HOLLYSHORTS UNSPOOLS Inaugural Indie Film Summit

The organizers of HollyShorts are announcing the inaugural HollyShorts Indie Film Summit, a week-long conference that will feature marquee panels, seminars and speaking engagements for filmmakers and industry executives. The HSFF Indie Film Summit will take place in various locations throughout Los Angeles during the 7th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, August 11-18, 2011. The core of the panels will take place at the Mondrian Hotel and will be live streamed on www.hollyshorts.com courtesy of Dyal Productions.
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HOLLYSHORTS TO WORLD PREMIERE EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE FROM FUGEES STAR PRAS MICHEL’S NEW DOCUMENTARY FILM ON HAITI“SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT”

Hollywood, July 18, 2011---The organizers of HollyShorts (www.hollyshorts.com) announced today that Grammy Award-winning artist and Producer Pras Michel from The Fugees will world premiere exclusive footage from his new documentary film “SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT,” during the opening night of the HollyShorts Film Festival. The film, which is a stunning account of the Haitian election following the earthquake that ravaged the island nation features appearances and interviews from Sean Penn, Ben Stiller, Danny Glover, Wyclef Jean, Nigel Barker among others. HollyShorts opening night takes place Thursday August 11 at the Arclight Hollywood. The festival takes place in various venues throughout Hollywood August 11-18, 2011.

“SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT” was produced by Pras Michel, and directed Ben Patterson. Michel and Patterson will be on hand to showcase the clip and participate in a special Q&A with attendees.

“SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT” is a look through the election after the earthquake and also gives a historical account on Haiti, a hybrid story on the island nation.
As previously announced, HollyShorts opening night will also feature acclaimed writer Jamie Linden’s (Dear John, We Are Marshall) short film “The Envelope in the Glovebox” which he used to pitch into the star-studded feature film adaptation “Ten Year,” that stars Channing Tatum, Kate Mara, Rosario Dawson, Justin Long, Anthony Mackie, and Scott Porter. The opening night lineup also includes Jacob Chase’s short film “After-School Special” which was written by Neil Labute (In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty), and produced by Andrew Carlberg. The festival will also present Labute with a special Maverick Filmmaker Award. His short film “Sexting” will screen during the festival.
In addition, the opening night celebration will honor the award-winning production team of Kevin Chinoy and Francesca Silvestri with the inaugural HollyShorts Maverick Producer’s Award and feature a screening of their top shorts including Kristen Kiwi Smith’s “The Spleendectomy,” starring Anna Faris, Jennifer Aniston and Andrea Buchanan’s “Room 10;” Jennifer Aniston’s “Free Burma,” starring Woody Harrelson; Kate Hudson’s “Cutlass,” starring Dakota Fanning, Virgina Madsen, Kurt Russell, and Kirsten Stewart; and Sean Baker, Spencer Chinoy and Dan Milano’s hit “Greg The Bunny.”
From August 12-18, HollyShorts is showcasing 300 short form projects including short films, music videos, web series, and commercials. HollyShorts sponsor Company 3 is supplying a total of $30,000 in post production and finishing services for the winners in the Best Short Film ($10K), Best Director ($10K), Best Commercial ($5K) and Best Music Video ($5K) categories respectfully. The winners will be announced during the HollyShorts awards on August 18.
For tickets please visit www.hollyshorts.com.

Fangoria.com: Rosenthal's "HALLOWEEN II" screening at HollyShorts

Jul 15, 2011 In anticipation of Universal's 30th-anniversary release of Rick Rosenthal's HALLOWEEN II on Blu-ray in September (see here), the seventh annual HollyShorts Film Festival in Hollywood, California will host a special midnight screening of the cult classic on Friday, August 12 presented by Rosenthal and FANGORIA!

Taking place at L.A.'s Laemmle Sunset 5 (8000 Sunset Blvd), the screening will be presented by Rosenthal immediately following the HollyShorts horror shorts program. After the film, Fango's Justin Beahm will moderate a special Q&A with Rosenthal and the audience. Then, on Saturday the 13th, HollyShorts will premiere the director's new short, BLINK during its 5 p.m. short program.

The HollyShorts Fright Night short film program schedule that precedes the HALLOWEEN II showing is as follows:

AN EVENING WITH MY COMATOSE MOTHER (Jonathan Martin)
INCARNATE (Jordan Fuller)
NOWHERE ROAD (Benjamin Dynice)
NOBODY BUT HER (Phillip Jordan Brooks)
A TASTE OF LOVE (Chase Weston)
DEADER LIVING (Destin Pfaff)
MY UNDEADLY (Dave Reda)
PANIC, FEAR (John Francis Conway)
GOOD MORNING BEAUTIFUL (Todd Cobery)
HALO SEALS (Jorge Marcial)
SIN WORLD (Ches Yim)

For tickets to the HALLOWEEN II screening and Rosenthal Q&A go here. For tickets to the short film program that precedes, go here.

For more information on HollyShorts, including the full programming schedule, head here.

HOLLYSHORTS UNVEILS STAR-STUDDED LINEUP FOR 2011 FESTIVAL

7th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival Takes off August 11-18 at Various Locations in Hollywood, CA

Hollywood, July 13, 2011---The organizers of HollyShorts (www.hollyshorts.com) have announced the full lineup for the 7th annual HollyShorts Film Festival, which takes place August 11-18 in various locations throughout Hollywood. Acclaimed writer Jamie Linden (Dear John, We Are Marshall) will premiere his short film “The Envelope in the Glovebox” which he used to pitch into the star-studded feature film adaptation “Ten Year,” that stars Channing Tatum, Kate Mara, Rosario Dawson, Justin Long, Anthony Mackie, and Scott Porter. “The Envelope in the Glovebox” written and directed by Linden will be featured at the HollyShorts opening night celebration at Arclight Hollywood, Thursday August 11.
Also joining Linden in the festival’s opening night celebration is Jacob Chase’s short film “After-School Special” which was written by Neil Labute (In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty), and produced by Andrew Carlberg. At HollyShorts opening night, the festival will also present Labute with a special Maverick Filmmaker Award. His short film “Sexting” will screen during the festival.
As previously announced the opening night celebration will honor the award-winning production team of Kevin Chinoy and Francesca Silvestri with the inaugural HollyShorts Maverick Producer’s Award and feature a screening of their top shorts including Kristen Kiwi Smith’s “The Spleendectomy,” starring Anna Faris, Jennifer Aniston and Andrea Buchanan’s “Room 10;” Jennifer Aniston’s “Free Burma,” starring Woody Harrelson; Kate Hudson’s “Cutlass,” starring Dakota Fanning, Virgina Madsen, Kurt Russell, and Kirsten Stewart; and Sean Baker, Spencer Chinoy and Dan Milano’s hit “Greg The Bunny.”
From August 12-18, HollyShorts is showcasing 300 short form projects including short films, music videos, web series, and commercials. HollyShorts sponsor Company 3 is supplying a total of $30,000 in post production and finishing services for the winners in the Best Short Film ($10K), Best Director ($10K), Best Commercial ($5K) and Best Music Video ($5K) categories respectfully. The winners will be announced during the HollyShorts awards on August 18.
“In our seventh year, HollyShorts has grown to become one of the top independent fest’s in the country and the biggest short film festival in Los Angeles with over 300 short form projects being showcased, a one of a kind star-studded opening night premiere at Arclight Hollywood, a week-long celebration of the top shorts from around the world, multiple industry panels, networking events, and major meet and greet opportunities,” said Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont, co-founders and co-directors of the HollyShorts Film Festival. “Along with our festival coordinator Nicole Castro, we look forward to once again bringing great shorts to Hollywood. HollyShorts is the starting block for many of the top next generation filmmakers and we can’t wait to unite everyone."
This year HollyShorts received a record 1,000 submissions with filmmakers from 36 countries submitting. The festival is showcasing a record number of films with an international array of countries represented in competition including: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, UK and the US.
HollyShorts will also showcase two Oscar® winning short films Luke Matheny’s God of Love (Best Short Film, Live Action winner) and Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Tan’s The Lost Thing (Best Animation winner) .
This year’s in competition short films includes top talent and recognizable stars such as: Jason Ritter, Bobby Canavale (The Other Guys), Alicia Witt (Friday Night Lights), Anthony Michael Hall (The Dark Knight), Dante Basco (First Glance), Beau Bridges (Max Payne) Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker), Carla Gugino (Watchmen), David Morse (The Green Mile), Devon Gummersall (Independence Day), Ernie Hudson (Ghost Busters), Gil Bellows (Unthinkable), Hector Elizondo (Monk), Jackie Harris (Yes Man), Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), Joel Edgerton (Warrior), Rider Strong (Boy Meets World), David Dastmalchian (Sushi Girl), Jon Huertas (Castle), Robin Wright Penn (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Tom Arnold (Roseanne), Paul Ben Victor, Tom Hardy (Dark Knight Rises), Victor Rasuk (How To Make it America).
This year’s festival programs will include such genres as: Animation, Family, Horror, Drama, Thriller, Romance, Action, Experimental, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Documentary, Web Series, Commercials and Music Videos.
Advanced tickets and all access passes are now available on www.hollyshorts.com and opening night and fest all-access passes available at: http://hollyshorts2011.eventbrite.com and hollyshorts2011passes.eventbrite.com. 2011 HollyShorts sponsors include Company 3, Final Draft, Moviola, Showbiz Store and Café, SLS Hotel, Martini Crew Booking, Celebrity Suites LA and the production entertainment showcase BEATBOXLA.


View the full lineup for HollyShorts 2011 by visiting www.hollyshorts.com