook: tip of the iceberg
(7’) short doc Bret Bocock, an attorney and US rowing chamption developed a brain tumor which he believes is due to his past heavy use of cell phones. He discovers that the cell phone companies know that cell phones could cause brain cancer while hiding this information from the public. Renown researchers dismiss his concerns. Could electromagnetic radiation such as found in cell phones and wifi be the next big health risk as cigarettes were in the past? Screening: January 9th, 2016, 4PM | buy ticket here |
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Reclaiming Pakistan
(9’) short doc A civil rights activist, Mohammad Jibran Nasir, sparks a social revolution after almost 140 children were killed in the Peshawar Army School tragedy. A short documentary that sheds light on the consequences of extreme religion and terrorism in Pakistan and offers hope to the nation's seemingly bleak reality. Narrated by Pakistani actress Fawzia Mirza, the film features interviews from founders of the organization Pakistan for All and footage from their protest efforts. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 4PM | official website | buy ticket here |
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The Man Behind 55,000 Dresses
(17’) short doc Who is “The Man Behind 55,000 Dresses”? Why did he collect dresses for 56 years? These are some of the questions explored by this film. The hardships of his life as a child, and the horrors of the Second World War affected him, but what drives him to collect like this and why dresses? The documentary delves into the reasons for Paul’s obsessive collection through present day interviews, archival footage, and public sales to sell the dresses. This is a film where you start thinking one thing and end up thinking something completely different. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 4PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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Nepal Rises
(21') short doc Nepal Rises is a short documentary, high lighting never before seen footage of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake. This film brings to light the terrible destruction that resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. The aftermath of the destruction was incomprehensible, as entire villages were destroyed; however, one unlikely group of local volunteers stood above the rest to help rebuild Nepal. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 4PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
Drama 6-8PM
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No Love Lost
(15’) short drama A Jewish boy nurturing a secret romance with a Muslim girl, despite the realities of their backgrounds, is unaware he is being stalked. While the young lovers struggle to be open about their relationship, the stalker's obsession reveals a thought provoking turn culminating in the trio coming face to face. No Love Lost is an intriguing tale of love, obsession and unyielding prejudice. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 6PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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Special Delivery
(3’) short drama A toy robot desperately tries to get home to meet his new best friend. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 6PM| buy ticket here |
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Tail
(16’) short drama Zelda is a photographer who works at a coffee shop and Benjamin is a frequent customer who has a secret. They share a lovely night, realize maybe there's something special here and Benjamin, afraid to reveal his super weird secretf, runs. When Zelda confronts Ben, he reveals himself to find out that Zelda loves him anyway. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 6PM| buy ticket here |
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The Love Effect
(30’) short drama THE LOVE EFFECT is the story of two men, TOM and ROBBIE who are both dealing with loss in very radical ways. Tom, a free-spirited surfer and wandering soul has come to this remote California coastal retreat to cope with the pain of his lost love, while Robbie, a San Francisco young businessman has come to this very spot to take his own life. Two men on different yet parallel paths are shown a way through together, just by sharing simple experiences like fishing, surfing and camping. An emotional story that sensitively addresses depression, suicide and LOVE, THE LOVE EFFECT poetically reminds audiences of life's greatest gift, and how it translates in so many different ways. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 6PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
Mix Categories 8-10PM
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Sleeping Wonder
(10’) experimental Virginia, a young girl, falls in a dream and makes a journey into diversity and love. A short novel of formation with dreamlike suggestions. Short movie with social theme. Virginia lives into a dream like Alice in wonderland. Is oniric journey is about diversity and love. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 8PM| Facebook page | buy ticket here |
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Grief
(7’) experimental Claire is a young woman scarred by the realities of her past relationship with loved ones that betrayed her. Through that betrayal she moves through different series of events and images contemplating where she she stood emotionally in her past, present, and future with an unknown man that she seems to care for. Through the various series of events she finds herself tied to a tree, struggling to break free from the overwhelming sense of dread in the form of a black substance... Screening: January 9th, 2016, 8PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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Kensho
(4’) experimental Dreaming hero wakes up and sees the Dreamer himself. Is he? Time freezes and we are seeing things as they are. Are we? Narrated by British-born American philosopher Alan Watts. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 8PM | buy ticket here |
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iNTERFACE
(3’) experimental This animated film rests on the idea that digital media is like a transparent, thin layer of skin that shields our notion of self, and also the ability to transform and change. Like a self-portrait made of assemblages, the film investigates coexisting multiple digital identities to convey the message that “the best interface is no interface”. Assuming that the digital phenomenon is reshaping our culture, the film aims to synthesize and decode the compression of an over-connected modern society by visualizing that which is lost in translation and the art of error. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 8PM | buy ticket here |
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Tortuga - Pablo e il Mare
(7’) music video On an Italian beach, a clumsy fisherman goes through many adventures to get noticed by his crush - the new pretty foreign tourist. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 8PM | buy ticket here |
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Not Even For You
(4’) music video A young girl dances in the abandoned remains of something that once was beautiful as she tries to find strength after heartbreak. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 8PM |official website| buy ticket here |
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In a Good Way
(5’) animation 2D animation short about the fear of social value. The poetic story addresses how society tries to shape and distort people, to evoke awareness of respecting one’s true voice and following one’s natural path. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 8PM | buy ticket here |
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Bottomless
(3’) animation It is a true story about my experience of moving from one culture to another, with all its misunderstandings and miscommunications that makes it just comical. Adding a twist of visual surrealism that live in the characters I draw, made it a little bit more archetypal. Screening: January 9th, 2016, 8PM| Facebook page | buy ticket here |
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Sunday, January 10th, 2016
Promenade Playhouse / LA Performance Canter, 1404 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 |
SUNDAY ALL FILMS PASS
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Student 12-2PM
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Between The Lines
(6’) student film, drama While waiting for the results of her pregnancy test, Rachel reevaluates her life to figure out her feelings for the father Screening: January 10th, 2016, 12PM | buy ticket here |
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Strive
(25’) student film, documentary Strive. is a documentary about the ballet dancer Claudia Ortiz Arraiza, an athlete of aesthetics, striving for perfection at the Munich State Ballet. With beautiful images this film tries to catch the fleeting moment on stage and allows a behind-the-scenes insight into one of the most famous operas in the world. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 12PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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Matchgirl
(4’) student film, drama Trying to warm herself by the glow of matches, a young trans woman sees visions of a better world. Hans Christian Andersen's original story gave a face to the plight of suffering children of his time. 'Matchgirl' calls attention to the common homelessness of trans people in contemporary times. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 12PM | buy ticket here |
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60 Minutes A Day
(2’) student film, drama Brothers Bo & Trip kaplin have used their imagination to burn calories, fight obesity, conquer type 2 diabetes, and destroy heart diseases by playing a game called On the Run, for 60 Minutes a Day Screening: January 10th, 2016, 12PM | buy ticket here |
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The Holy Cave
(15’) student film, comedy Carlos is just another regular teenager in high school with just one friend: Juan, the classical nerdy guy. He's in love with Sofia; the girl of his dreams. But, when all of a sudden, Angel, the hottest guy in school is starting to date her, he'll work out something, along with Juan, that would change his entire life forever...THE HOLY CAVE Screening: January 10th, 2016, 12PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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Delete
(3’) student film, drama What if every day of your life was a computer file? For one man, this terrifying discovery gives him the opportunity to try rewriting his past. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 12PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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Shepherd's Pie
(6’) student film, comedy Shepherds Pie came from the experiences I had dating in high school. It was inspired by an actual event that took place in my local diner. I think that everyone has experienced the feeling of breaking up and how awkward and hard it can be. I kept thinking how funny it would be if someone could not breakup with their significant other no matter how hard they tried. At the root of the film it is all about communication and the struggle we all have with what we think we want versus what we actually need. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 12PM | buy ticket here |
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iDeal Wife
(36’) student film, comedy/drama Technologies are helping us feel better about ourselves. But somehow it also makes people feel less and less guilty of their behaviors. This is a story about happiness and guilt. It's set in a prospective future of an extremely consumer driven system when everyone is provoked to purchase an iDeal product to be companion and it even can be upgraded after five years recording the pre-agreed contract. The robots are highly humanized and programmed to feel and love while people are absolutely not… Screening: January 10th, 2016, 12PM | watch trailer | buy ticket here |
Comedy 2-4PM
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Meeting Matt Damon
(8’) comedy Hilary's favorite actor is Matt Damon. To add some joy to her dreary life, she meets Matt Damon for coffee. It's more than either of them anticipated. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 2PM| Facebook page | buy ticket here |
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Harry- The Professional
(3') comedy A short biography on Harry, one of the worlds most unique, colorful, dedicated musicians, whose only goal is for others to take him as seriously as he takes himself. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 2PM| official website | buy ticket here |
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The Script Re-Right
(14’) comedy The voice behind the trains of Hartsfield-Jaskcon International Airport stars in this voice over comedy about how to best write for Millennials and 'Generation Selfie.' Screening: January 10th, 2016, 2PM| buy ticket here |
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Opening Up
(2’) comedy "Opening up" explores the awkward tension that ensues when Christina reveals her interest in self satisfaction developed at an unusually young age. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 2PM| buy ticket here |
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Dating in LA
(5’) comedy When you think you may have found the one but then you remember that you live in Hollywood Screening: January 10th, 2016, 2PM| buy ticket here |
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Bam
(6’) comedy Mariska is a big older girl and is very Lonely. She lives in a small boring town in The Netherlands and works in a supermarket. Everyday she eats her lunch alone in the parking lot. She has no friends and no love in her life. She tries to find a man through social media but until now she is not very lucky. No one likes her selfies nor do they contact her. So she likes her own photos. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 2PM| watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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The Business of Moochery
(9’) comedy Master Moochist Davis Waterbury Charles presents his patented Mountain Model of Moochery, and demonstrates real-life mooches all along the way. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 2PM| buy ticket here |
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Sweet Caroline
(22’) mocku-reality comedy When Caroline's laughable job interviews go viral, she gets her own reality show. But her polyamorous husband, an unscrupulous producer and a rodent infestation turn her reality show dreams into “Hollywood Hell. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 2PM| watch trailer | buy ticket here |
Los Angeles CineFest Film Market Screenings 4-8PM
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A Tale Told Heart
(24') drama Writer/director Dan Fowlks sets his sights on Edgar Allan Poe's famed short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart," but rather than taking a straight forward approach to the gothic source material, this accomplished storyteller opts to put his own unique spin on the proceedings. A horrific murder, a madman, and a creepy old codger with a "vulture eye" are at the very heart of this atmospheric adaptation of an 1843 literary classic. Fowlks, Kelly Olsen, Rich Hill, Sheldon Demke, Ryan Whitney, and Stephen Walters star in this sumptuously produced, thriller. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 4PM| watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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The Journey
(12') drama Le Voyage, a new film by Jaafar Muraad, is a personal Iraqi perspective, brought to the western audience through this political comedy, giving a light-hearted view on cruelty and sensitivity under the despotic leadership in Iraq. This can be a symbolic representation of the way how the previous Iraqi government treated its citizens. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 4PM| watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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As Long As It Takes
(75') drama It's New Year's Eve in San Francisco and Cheryl is having a formal dinner party for her boss and colleagues, but she makes a big mistake by asking her young gay brother, Jeffrey, to bartend. Thinking it's an open party, Jeffrey invites his boyfriend, Julian; Julian invites his ex-lover, Brett, and Brett invites his filmmaker buddy, Dan, from Hollywood. As if the cast of characters couldn't get more frustrating , Cheryl has also invited their straight cousins, Terry and Tracey, visiting from Wisconsin. Finally, a crotchety neighbor has the wrong address and crashes the party too, making it clear that nobody's there who's supposed to be there. "It's a terrific comedy of errors with widely disparate characters...terrific writing!!" -- James Gibbons, Former Paramount Pictures EVP Marketing. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 4PM| watch trailer | buy ticket here |
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As The Crow Flies
(60') doc 'Lands End to John O'Groats in a Straight Line' Against unreasonable odds and all expert advice, a team of four set out to complete an audacious journey that many had called impossible. Overcoming extreme fatigue the Beeline Britain team complete this uniquely compelling journey in a month of sea kayaking, mountain biking, road cycling and mountaineering. They smash 2 UK endurance records in the process. Screening: January 10th, 2016, 4PM| watch trailer | buy ticket here |
Awards 9-10PM
Nominations
Best Director Nomination
Stacey Stone, The Man Behind 55,000 Dresses
Mel Hsieh, iNTERFACE
Yi ju Tsai, In a Good Way
Veronique Vanblaere, Bottomless
Susan Downs, Bret Bocook: tip of the iceberg
Fabrizio Vacca, Tortuga
Best Cinematographer Nomination
James Laxton, Welcome to the Last Bookstore
Michele Brandstetter, Sleeping Wonder
Kasey Knasko, Grief
Brian Henderson, The Business of Moochery
Best Film Editor Nomination
Zachary Kinzinger, Welcome to the Last Bookstore
Nathan Cubitt, No Love Lost
Liam McKiernan, Special Delivery
Maddie Mindling, The Script Re-Right
Jutta Schoen, Strive
Aaron paradox, Kensho
Best Actor Nomination
Tyler Atkins, The Love Effect
Harry Cartwright, Harry- The Professional
Ralph Mayer, Dating in LA
Robert Alex, Dating in LA
Charley Mercer, Tail
Best Actress Nomination
Carolyn Meyer, Sweet Caroline
Annemieke Bakker, Bam
Emma Fassier, Meeting with Matt Damon
Katie Garrett, Between The Lines
Casey Dunn, Opening Up
Best Costume Designer Nomination
Sang Oh, Matchgirl
Sylvia Congxin Qi, iDeal Wife
Sam Hayes, The Business of Moochery
Jen Grubbs, Not Even For You
Best Production Designer Nomination
Judit Ferrer, The Holy Cave
Dennis Overeem, Bam
Nichole Fernandez, Shepherd's Pie
Best Screenplay Writer (of produced film) Nomination
Suzan Downs, Bret Bocook: tip of the iceberg
Rachel Ponn, Silencing the Gods
Lisa Donato, Reclaiming Pakistan
Lindsay Daniels, Nepal Rises
Marquette Jefferson, 60 Minutes A Day
Derek Thomas, Delete
We'll announce winners at Awards
January 10th, 9PM
Buy tickets for Awards ($15 online, $20 door) here
Best Director Nomination
Stacey Stone, The Man Behind 55,000 Dresses
Mel Hsieh, iNTERFACE
Yi ju Tsai, In a Good Way
Veronique Vanblaere, Bottomless
Susan Downs, Bret Bocook: tip of the iceberg
Fabrizio Vacca, Tortuga
Best Cinematographer Nomination
James Laxton, Welcome to the Last Bookstore
Michele Brandstetter, Sleeping Wonder
Kasey Knasko, Grief
Brian Henderson, The Business of Moochery
Best Film Editor Nomination
Zachary Kinzinger, Welcome to the Last Bookstore
Nathan Cubitt, No Love Lost
Liam McKiernan, Special Delivery
Maddie Mindling, The Script Re-Right
Jutta Schoen, Strive
Aaron paradox, Kensho
Best Actor Nomination
Tyler Atkins, The Love Effect
Harry Cartwright, Harry- The Professional
Ralph Mayer, Dating in LA
Robert Alex, Dating in LA
Charley Mercer, Tail
Best Actress Nomination
Carolyn Meyer, Sweet Caroline
Annemieke Bakker, Bam
Emma Fassier, Meeting with Matt Damon
Katie Garrett, Between The Lines
Casey Dunn, Opening Up
Best Costume Designer Nomination
Sang Oh, Matchgirl
Sylvia Congxin Qi, iDeal Wife
Sam Hayes, The Business of Moochery
Jen Grubbs, Not Even For You
Best Production Designer Nomination
Judit Ferrer, The Holy Cave
Dennis Overeem, Bam
Nichole Fernandez, Shepherd's Pie
Best Screenplay Writer (of produced film) Nomination
Suzan Downs, Bret Bocook: tip of the iceberg
Rachel Ponn, Silencing the Gods
Lisa Donato, Reclaiming Pakistan
Lindsay Daniels, Nepal Rises
Marquette Jefferson, 60 Minutes A Day
Derek Thomas, Delete
We'll announce winners at Awards
January 10th, 9PM
Buy tickets for Awards ($15 online, $20 door) here
UPCOMING EVENTS
Los Angeles Short Film Festival
March 5-6 smarturl.it/LSFF
Sunset Film Festival
May 21-22 www.sunsetfilmfestival.com
Los Angeles CineFest
monthly online, lacinefest.weebly.com
Los Angeles Short Film Festival
March 5-6 smarturl.it/LSFF
Sunset Film Festival
May 21-22 www.sunsetfilmfestival.com
Los Angeles CineFest
monthly online, lacinefest.weebly.com
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