Welcome to the Hollywood Short Film Festival

Hollywood: A mecca for aspiring actors, writers, directors, producers. For anyone serious about "breaking in," all roads lead to Hollywood. Come to the Hollywood Short Film Festival, meet interesting people, full of passion and make new connection.
Get noticed!

VOTE FOR BEST OF THE FESTIVAL.
20-21 FEB, 2021
VOTING MACHINE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

Note. Not all films or scripts are available for public view.

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OFFICIAL SELECTION
Films and Videos

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when the light comes
Directors SIQI CAI, HANG XU
in Short Animation
United Kingdom
5:02
It's an animated short film about the encounter and parting throughout the life journey.
Time is streaming away and overshadowing numerous relationships. Life is a continuous journey of saying goodbye to different people at different stages.
Saying goodbye is the most general thing everyone has experienced in daily life. This short animation film aims to visualize the farewell, to strike a chord, to trigger deep thoughts among the audience.
As Leonard Cohen said: "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Every farewell creates cracks on our bodies which makes us stumbling and tired, but when the light comes, the old memories reappear in the reflections of cracks.

Dia De Los Muertos
Directors George Ortega, Ricardo Ortega
in Short. Any Genre
United States
4:00
A father takes his son on a spiritual journey to honor his ancestors, and keep their traditions alive.

WOUND RIDERS
Director Angel Barroeta
in Short Drama
United States
13:28
When a young woman ventures into the unknown night, unexpected obstacles and the tantalizing distractions of creatures of the night transform her mission into a journey of self-discovery.
Surrounded by throbbing humanity, she stands alone until she finds what she is looking for.

Claralina
Director Alex Goyette
in Short. Any Genre
United States
18:59
Martin’s illustrating career takes an unexpected turn when he’s hired by a disgraced children’s author with a penchant for setting things on fire.

YOU PROMISED
Director Devran Orhan
in Short Drama
Denmark
5:00
Adam stands between two choices, should he choose his gang or family?

The Nameless Call - Inside Costa Rica
Director Wow Tapes
in Short Experimental
Italy
4:56
We sometimes make the mistake of believing that we have seen it all now. However, an epic adventure a year ago has destroyed this assumption, and some other things we claimed to have known. This film attempts to tell the journey of that (re-)discovery. Alongside pals from Vroomie, Wow Tapes team traveled on a bus throughout Costa Rica’s untouched gems of rainforests, beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls - all of which are home to a diversity of natural wildlife. Like any other paradise, we are left in awe with the alluring beauty of its nature, people and culture. But Costa Rica awashed upon us another kind of profound magic, one that perplexed us, at the same time brought us a sense of oneness. (Deep inside, we recognize that this experience can never be justified, but the mystery still beckons to be told.) The Nameless Call is an ode to the awakening of the mostly forgotten but perpetually calling sacred relationship between nature and humans.

The Last Supper
Director Michael Risley
in Short. Any Genre
United States
12:00
In the tiny castle town of Berat, Albania, each family is bustling in preparation for a grand turkey feast for tonight's New Year's celebration. A sensitive and restless young boy, overlooked by his parents and rejected by his schoolyard peers, finds himself on an adventure of a lifetime when he accidentally lets the wily family turkey - tonight's main course - escape the pen, leading to a thrilling chase throughout the labyrinthine cobblestone fortress, which will take both adversaries to their wits' end. With every epic twist and turn, the question remains: Who will prevail: boy or bird?

Three Amigos
Directors Marcos Del Pozo Fernández, Pablo Baquedano San Martín
in Short. Any Genre
Spain
20:00
At the end of university, three friends take a road trip. Halfway through the journey, one of them finds a bag full of money. Without saying anything, he takes it and they continue with the trip. What he does not know is that the money has a name on it: Mr. Express, a relentless hit man willing to recover the bag at all costs.

Reappear
Director Tommy Clarke
in Short Drama
United Kingdom
13:25
A son restores his late father’s vintage motorcycle, so he can recreate his mother’s most treasured photograph.

Off for some Beers!
Director Haris Gioulatos
in Short. Any Genre
Greece
19:59
A lot of times we are wondering what kind of person is the one living next door. The delivery man comes to show us and lead us along, with his beers in one of his usual quests.

52 - A Tale of Loneliness
Director Johnny DePalma
in Short Animation
United States
4:31
Far beneath the beautiful sea, a unique whale sings a song that is all his own. Inspired by the incredible true story of the 52 Hz whale, “52 A Tale of Loneliness,” invites viewers on an underwater journey that is certain to be as unique as 52 himself.

Please Don't Spill The Milk
Directors Omar Antonio Iturriaga, Natasha Babenko
in Short. Any Genre
United States
10:07
A woman's bizarre sexual fantasy leads to her boyfriend's heartbreaking confession, followed by distorted modern-day empathy: an instant solution for his deepest wound.

12th Street
Directors Gregory Lovett, Matthijs Heesemans
in Short Documentary
United States
45:00
Each year 25,000 inmates are released in Huntsville, Texas — one of the largest prison towns in America. Monday through Friday, the glass doors swing open on the front of the Civil War-era, red-brick prison they call The Walls. The inmates exit and shuffle along the sidewalk, some smiling, some pensive, all shouldering onion sacks full of belongings. With no one to greet them, most of them stream past the private homes and prison offices toward the Greyhound bus station three blocks away. For hours, until buses have carried them off, there are lines of released prisoners everywhere near the station: a line for bus tickets, a line to cash prison checks, a line to buy new clothes. This documentary features a number of these newly released prisoners and explores one of the most critical issues in the national debate over criminal justice reform: the flood of prisoners returning to American communities without the guidance and support needed for a successful transition back to society. What awaits them on the outside? How are they prepared to deal the new world? Where do they go from here?

HUNGER
Director Enrique Pilozo-Liuxander Ricardo Silva
in Short. Any Genre
United States
3:00
In a society where everyone lives inside their own little world, someone dares to break the status quo.

The Magic Show
Director Ryan Lutz
in Short. Any Genre
United States
14:56
A humiliated magician turns the tables on the children who tormented him.

Forest
Director Dermott Burns
in Short Animation
Ireland
2:48
‘Forest’ is an experimental short film rendered using real-time graphics. Through contrasting a vibrant virtual paradise with a dark reality, the film reflects upon humanity’s ignorance of their destructive nature on earth; the innocence of youth and the indifference of adulthood.

Regarding Annabel
Director Garry Simpson
in Short Comedy
United Kingdom
5:23
Set in 1970's Regarding Annabel is a comedy about parental expectation, outside influence and keeping up appearances. High achieving Annabel has unexpectedly failed the entrance exam to the prestigious Winterbourne School for girls. Her mother Melissa knows why she's failed, but must hide the truth from her friends. At a house party that Melissa's hosting her secret doesn’t feel safe.

Quaranteen - A tale of confinement
Director Gustavo Carreiro
in Short Animation
Portugal
3:35
Puberty is a peculiar time, characterized by enormous changes, insecurities and questionable choices. Now imagine if you add a global virus to the mix.

Drip's Trip
Directors Jill Blue, Justin Thibault
in Short Animation
United States
2:40
Nature's Water Cycle is experienced by an animated drop named "Drip"!

Adrift
Director Alexa Boushey
in Short Animation
United States
4:20
When a young, devoted painter finds himself stranded in space, he must work through his grief in order to face the challenges ahead and decide whether to return home or move on.

REVERB
Director Minkyu Kang
in Short Drama
United States
7:29
A 9-years-old pianist, who suffers from a hearing impairment, learns a different way of listening to the world.

Save The Digis
Director Zi Wang
in Short Animation
United States
2:17
It's a satirical digital pets rescue commercial.

Bitch, Popcorn & Blood
Director Fabio Soares
in Short. Any Genre
France
15:59
At Salt’ n Sugar, a popcorn bar in the middle of nowhere, LILY a bored waitress, is going to turn her life around when two fishy strangers show up in the bar. A mix of onirism, violence and dark humor, Bitch, Popcorn & Blood is simply the weapon that everyone has dreamed of being one day.

Casting libre
Director Arthur Fanget
in Short. Any Genre
France
12:00
Olivier is a french director with some business et personal problems. Casts are a hard step in his work and his wife doesn't help him because she is obsessed by their future wedding. He will have to make choices.

Grandpa's Long March
Director Bolun Wei
in Short Drama
United States
15:00
Grandpa’s Long March is a heartwarming road trip story about a
Chinese veteran suffering from Alzheimer's, his journey to reunite with his grandson who goes to college in Los Angeles, with the help from some people he might just have a chance to celebrate the Spring Festival together.

It's Okay
Director Justin Giddings & Ryan Welsh
in Short Sci-Fi
United States
9:02
In the style of Black Mirror, It's Okay follows a couple as their life takes an unexpected turn in this futuristic, Sci-Fi short. PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
VFX led by Ingenuity Studios (MARVEL, HBO, NETFLIX, UNIVERSAL)
Crowdfunded on Seed & Spark

PLANT
Director Carlos Milite
in Short Sci-Fi
Italy
16:37
In a near future humanity has been forced to flee the Earth, a planet now uninhabitable due to wars and climatic turmoils. On the space station Explorer 7, Karen is now ready to deploy on the planet to complete an important mission: to find a plant which might regenerate Earth’s flora and restore mankind’s hope. Escorted by David’s advice, an AI that follows Karen in her journey she manages to reach the surface of the planet finding herself infront of a barren grey spread. Weakened by Earth’s plethora of adversities, the young scientist is forced to camp after few hours of exploration: in this difficult time she remembers all of the wonderful moments spent with her dad by the sea. Safe from the gusts of wind, she gets back on her journey and sees the disintegration of a dying tree, a scene very different from the one she saw in her memories where she recalled the beautiful walks she had with her father. Warned by the signals of an incoming storm David ill advises Karen to go further, but the explorer is stubborn, and deciding to pay no attention to her AI she gets caught by the storm debris.
With a severly damaged equipment she wakes up but there are no signs of the plant. After remembering the loss of her mother in a moment of sorrow, the researcher gathers her last strength to go back to her pod, but suddenly she witnesses a miracle: the plant flourishes in front of her with stunning rapidity. In a mixture between joy and bitter insight, Karen decides to sacrifice her personal oxygen to allow the plant’s survival and desperately tries to reach the extraction point. Near to her goal, she collapses to the ground almost dead recalling a peaceful moment with her father. Clutching the ampoule in which she collected the precious plant, she gazes collapsed skyscrapers before exhaling her last breath. 25 years after these events, the ships of the Explorer’s expedition head back to Earth, which in the meantime it’s totally healed thanks to Karen’s ultimate sacrifice.

Beach Day
Directors Randy Overland, Stacey Weingarten
in Short. Any Genre
United States
4:14
When Little Monster wants to go outside during a quarantine, he has to figure out a creative way to get past the watchful eye of his big sister.

Claraphyll
Director Jorge Garcés
in Short Animation
Canada
1:22
A ghost girl comes back to celebrate the Day of the Dead and care for her beloved plants.

Mime
Director Ruwan Heggelman
in Short. Any Genre
Netherlands
7:24
A dimension-shifting mime player is disturbed in his peace by a student fraternity. His response is unexpected: by using the fourth wall, he turns their world on its head; literally. However, his powers are useless to achieve romance. Will he find a human way to express his feelings?

Permanent Resident
Director James Cui
in Short Drama
Australia
16:17
Jian and his mother came to Australia to seek a better life. But reality is that only few people will be granted with 'Permanent Residency' every year. During the application period, Jian drops out the school and works in a factory because of the financial issues that he and his mother are confronting. Meanwhile, his mother is also heavily undertaking two jobs a week to save more money for her son. Being outsiders in this society have cause them many troubles to be accepted and their destiny is like a leaf in the wind.

The Hunt
Director Florian Thess
in Short. Any Genre
United Kingdom
15:50
“THE HUNT” IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER THAT AIMS TO POINT THE ATTENTION AND TO PROVOKE THE AUDIENCE ON AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL PHENOMENON / CRIME THAT IS IN INCREASE AND OFTEN HITS WOMEN AS TARGETS: COERCIVE CONTROL. “THE HUNT” IS THE RAW REPRESENTATION AND THE DEMONISATION OF WHAT IS MOSTLY THE MAIN CAUSE: TOXIC MASCULINITY, THAT ALLOWS THIS HATE CRIME TO BE OFTEN CARRIED ON BEHIND DOORS WITHOUT THE VICTIM EVEN NOTICING IT. WITH THIS FILM (MADE IN COLLABORATION WITH MET FILM SCHOOL – EALING STUDIOS) I HOPE TO CONDEMN THIS PHENOMENON AND TO SENSIBILIZE AUDIENCE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. LOGLINE:
When a hunter discovers his wife dead in his holiday house and sees a mysterious man lurking nearby, he is forced to confront his darker side in order to discover the truth about his marriage.

Mazu Pilgrimage
Director Hsun-Chun Chuang
in Short Animation
Taiwan
1:00
Preface/ The patron goddess of seafarers, Mazu, is one of the most well-known deities among Taiwan and China. People believe that they would be blessed by worshipping the goodness. “Mazu’s Pilgrimage” is the annual event that her holiness set off from temple, touring to bless her devotees and expel evil spirits. Every year, more than 400,000 followers join this 9-days pilgrimage tour of this religious event in Taiwan. Concept/ One after another,
wars and chaos befall, green lands and forests burn, disease and illness attack.
Unbearable, mother earth roars with counterattacks. The Earth is crying, lands are crying, people are crying, Down and hopeless…
“Please let the world be peace, families be safe, our love ones be happy”,
Shout with all the strength, and the wishes seem to vanish into the void. We turn to Mazu and pray: for world peace, for safety, for good health.
Hoping that her holiness would hear our prayers and shows her grace. As an animator,
I create this project with faith and prayers, and hope that all the blessings can be received by everyone through this animation.

The One and Only Jewish Miss America
Director David Arond
in Short Documentary
United States
51:00
“The One and Only Jewish Miss America” is the surprising story of Bess Myerson, the talented beauty queen from the Bronx, and how she won the world’s most famous beauty pageant 75 years ago, at the tail end of World War II. The film follows Bess, the middle daughter of poor Russian immigrants, from her childhood in a one-bedroom Jewish housing project apartment through the suspense-filled pageant. Impressed by the college-educated musician, the judges chose her in spite of anonymous threatening phone calls and sponsor disapproval of a Jewish pageant winner. On her 1945 Miss America tour, Bess faced antisemitism and closed doors at race-restricted venues which did not allow Jews. It is also a story of courage as her disappointment turned to determination, leading Bess Myerson to start her own tour to teach tolerance at high schools and colleges around the country -- a tour which launched her lifelong passion for justice.

Oregano
Director Samantha Dagnino
in Short Experimental
United States
24:36
A couple decides to try mushrooms for the first time. The "fun high" turns into a psychedelic bad trip as they find out a little kid has gone missing in the neighborhood...

Paul J Lucero’s: NINA
Submitter Paul Lucero
in Short Drama
United States
15:00
This pilot episode of the tv series NINA follows Nina in the most trying time of her life. Nina’s Mom is a world champion boxer but she tragically is involved in a horrible accident. Now Nina must decide if she wants to give up on her life or stand up and fight to become the next world champ and save her family from financial ruin.

FOG
Director Jessica Cummings
in Short Drama
United States
7:15
A woman reunites with her childhood teacher and questions the nature of their past relationship.

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OFFICIAL SELECTION
SCREENPLAYS

Charlie's Freedom
Writer Carol Younghusband
in Short Script. Any Genre
United Kingdom
Charlie is a sensitive teenager who doesn’t fit in. She cares for her disabled Mum but gets bullied at school. When she turns down her place at University, her Mum takes radical steps to ensure her daughter is free to complete her education.

Kathy
Writer Ruth Finnegan
in Short Script. Any Genre
United Kingdom
Misled by lying interested parties into believing his beautiful young wife unfaithful, talented but diffident painter, still adoring, strangles her. Now he must find a way for his tears to redeem his ill deed and resume his true identity, and his enduring love, before the police knock at his door

Some Other Dignity
Writer Gang Chen
in Short Script. Any Genre
China
A dog’s loyalty saves the boy’s life. Sincerity from him brings the injured creature back to life. Between innocence and superstitious, who is winning? It’s a loving story in Mao’s ruling period in north China.

Cult
Writer Rachel S. Thomas-Medwid
in Short Script. Any Genre
United States
When a suspected cult member crashes a party of ex-friends, things don’t go according to her sick plan.

The Sick Woman
Writer Katharine Russell
in Short Script. Any Genre
United States
Amid a global pandemic, an audacious and bigoted mother in desperate search of hand soap waits in line at a pharmacy where she wrongly accuses the people around her of being sick.

Halloween 2038
Writer Stephen Conn
in Short Script. Any Genre
United States
A trailer for the latest sequel in the franchise that wouldn't die.

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Voting poll will be available 20-21 FEB 2021