HollyShorts Monthly Screening, MARCH 14th at the Echo Park Film Center

March 14th HollyShorts Monthly Screening short film lineup
The Chameleon Directed by Elliott Owen (8 min.)
Signerz Directed by Roman Cortez (15 min.)
Parallel Cut Directed by Edgar Metro (22 min.)
Ghandi at the Bat Directed by Stephanie Argy/Alec Boehm (11 min.)
68 & Clear Directed by Dawn Westlake (12 min.)

Tickets to the screening are $10. Free Wine and Beer. Event hours 7pm-11pm. Filmmaker Q and A to follow screening. For more, www.hollyshorts.com

About
HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF) is an annual film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe. HollyShorts is devoted to the advancement filmmakers through screenings, Q&A sessions and networking events. The HollyShorts Film Festival showcases the top short films produced 30-minutes or less. The 2007 festival took place August 12-13 at Cinespace: Digital Supperclub in Hollywood, CA.
For more information, please visit: http://www.hollyshorts.com.
Call for entries for the 2008 HollyShorts runs from January 15th - June 5th.
For sponsorship queries, please email us at staff@hollyshorts.com.
To submit to our Monthly Screenings (Rolling Submissions for $10), email: admin@hollyshorts.com.
Filmmaker behind the scenes news at: www.hollyshortsfilmfestival.blogspot.com

HollyShorts Film Festival History
The inaugural HollyShorts Film Festival took place at The Space Theatre in Hollywood August 2005 and featured 23 short films from the U.S., UK, Poland, Canada and Thailand. The 2nd annual HollyShorts Film Festival took place at Cinespace in Hollywood, CA and featured 53 of the best short films from around the world. 13 different countries were represented. The third annual HollyShorts Film Festival took place August 10-12, 2007, drawing over $26,000 in prizes awarded. The festival featured three screening venues. Best Short film honors went to "Songbird" Directed by John Thompson. Thompson was awarded a one week audio rental package courtesy of Action Audio and Visual, featuring sound and communications equipment rentals to utilize for his next film project. The festival featured Actor Adrian Grenier's short film "Euthanasia," a DJ performance from the legendary hip hop DJ Biz Markie and 57 short films in competition; three days of screenings, parties, insightful panels along with a slew of networking platforms for HollyShorts participants. The 2007 HollyShorts Film Festival included the following partners: Ourstage.com, h Magazine, Showbiz Software Stores, Action Audio and Visual, Si-Mi.com, Stash DVD Magazine, UCLA Extension Department of Entertainment Studies, Dreamhouse Ensemble, LA One Stop, LBN E lert, Indiepix, Choice Hospitality, Film Radar, Shortend Magazine, Sand Jewelry by Therese and Vice Hollywood. For more information, visit www.hollyshorts.com.

About HollyShorts
HollyShorts is an organization devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panel and forums. The HollyShorts Film festival showcases the top short films produced 30- minutes or less. For more information, please visit www.hollyshorts.com. Filmmaker news available at www.hollyshortsfilmfestival.blogspot.com
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DREAMHOUSE ENSEMBLE UNLEASHES ‘THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940’ AT THE SPACE THEATRE

DREAMHOUSE ENSEMBLE UNLEASHES
‘THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940’ AT THE SPACE THEATRE

Hilarious Production Marks First Play of LA-Based Theatre Group’s 2008 Season

Los Angeles February 20, 2008---Get ready for murder, mayhem and laughter, as the Dreamhouse Ensemble unleashes their first production of the 2008 season with THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 by John Bishop at The Space Theatre in Hollywood. The story reveals a German maid, a NY policeman, an Irish tenor, an eccentric millionaire, and a group of overzealous show people inside of a mansion full of comedy and mystery.

THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 opens on March 7th and will run through April 20th. Advanced tickets can be purchased online today by visiting www.dreamhousensemble.com. THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 is directed by Dreamhouse Ensemble Chairman Alex Sol. Sol recently directed the critically acclaimed and LA Weekly Theatre Award nominated play “Galatea.”

In making the announcement Director, Producer and Space Theatre owner Alex Sol said “We are delighted to bring audiences one of the most hysterical and dynamic experiences on stage THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940. We’ve picked a group of the most talented actors in the community and we truly look forward to our first production of the season.”

THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 is set in ritzy Westchester County, New York and stages a wacky whodunit mystery for all ages. When ten theatre types gather together to audition for a new Broadway musical, a blizzard traps them in a luxurious mansion. The one hitch? There is a killer on the loose in the house just waiting to put a little twist in the limelight! With sliding panels, secret passages, and a German maid who apparently has more lives than one, accusing fingers point in all directions in this drop dead comedy!

The play is a brain teaser: Who killed who? What's going to happen next?
Reviewers and press: RSVP your seat by contacting HS Public Relations at staff@hollyshorts.com.
The hilarious performance can be seen at The Space Theatre when The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 opens March 7 and runs through April 20th. Friday and Saturday, Curtain time is 8PM, Sunday, 7PM. Tickets are on sale now at www.dreamhousensemble.com. Tickets are $15 online, $20 at the door.
About The Dreamhouse Ensemble
The Dreamhouse Ensemble is a Non Profit, independent theatre company that performs at THE SPACE THEATRE, located in Hollywood, California at 665 N. Heliotrope, between Normandie and Vermont Ave.

For ticket reservations, visit www.dreamhouseensemble.com or call (323) 661-2585. Press and critics, staff@hollyshorts.com or call 818-760-9897.

HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES MUSIC VIDEO COMPETITION

HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES INAUGURAL
MUSIC VIDEO COMPETITION

Official Selections to Be Screened at 4th Annual
HollyShorts Film Festival
August 8-10, 2008

Contest Winner Gets Meeting With Top Music Video
Director Agent at Partizan

February 19, 2008 HOLLYWOOD, CA--- HollyShorts
announced today a call for submissions for the
festival’s inaugural music video competition.
Finalists will be screened during the 4th annual
HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF), which takes place
August 7-10, 2008 in Hollywood and the winner of the
contest will get a meeting with a top music video
director agent at Partizan. The chosen music videos
will be screened in competition alongside the official
short film selections of the festival.

In making the announcement, festival director and
HollyShorts co-founder Daniel Sol stated: “As we enter
the 4th year of HollyShorts, we are quickly reaching
our goal to be the premiere destination and platform
for artists worldwide to showcase their projects in
front of the right audience in the heart of the
industry. We look forward to screening the best and
brightest music videos from around the globe and thank
our friends at Partizan for helping make this contest
and new category into a reality.”

Submission forms can be completed directly online by
visiting www.hollyshorts.com or by submitting on
Withoutabox directly at
www.withoutabox.com/login/4655.

All submissions must be 7 minutes or less. Deadlines
to submit U.S. and International music videos for the
2008 HollyShorts Film Festival are:

Music Video category
Regular: $20 (at office by 4/11/08)
Late: $30 (at office by 5/16/08)

Complete information and eligibility requirements are
available on HollyShorts.com.
The submission link and complete information regarding
eligibility and entry rules for the 2008 HollyShorts
Film Festival are available on the HollyShorts Film
Festival website at www.hollyshorts.com. Information
is also available through the HollyShorts hotline at
818-760-9897, by email to staff@hollyshorts.com. For
sponsorship information, please email
admin@hollyshorts.com with your query.




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Oscar Shorts Review

Hollywood Reporter deems Suzie Templeton "Peter & the Wolf" "Most Successful" amongst animation nominees.

PBS will feature the short on March 26 on its GREAT PERFORMANCES series. (check local listings)

Sergei Prokofiev's fanciful musical tale, Peter and the Wolf, is given new life in this innovative animated interpretation. Conceived and directed by award-winning animator Suzie Templeton, this modern-day "Peter & the Wolf" uses stop-frame model animation, puppets and digital photography to re-tell the enduring classic, and features the Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of Mark Stephenson performing Prokofiev's beloved score. Check out the GREAT PERFORMANCES promo from PBS...


Reuters
By Sheri Linden
LOS ANGELES For a third consecutive year, the 10 Oscar-nominated shorts hit the theatrical circuit thanks to Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International.

They're nearly all films whose craftsmanship and detail fill the big screen, and to varying degrees their stories compel. The shorts arrive in about 50 cities Friday, with the Rain Network providing digital distribution.

Among the five live-action nominees, three deal in some aspect with the everyday world of work. Italy's "The Substitute," by Andrea Jublin, is a spirited 17-minute collision between a typically self-absorbed group of teens and the strangely confrontational man who's subbing as their teacher -- and who has a hidden agenda that's as much about his own needs as theirs. For all its energy, the film is more concerned with an idea than characters and leaves the least impression of the bunch.

But the office drones in the Belgian film "Tanghi argentini" are vividly drawn. Before his date with a woman he met online, nebbishy Andre (Dirk van Dijck) enlists the help of an aloof colleague (Koen van Impe) for tango lessons. Elegantly lensed and crisply edited, the 14-minute tale unfolds with wit as the unlikely duo perfect terpsichorean flourishes amid the filing cabinets. The film by Guido Thys provides a nice twist.

For the hapless protagonists of "The Mozart of Pickpockets," the workday involves city streets and acts of petty crime. French writer-director Philippe Pollet-Villard co-stars with Richard Morgieve, and their terrific sad-sack chemistry as these clownish thieves gives the half-hour its punch. Their luck changes after a homeless deaf boy latches on to them, but it's a less-than-convincing narrative element.

The two most affecting live-action entries are the spare Western "The Tonto Woman" (U.K.) and the heartrending hospital-set drama "At Night" (Denmark). The former, based on a story by Elmore Leonard, centers on a high-plains Hester Prynne (Charlotte Asprey), a woman physically marked by her Mojave captors and ostracized by her community after her release. She finds unexpected human connection in the form of a Mexican drifter (Francesco Quinn). The half-hour film by Daniel Barber uses archetypal widescreen desert vistas to strong effect.

In a far different setting, three young women have formed a community within the coolly lit rooms of a cancer ward in "At Night." The 43-minute film by Christian E. Christiansen is direct and intimate but never maudlin. Restrained performances by Julie Olgaard, Laura Christensen and Neel Ronholt -- and Henrik Prip as one girl's father -- have a devastating emotional power.

The animated contenders deliver an array of imaginative narrative filmmaking. "I Met the Walrus" (Canada) is the exception in the sense that it's a documentary snippet. Josh Raskin uses audiotape of John Lennon, recorded in 1969 when 14-year-old Jerry Levitan snuck into the Beatle's Toronto hotel room and coaxed an interview out of him. In its brief five minutes, the film free-associates line drawings and other playful 2-D visuals to Lennon's down-to-earth intelligence and subversive humor.

Offering its own brand of playful subversion is France's "Even Pigeons Go to Heaven," by Samuel Tourneux. A wily priest-cum-huckster, brandishing a list of his would-be customer's sins, urges an old man to buy a contraption built of "celestial titanium" that's guaranteed to transport him to heaven.

A mood of dark mystery pervades another Canadian entry, Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski's "Madame Tutli-Putli." The silent claymation fantasy unfolds on a night train, where a woman in cloche and pearls, surrounded by her precariously stacked belongings, faces her fears. The imagery is rich with texture and atmosphere.

Four-time Oscar nominee Alexander Petrov (who won for "The Old Man and the Sea") takes a classical approach in "My Love," a fever dream set in 19th century Russia, where a pampered 16-year-old boy is attracted to his glamorous neighbor and his family's good-natured servant. At 25 minutes, the piece feels a bit long, and its melodrama is not always absorbing, but with their watercolor shimmer and nightmare depths, the impressionistic visuals are fluent.

Most successful is "Peter & the Wolf" (U.K.-Poland), by Suzie Templeton, which fills its affecting half-hour with a delightfully rendered array of human and animal characters. Precisely choreographed and edited to Prokofiev's music, the piece is a ballet both comical and poignant and a triumph of CG personality.

Suzie Templeton bio
BAFTA-winning director Suzie Templeton burst onto the international animation scene with her multi-award winning film Stanley, a surreal and darkly comic story of a man who falls in love with a cabbage. She followed this with the phenomenally successful Dog, a heart-breaking and chilling film about a boy coming to terms with the death of his mother. This film has won many of the animation world’s top prizes, including a British Animation Award and a BAFTA. In collaboration with BreakThru films, Suzie is now developing on a new half-hour adaptation of Prokofiev’s classic Peter and the Wolf, for cinemas and television.

WRITING A GOOD SHORT FILM SCRIPT

WRITING A GOOD SHORT FILM SCRIPT
February 13th, 2008

Thanks Times Online UK for this cool story,:

Marilyn Milgrom, script consultant

This is a short article in which to deal with a big subject: how to write a good script for a short film. Rule number one: there are no hard and fast rules.

But, if your aim is to get your film funded, there are definitely some guiding principles that will help to ensure that your project is taken seriously.
short film book.jpg
Why Am I Making this Film?

No-one makes a living out of writing or directing short films. Most people see short films as a tool for learning and testing ideas, or a way of demonstrating that they have the talent to do something else. Generally that ‘something else’ is to make features.

Whether you are working alone or as part of a team make sure that the project you are developing plays to your strengths and is achievable within your budget. Don’t make an intense character study if you’re scared of actors or develop an action story that will require stunts, car chases and special effects if you know you will only have £5K to make it.

What is a short film?

The most important thing to say is that a short isn’t a feature film and that it is generally a bad idea to try to squeeze a story you are developing (or have written) as a feature into a short.

Most festivals will accept as a short anything that is under 30 minutes, but many programmers and curators also say that they find it difficult to place longer short films (ones over 20 minutes). If your film is over 20 minutes long it may well need and be able to cope with more characters and a secondary story strand. The majority of funding in the UK is aimed at films that are around the 10 minute mark.

If your film is basically going to function like a joke then keep it short (2-3 minutes max) and make sure the audience won’t see the punch-line coming a mile off. Films like this will make far more of an impression if they not only make us laugh but also manage to allude to something that gives us pause for thought.

Finding the Story

Any kind of dramatic story requires 3 basic elements:

A world

A character

A problem

Short films are no different; you just have less time to establish and develop each element. Most successful short films focus on ONE moment or event in the life of ONE main character. Because of that it is unusual for a short film to take place over a long period of time – it’s usually just looking at the immediate build up to and/or consequences of that one event. A lot of the best short films play out more or less in ‘real’ time, and a story that spreads over more than a few days is unlikely to work well as a short film.

The World

Because of the need to establish an instantly recognisable world in order to get on with exploring a character’s problem, it can be useful to set your film around a familiar event or ritual: a wedding, a birthday party, the first day at school, tea with stuffy relatives, Christmas Day etc. With a setting of this sort you can take for granted the audience’s familiarity with the situation and you have immediately placed your characters into a story world full of barely suppressed emotions, which is always useful for generating dramatic tension and story events. The other advantage to choosing a setting of this sort is that it gives the story a finite time frame.

Another popular setting for the short film is the journey. Most short films focus on a pivotal, significant event in the life of the main character so that the story inevitably takes the character on a metaphorical emotional journey and it can work well to use a literal journey as its setting.

The Character & the Problem

The most important questions to ask yourself when you begin to develop your story are:

Who is the main character?

What is their problem?

How will the audience recognise the problem?

Are the stakes high enough?

Am I telling the story from the best point of view?

The audience must be clear from the outset who the film is about and they won’t be if you aren’t. Your main character is the one who has the problem and if there isn’t a character in the story with a problem then you don’t have a film, or at least not one that will work as a dramatic narrative.

What is driving your main character through the story must be one of the following:

a want

a need

an obligation

And in all cases it must be clear to the audience, even if it isn’t to the character, what this is. But what must also be present in the story - and apparent to the audience - is something that is making it hard for the character to pursue their want, need or obligation. The fact that something is making it hard is what turns it into a problem and, like we said before, no problem, no film.

Making Problems Manifest to the Audience

The way in which you turn a character’s inner problem into the heart of your film and make sure that the audience can SEE it is one of the most important ways that you can demonstrate your skill as a filmmaker and not just as a story-teller. When we’re reading books we can be inside a character’s head but when we’re watching films we need to see characters DOING things that show us what they are thinking and feeling.

Are the Stakes High Enough?

Ensuring that there is something at stake in the story means that the audience can understand what the character stands to lose if they do not solve their problem. If the story hinges around a life or death situation then it is clear what is at stake but if it is simply that the car breaks down think about how you set the film up so that the audience knows why it really matters that the character completes this particular journey.

Am I Telling the Story from the Best Point of View?

Think about the story of Cinderella and imagine if you told it with one of the ugly sisters as the main character. You could still make a good story but it would not have a happy ending (in one of the earliest versions of the story the sisters have their eyes pecked out by blackbirds at the end!) and therefore would have a very different meaning – it would function more as a cautionary tale than as a feel-good fairy story.

What Does My Story Mean?

You probably don’t set out to write a film with a moral or even with a conscious awareness of what your story means but every story communicates some meaning to the audience. Once you are sure how the story begins and ends then you have a clear indication of its meaning and this will help you make important choices as you refine and develop your script particularly in relation to…

The Tone of the Film

Tone is intimately connected to genre and though genre is less of an issue in shorts than in features it is still important to think about what kind of film you are writing in broad terms.

To summarise so far

A good short film needs a story in which something happens that has a discernible effect on the main character. All successful short films focus on one moment/event. That moment is likely to be:

one of universal significance

a moment that is of significance to the protagonist (whether s/he knows it at the time)

one that produces a situation in which the stakes are high for the protagonist

This is an edited extract from Get Your Short Film Funded, Made and Seen, the Shooting People Shorts Directory. To buy this book, go to www.shootingpeople.org/shortsbook

HOLLYSHORTS WINNER ROB MEYER’S AQUARIUM GETS HONORABLE MENTION AT SUNDANCE

HOLLYSHORTS WINNER ROB MEYER’S AQUARIUM GETS HONORABLE MENTION AT SUNDANCE
January 31st, 2008

Rob Meyer, who’s short film won the HollyShorts Best Narrative Award in 2007 picked up an Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking for his short film “Aquarium” at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. The awards were announced at the Festival’s closing Awards Ceremony hosted by William H. Macy in Park City, Utah.
aquarium_365.jpg

The 2008 Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking was awarded to two films: MY OLYMPIC SUMMER, directed by Daniel Robin, and SIKUMI (On the Ice), directed by Andrew Okpeaha MacLean. The jury also presented the International Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking to SOFT, directed by Simon Ellis. Aside from Meyer’s short, Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking were also presented to: August 15th, directed by Xuan Jiang; La Corona (The Crown), directed by Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega; Oiran Lyrics, directed by Ryosuke Ogawa; Spider, directed by Nash Edgerton; Suspension, directed by Nicolas Provost, and W. , directed by The Vikings. The 2008 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Awards were presented by Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Here’s a feature interview with Rob Meyer from The Reeler.com at Sundance:

Sundance Features
January 25, 2008
Rob Meyer, Aquarium
“I sort of started from scratch in terms of learning how to write a screenplay or cast. I learned by doing.”

THE REELER: I saw Aquarium last year at Woodstock, but I’d like you to take a second to describe it for readers in your own words

ROB MEYER: It’s based largely on my life — with a few important exceptions — as a nerdy, kind of off-beat teenager growing up in the Boston suburbs. I used to be a member of the Boston Aquarium Society and would enjoy going to the fish meetings and enjoy talking about breeding fish and going on fish collecting trips; I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was in high school. I always thought it would be a great world and ripe for film in terms of the visual and elemental metaphors of water and aquatic exploration. So the kernel of the film started with the idea of aquarium fish breeding, and also there’s sort of inherent comedy in that world. The rest of the story came as I developed it as a graduate student at NYU, and it dealt with more serious themes I’m always interested in exploring: coming to realize our own mortality, losing pets and kind of a coming-of-age film that deals with serious issues. But hopefully it’s also light-hearted and heartwarming as well.

R: What was some of your filmmaking background at NYU and beyond before making Aquarium?

RM: This is the fourth short film I’ve made, and they were basically all done within the context of NYU’s graduate film program. This is by far the most ambitious short I’d done. Prior to NYU I worked in documentary film; I produced films for WGBH in Boston — for Nova — so I have a lot of experience putting together shoots and working with crews, traveling the world with these documentary films. But I always wanted to do more of the writing and directing and working with actors, which is why I went to NYU. I really arrived there with very little experience; I sort of started from scratch in terms of learning how to write a screenplay or cast. I learned by doing.

R: You’ve mentioned you want to expand Aquarium as a feature, or at least direct something inspired by it.

RM: I’ve written a feature called Labrador Duck with a classmate of mine named Luke Metheny. It’s not an expansion of Aquarium, but it’s the same characters, the same tone — a lot of the same themes, but it’s a bigger story. It’s a road-trip movie, kind of like Stand By Me in terms of it being a quest that these kids go on. So I thought there was more to explore with these characters and the comedy of these subcultures I enjoy. In this case it’s bird watching instead of aquarium fish breeding: It’s about these teen birdwatchers who think they’ve discovered an extinct duck and go on a road trip to find it and prove to the world it exists. It’s the Labrador duck — the first bird to go extinct in North America. These things occasionally do happen, and I’m interested in science and discovery and the little guy making a big discovery.

R: Are Sundance and Labrador Duck the end of Aquarium’s festival run?

RM: It is the tail end of the festival circuit for me. The plan is to keep showing it to industry people who may not make it to festivals and might not see it there — people who could fund the feature or hire me to write or direct something get a chance to see it.

R: What kind of apprehensions or expectations do have for Aquarium at Sundance?

RM: I’m really curious to see how it plays. The film is a strange mix of melancholy and humor; it depends on the crowd. I’ve been at screenings where I wasn’t sure if people were getting the sense of humor and wanted to sneak out the back; I’ve been to other screenings where people responded to stuff much more strongly and positively than I expected them to. Hopefully the latter will be the case. I have a bunch of friends coming, so at least I know I’ll have a few fans in the audience

Leah Meyerhoff Update

"Since playing HollyShorts 2007, TWITCH has gone on to screen at over 200 film festivals worldwide, garnering a Student Academy Award nomination, a Slamdance Grand Jury prize, and over a dozen other international awards. TWITCH was picked up for televised distribution by IFC, Reelport and Skandinavia TV. TWITCH is also being distributed online by B-Side, Dovetail and OurStage. Propelled by the success of her short, director Leah Meyerhoff was able to raise over half the budget for her first feature UNICORNS which is set to go into production late this spring. For more information, please visit www.LeahMeyerhoff.com"

Leah OurStage Interview at HollyShorts

3 More Festivals and Distribution for "Honey, I'm Home"

The year has started off on a great note for David Branin's "Honey, I'm Home." Last year's HollyShorts Audience Award Winner has been accepted into three more festivals. Making it 14 Official Selections for a film that was made for less than $100. Recent selections include Bursa International Silk Road Film Festival, the Rome Independent Film Festival and the Lake County Film Festival. It also screened at the Festivus Film Festival on January 12th, 2008.

If you can't make it to one of the upcoming screenings, you can now find the film available for purchase through the independent distribution site, Cruxy.com. Since being posted there on December 12th, 2007, "Honey, I'm Home" has amassed more than 9000 hits. Cruxy specializes in secure and easy purchases through paypal, google checkout, or your credit card. Here is the direct link if you would like to purchase and download "Honey, I'm Home" today.

"Honey, I'm Home" Distributed by Cruxy.com

"Honey, I'm Home" tackles the topic of being unfaithful and having to confess the truth to one's companion. Never before has infidelity been explored in the way Branin does in this five minute tale. "Honey I'm Home" is written & directed by David Branin (Shoot-Out, Untitled David Branin Feature Film Project) while being shot and edited by Vincent Martinez (Comic Noir, Harlem Sunset, Too Late For Tears). It stars Jacob Magnuson and Karen Worden with original music done by composer Rudy Mangual.

HollyShorts ‘07 Filmmakers Get Tribute At Psarokokalo Festival in Greece

Select members from the 2007 HollyShorts Film Festival have been chosen to have their short films screened during a special HollyShorts tribute at the upcoming 2nd Annual Psarokokalo International Short Film Festival in Athens which runs February 1-10 at the Nixon screening Hall in Greece.

The selected short films include:

Aquarium
Director: Rob Meyer
fiction / 17 min
USA

Der Ostwind
Director: Kohl Glass
fiction / 10 min
USA

Joseph Henry
Director: Phil Allocco
fiction / 12 min
USA

Sam and Piccolo
Director: Adam Walker
animation / 15 min
USA

Songbird
Director: John Thompson
fiction / 6 min
USA

Tell-Tale
Director: Jason Roberts
fiction / 13 min

The festival aims at presenting to the public new productions of audiovisual work that seek new approaches on matters of picture, rhythm and narration by using new and older technologies.

The program includes screenings from Greek and international filmmakers, tributes to Rumanian cinema,the cinema of the Basque Country, short films from the famous Swedish director, Roy Andersson, special projections from the Salford film festival and the Hollyshorts film festival, as well as audiovisual performances, a major art exhibition, parties and lots of networking. For more information, visit http://www.psarokokalo.gr/

HollyShorts 2007 Trailer

Short End Magazine gives 2007 HollyShorts great review!

The short film is a medium tangential to the customary clockwork of the film industry. For decades now, the format in which it was born has been relegated to students, experimental artists and grunt-level industryites out to prove they can direct. The entries I’ve seen at short film fests usually break down into two opposite groups: a handful of bold, narrative science-fair projects versus a broad swath of films that look, sound and feel exactly like anything you’d pay twelve dollars to see at the Arclight and bitch about on the drive home. Except shorter.

As every media company in the world figures out how to make money with Internet video though, the short film is suddenly back as belle of the ball. Online distributors are hungry for content, but by all indications have no faith in the audience’s ability to watch anything on a computer that’s longer than seven minutes—or that is remotely dramatic. It’s sort of a gold rush back to the industry’s roots; not since the first experiments in film a hundred years ago has short content garnered so much attention or appeared so lucrative. This also makes short film festivals ground zero for discussion and dissection of the format as an art and a re-envisioned business.

A lot of us who write for SM are filmmakers ourselves, something I note here as it’s the perspective from which I speak. I arrived at the opening night event for the third annual HollyShorts Film Festival a little late. I own one suit, and it lives in my car with most of my other laundry. Digging for the tie while negotiating Southbound 101 traffic was problematic but eventually effective. Thirty seconds in line outside Nacional on Wilcox was all it took to remind me why I hate Hollywood and why just about everything that has to do with moviemaking actually takes place as far away from that seethy boulevard as possible. I preferred to make conversation with a homeless man who offered to be my assistant in exchange for liquor rather than the kid in line behind me who insisted his film was too avant garde to be accepted at this festival. Fortunately, the line moved swiftly.

Once inside, and through to the end of the festival, the whole event was executed flawlessly much to the credit of its ever-present, friendly and knowledgeable organizers. The program also achieved an impressive balance of running times, genres, tones, narrative styles, budgets and production values--though none low enough to jeopardize the HollyShorts stamp of quality that seemed to pronounce itself as the screenings progressed.

The weekend-long festival opened with Euthanasia directed by Entourage’s Adrian Grenier. It was kind of a mediocre crowd-pleaser about two high school girls who accidentally run over their cat. He’s a celebrity…guess you gotta have one of those at your opening night. It was all in focus.

Both the Saturday and Sunday sessions were populated with gems. Julien West’s Small Jeans has many groan-inspiring short film staples: a predilection to voiceover, montage, non-linear structure and the abrupt onset of fatal disease. But West’s is the perfect example of a film that gets all these right--absolutely nails them. Main character Zoe’s dry but vaguely whimsical philosophical musings narrate her quest to offload a pair of bought-but-never-worn, too-small jeans on friends, co-workers and a neighborhood heroine whore. The film has an expertly-honed marriage of humor and drama, better-than-Hollywood cinematography, production design, performance and a running time that leaves you wanting more.

Joel Davenport’s The Drill, a ground-level portrait of duck-n-cover kids in the 1950s, achieves praise-worthy performances from its elementary school cast. The film becomes an understated but taught exercise in tension when the air-raid drill runs long, and the students begin to suspect it's the real thing. Other well-received entries included Timothy Cahill’s The Oates’ Valor (HollyShorts Best Drama Winner), Tony West’s Dartsville (Best Cinematography) and John Thompson’s Songbird (Best Short Film).

The festival was also host to a slew of animated entries. Michael Attardi’s Once Upon a Christmas Village features the voices of Jim Belushi and Tim Curry as well as several sequences animated via motion capture technology. Michelle Meeker’s When I Grow Up is a beautiful collage of short animations by different artists from all over the world. Each was given an audio excerpt from an interview with a child and complete freedom to form their own moving images. The show-stealer, however, was Adam Walker’s Sam and Piccolo. I can only describe it as a Pixar film directed by Hayo Miazaki. It had a grasp of animation that only the Japanese have these days--that they can be dark, not in a cackling-wicked-witch sort of way, but in a questioning-your-own-capacity-for-greed kind of way. It starts out whimsical but ends biblical.

There were also parties, food and alcohol, and though these are all superfluous to the art, organizers were thoughtful and savvy in their selection of location and menu. The screenings and panels ran at Cinespace on Hollywood - a bar/club/restaurant with a main screening room and video feeds snaking into every other corner of the establishment. The main room was mostly booths and tables on successively elevated flooring stretching away from the screen. It was a great setup, as servers could hit their tables and not really distract from the films. As previously mentioned, Nacional hosted the opening night, with the closing event unfolding at Vice, and DJed by hip-hop legend Biz Markie. It occurred to me at some point that I should have somehow smuggled out some of the discounted alcohol my media badge afforded me to enlist my homeless assistant but ultimately decided that digging for a tie myself is the cost of not enabling destructive behavior. I’m sure I’ll see him next year, as Hollyshorts is a festival I hope to return to.

HollyShorts Film Festival Now Accepting Submissions!

Call for entries for the 4th annual HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF) begins on Monday, January 14, 2008. Filmmakers from around the globe are encouraged to submit their short films, all genres, 30 minutes and under to HollyShorts, one of the fastest growing festivals in the US and the premiere short film event in Hollywood, CA. Student submissions receive a $5 discount on WAB. Submissions will be accepted through Withoutabox.com. The 4th annual HollyShorts Film Festival takes place August 7-10, 2008 in Hollywood.


The third annual HollyShorts was a record breaking event, drawing over $26,000 in prizes awarded. Best Short film honors went to “Songbird” Directed by John Thompson. Thompson was awarded a one week audio rental package courtesy of Action Audio and Visual, featuring sound and communications equipment rentals to utilize for his next film project. The event featured Actor Adrian Grenier’s short film “Euthanasia,” a DJ performance from the legendary hip hop DJ Biz Markie and 57 short films in competition.

Call for entries for the Haydenfilms 4.0 Online Film Festival!

Our good friends over at Hayden Films have some good news for the holidays!

Dear friends in the Film Industry:,

Call for entries for the Fourth Annual Haydenfilms Online Film Festival! Student and independent filmmakers can submit their short films for the chance to win a $10,000 cash prize! All genres will be accepted for review, including animation, experimental, and documentary.

Complete rules here:

http://www.haydenfilms.com/rules.html

On Jan 10th, 2008 - Haydenfilms will be honoring our final four filmmakers, whose films will be chosen as per your votes from our online film festival, at the prestigious Director's Guild of America Theater in New York City. Following a wonderful networking party with film industry professionals, including cocktails and hor'derves, their films will be showcased on the big screen, at our Season Three Awards Ceremony.

The event will also showcase Michael Attardi's short animated film, starring Jim Belushi and Tim Curry called "Once Upon a Christmas Village" has won at the Festival De Cannes, South Africa, Florence, New York, Boston, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Houston and Wales. He also won 11 Telly Awards, 4 Accolade Awards, 7 Aurora Awards and 7 Davey Awards. The film has qualified for the Academy Awards in the Short Animated Film Category and has shattered the all-time film festival award record with 66 awards. .... Feel free to forward !


Tickets on sale now here:

http://www.haydenfilms.com/tickets3.0.html

Click below to find out more about the people behind the films!

http://www.haydenfilms.com/news_view.php?news_id=121

Haydenfilms Season Two Awards Ceremony Photos:

http://www.haydenfilms.com/fest_ac_second_annual_page1.html

Thanks,

Hayden Craddolph

Haydenfilms, LLC
131 East Main Street, Suite 2
Kutztown, PA 19530-1526

vox: 610.894.9639
fax: 610.894.9959
http://www.haydenfilms.com/

The KILLER short film on FEARNET

2007 HollyShorts Film Festival Short Film THE KILLER, Dir. by David Nelson, is on Fearnet.com. Read below!

We are proud to announce that THE KILLER has finally been released on
FEARNET.com!

In its first year since exhibition, THE KILLER has been included in
over 15
major film festivals, been chosen twice for opening night
presentations,
twice as a specially invited festival selection and won a nomination
for
Best Actress.

It stars Mrs. Michael Learned, 4 time Emmy winner, and Miguel Sandoval,
currently starring on "Medium".

Fearnet channel, a conglomeration of Lions Gate, Sony and Comcast, has
just
optioned the THE KILLER to air on their website and, possibly, Direct
TV
channel. In two weeks the film has already received close to one
thousand
hits.

You can find it at...

http://www.fearnet.com/Video.aspx?mid=b05c7c50-25ec-4f4e-b52d-bf3c2f156c4d

If you enjoy it, please let others know.

Happy Holidays and I hope this finds you well!



David A. Nelson

H Magazine HollyShorts '07 Winners feature story

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Los Angeles Times

Weekend Calendar
Page E11
Screening Room

Every Second Counts at Hollyshorts Festival

By Susan King
Times Staff Writer

Think today’s movies are far too long and outstay their welcome? Believe a film is sweeter the shorter it is?

Then the Hollyshorts Film Festival, which takes place Friday through Sunday at Nacional in L.A. and Cinespace in Hollywood, is just the ticket. Though a few of the films are more than 20 minutes apiece, several are less than five minutes. The third annual festival opens with “Entourage” star Adrian Grenier’s 17-minute horror comedy “Euthanasia,” which he also wrote.

Hollyshorts received 500 submissions this year, of which 60 were selected, including films from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico , Romania, Spain, and Singapore. Thirteen of the films are in competition in the best student short film category and were chosen from such local schools as the American Film Institute and art center College of Design.
-------------
Susan.king@latimes.com

Screenings
Hollyshorts Film Festival

“Euthanasia”: 7p.m. Friday, Nacional; festival continues Saturday and Sunday at Cinespace, www.hollyshorts.com

HOLLYSHORTS ON LX TV

Mt. San Antonio College MOUNTAINEER

A&E

Indie Beat

Elizabeth Steele

A&E Editor

By: Elizabeth Steele
4/17/07

In a city where the only thing most anyone involved in the entertainment business wants is to be recognized for their cinematic work, where actors are a dime a dozen and everyone has "the best script," festivals are being created to bring together people with common goals and desires.Los Angeles is known for its cinematic achievements in Hollywood. However, more people are looking towards a lesser known field of cinema, the independent films, the labors of love. Independent Films in their purest form are usually low-budget (meaning at least half the cost of Hollywood films) and directed in small studios. More recently many large companies such as Fox Searchlight and Sony Pictures Classics are producing low-budget films to appease the growing desire for more artistic, human interest movies. Directors can keep their creative vision though out filming to keep their intent from being tampered with by producers. Not only are independent filmmakers finding a place to showcase their talents, short films are also gaining worldwide attention.In a city of high budget film making, two friends came together to help people showcase their passion, an otherwise rarely noticed passion, short independent films. Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont met years ago and came up with the idea of an independent short film festival based on their own passions, the HollyShorts Short Film Festival. The festival is a place where people from all over the world, in all stages in life can show their work, but especially students who otherwise have no place to be recognized. "The initial idea was that this would be a student centered festival." Sol said. "We want to add and entice more students to join. This year is focusing more on student films."Knowing that untapped talent needed a place to be seen, Sol knew it would gain appreciation, and attention, he said. In its third year the festival is already gaining some star power. Adrian Grenier, who plays Vincent Grenier on the HBO series Entourage, will use the Third Annual HollyShorts Festival for the Hollywood premier of his film "Euthanasia."The idea for a short film festival sprouted from Sol and Dumont's passion for film. "The positive thing is we are hands on with what we are doing. I love doing this. Everyone involved enjoys it. We care about it." Sol said. They wanted to give the festival a shot. Keep things simple. And they would see where it went from there, Sol said.The last two festivals showcased some of the world's best 30 minuet and under short films to sold-out crowds. Sol wants the festival to bring people with common goals together. According to Sol, he and Dumont strive to "advance the careers of filmmakers globally and showcase great short film projects." This year's festival is scheduled Aug. 10-12. Regular deadline for submissions into the film festival is April 27. The late deadline is May 25. Students get $5 off any submission. All shorts must be under 30 minuets. Categories include Short Live Action. Short Animation, Short Documentary, and Student Short. To submit to the HollyShorts Short Film Festival please go to www.withourabox.com/login/4655. Or for more information about the festival go to www.hollyshorts.com. Along with an annual festival Sol and Dumont also PRESENT monthly screenings of short films. At the end of the month, usually on Thursdays, the Cinespace Digital Superclub in Hollywood brings together an upscale restaurant and bar and a movie screening room. During a typical night five or six short films are shown during September to June months, leaving July and August dedicated to preparing for the film festival. It is an open submission showcase.
© Copyright 2007 The Mountaineer

HollyShorts On FIN Panel

Los Angeles---On Sunday, July 8 Daniel Sol, HollyShorts Festival Director and Co-founder spoke on the Film Industry Network (FIN) panel titled "Award Winning Directors: The Short Films", which took place at Sony Studios.

Film Industry Network (or FIN for short) is a non-profit networking community comprised of individuals from all facets of the entertainment industry.
FIN provides a fun and relaxed atmosphere where individuals can make key contacts, develop solid industry relationships, exchange vital resources and take advantage of real networking opportunities. Our goal is to create an organization that truly supports the goals and careers of its members.
Offering more than just a snack and a guest speaker, FIN hosts terrific panels as well as a variety of valuable programs like: -Yearly Screenplay Competition -Mentorship program -And More.
FIN provides real networking opportunities, so come to the next FIN meeting and network your tail off.

HollyShorts 2007 Schedule Announced!

Friday, August 10, 2007

Opening Night Hollywood Premiere of Adrian Grenier’s “Euthanasia”Nacional (1645 Wilcox Ave)7:00pm-10pm
Red Carpet arrivals 7pmEuthanasia (Official Opening Film)Directed by Adrian GrenierUSA│17:00│Dark ComedyA coming of age dark comedy, which tells the story of Sam and Becky, an unfortunate accident forces them to grow too quickly and make some hard decisions about life and death.

Saturday, August 11, 2007
Cinespace Digital Superclub (6356 Hollywood Blvd)Lunch reservations recommended (323.817.FILM)

11:00am-12:00pm

The Trainee

Directed by Craig RosenthalSingapore│ 8:00 │Comedy

A ‘trainee robber’ tries to hold up a 24-hour convenience store with hilarious consequences.

Girl Stars: Anita the Beekeeper

Directed by Vikash NowlakhaIndia│7:30│Documentary

Anita Kumari is a beekeeper in Bihar, India. When Anita was young, her parents did not want her to go to school, but Anita longed so much to go to school that she knew she had to find a way to pay for her education. Anita saw men in her village-keeping bees and decided to give it a try.

Live Love Work Play

Directed by Thomas AtanazioBrazil│5:00│Comedy

You have the power to change. Do what you believe and you will end up where you belong.

Freaks of Laughter

Directed by Jim GrollmanUSA│23:00│Documentary

Life can be serious business in some of the tougher sections surrounding LosAngeles. Some turn to drugs, others to crime and still others turn to Stand-Up Comedy. FREAKS OF LAUGHTER tells their story and the students who turned their life around. Cerritos Community College is the only Community College in California to offer an accredited class in Stand-up Comedy.

He Works in a Suit

Directed by Robert DaviesAustralia│7:00│ThrillerTwo strangers meet on the open road, both harbouring a different objective but unknowingly sharing the same destiny.

Si-mi.com online festival winner

12:00-1:00pm

Dandelion

Directed by Jackie LiaoUSA│5:20│Student-Animation

For a kid growing up in the suburbs, the truth can lie at the bottom of a fish tank.Life is just like dandelions. When the wind comes, they leave, but they won’t disappear. They are just going to a new place to start a new life…

Aquarium

Directed by Rob MeyerUSA│17:00│Student: Comedy

For a kid growing up in the suburbs, the truth can lie at the bottom of a fish tank.

Der Ostwind

Directed by Kohl GlassUSA│10:40│Student: Drama

In search of a worthy opponent, a German WWI ace accepts the challenge of a mysterious and seemingly invincible American pilot—only to discover the true price of honor.

Two-Eleven

Directed by Velvet Andrews SmithUSA│18:50│Drama

There are thieves among us… and then there are expert thieves. A charismatic criminal is on his way to becoming the most prolific bank robber in history. But a brilliant detective is determined to catch him. It’s only a matter of time before the two find themselves face to face - and they finally meet their match.

Cyn

Directed by Alex FerrariUSA│5:00│Thriller

Cynthia, a young woman who is taken away by two psychopaths (Mr. Sugar and Otto) in the middle of the night to an old abandoned kindergarden. Cyn quickly turns the tables on them and soon the night becomes a cat and mouse mind game. While this drama is unfolding a lone figure watches from a close circuit monitor. Who is Cynthia and what the hell is going on in this twisted tale? World Premiere.

Women Against Domestic Violence

Directed by Jennava LaskaUSA│1:30 │Student: Educational

A PSA that shows the side of domestic violence that may not be seen to the naked eye.

1:00-2:30pm

Downwinders: The People of Parowan

Directed by Jake WhiteUSA│25:30│Documentary

An intimate look at the effects of nuclear weapons testing. The resulting damage and deaths have become a legacy for many southern Utah towns - including Parowan. The strength and will of the people to restore their community is an inspiring testament of the human spirit.

Songbird

Directed by John ThompsonUSA│6:00│Student: Drama

A Gothic tale about a trapped housewife who breaks free from her overbearing husband with a very dull meat cleaver.

The Red Balloon

Directed by Michael OlesenUSA│3:34│Student: Drama

A young boy enlists the help of a balloon seller to send birthday wishes to his Mom - in the only way he knows how. A simple story of loss and longing.The FifthDirected by Ryan LevinUSA│14:00│ComedyFour friends struggle to find a fifth player for their weekly poker game.

The Frank Anderson

Directed by Dave Perkal, Written by Orit SchwartzUSA│12:53│ComedyFrank Anderson (Richard Riehle) has man-boobs. Insurance agent John Simon (Stephen Root) denies Frank’s reduction while approving Bobbie Lynn (Elena Lyons), enlargements. Dr. Brice (Jane Lynch), explains to John why he should approve the procedure, while strongly admiring his man-boobs. Frank and Bobbie hook up, pushing John to consult with Dr. Seales (Romy Rosemont) into getting a set.

3:00-3:30pm: Super Panel

3:30pm-4:30pm

Blackbird

Directed by Kirsten Strom

USA│16:16│Student: Drama

On a stormy afternoon, Avis dreams of becoming a blackbird.

The 1,000 Sides of the Moon

Directed by Varda HardyUSA│2:20│Drama

This poetic evocation calls us to see the depth of reality in our everyday world.

I Hate Musicals

Directed by Stewart SchillUSA│20:00│Comedy

A guy who hates musicals, is cursed to sing them.

The Sandman

Directed by Rich RagsdaleUSA│5:05│Drama

This short is a re-telling of E.T.A. Hoffman’s tale of ‘The Sandman’, and how the story inspired Sigmund Freud’s theory of ‘The Uncanny’. The film was created in the style of early German expressionist cinema.

Who Makes Movies?

Directed by Christopher LuccyUSA│4:44│Student: Comedy

continuation of the MPAA’s campaign against the illegal piracy of movies. In this installment, fluffer Randy Palmer discusses what piracy means to man with Hollywood in the palm of his hand.

Stone Savior

Directed by James MartinchekUSA│2:00│Student Animation

Devotion Will Forever Overcome Destruction.

Joseph Henry

Directed by Phil AlloccoUSA│12:30│Drama

Thoughts are only as real as you think they are.

69 Cents

Directed by Michael FitzgeraldUSA│5:00 │Student: Comedy

When two men having bad days collide in a liquor store, comedy ensues.

4:30pm-5:30pm

Sexy Thing

Directed by Denie PentecostAustralia│14:00│Student: Drama

On a dry suburban day, a 12 year old is caught between the conflicting worlds of family, friendship and imagination. Struggling to endure a confusing love, and longing simply to be seen, the child survives by transforming pain into beauty.

When We Were Bengs

Directed by Alaric TaySingapore│12:00│Comedy

Two mischevious brothers. One very suave bad gangster. Somebody is going to get a good beating…

The Shift

Directed by Chuck ParkerUSA│21:00│Drama

Who does a 9-1-1 Operator call when he has a problem? Jimmy Callahan is having a bad night in the Police Communications Center, his ex-girlfriend is stalking him, his Supervisor is threatening to fire him and the phone won’t stop ringing. Jimmy feels like he is drowning, but finds comfort in the voice of one caller.

Fission

Directed by Kun-I ChangUSA│5:00│Student: Animation

A film which utilizes captivating motion graphic images to tell a sparse yet lush story about a man who sees himself as a wall of graffiti.

Tell-Tale

Directed by Jason RobertsUSA│12:55│Thriller

An adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’.

The Killer

Directed by David NelsonUSA│8:31│Comedy

The Killer may have finally found a place to rest

Sunday, August 12, 2007
Cinespace Digital Superclub (6356 Hollywood Blvd)Lunch reservations recommended (323.817.FILM)

12:00-1:00pm

Si-mi.com online festival winner

5:55

Directed by Illegal ArtistsMexico│8:32 │Drama

Jorge and Javier Aguilera, are brothers from Mexico City, who have beenco-directing films and television commercials for the past eight years. They are the founders of the directing collective Illegal Artists. 5:55, is the second of two short films they have directed together. Last year, the brothers completed a ten-minute film called “Round 5” which was a festival favorite and the opening short film for the 2nd annual HollyShorts Film Festival. Their first feature film together is a live action adaptation of the Japanese Anime “Kite”, which is set to go into production in Fall 2007.

Fortune Hunter

Directed by Thom HarpUSA│20:00│Comedy

When Arthur, a writer at a fortune cookie factory, accidentally sends a love letter to his ex-girlfriend into the printing press, suddenly every cookie at every restaurant reveals a piece of his broken heart.

Gone

Directed by Andrew WatsonUSA│ 2:59│ Experimental/Music Video

Bill Madden brings the worlds of film and music together with a metaphorical environmental warning alert. This compelling video raises questions, fusing art, social commentary, and music to spark debate on what it means to be alive and grapple with the consequences of environmental change. The video communicates the need to reverse the effects of climate change while there’s still time. The film is directed by Andrew Watson of Current TV, an interactive cable TV channel founded by Al Gore

Once Upon a Christmas Village

Directed by Michael AttardiUSA│15:00│Animation

timeless tale of love, a leap of faith and transformation, featuring various village characters that embody the archetypes of good and evil battling over what force will control their village and save the magic of Christmas.

Ourstage.com selection

1:00pm-2:00pm

Tomoko’s Kitchen

Directed by Shawna BacaUSA│17:15│Dramedy

When an apartment building’s security doors malfunction, a group of disparate residents discover how oven-fresh cinnamon rolls can change destinies.

When I Grow Up

Directed by Michelle MeekerUSA│6:39│Animation

Juxtaposes the boundless ambition of youthful expectations with the unpredictable, and sometimes tragic realities we end up living. An international team of 12 artists each bring their unique visions to a series of interviews with children and elders.

Dartsville

Directed by Tony WestUSA│22:40│Comedy

When a young dart prodigy upstages his daddy days before the big tourney, a conflict is born the likes of which Dartsville ain’t ever seen.

Morbid Curiosity

Directed by Cindy BaerUSA│5:30│Comedy

What would happen if your deepest, darkest thoughts came true, just by thinking them? In this dark comedy, a woman’s videotaped confession reveals a lifelong struggle to control her deadly ability.

The Drill

Directed by Joel DavenportUSA│14:59│Student: Drama

During a 1950’s citywide nuclear drill, three gradeschool boys learn to come to terms with the era in which they live.

2:00-3:30pm

Red Balloon

Directed by Justin LibermanUSA│15:00│Drama

World Premiere of acclaimed director Justin Liberman’s latest project. Liberman studied under acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann for two years before making his award-winning directorial debut with “Y Nada Mas,” which opened the first annual HollyShorts Film Festival in 2005. “Y Nada Mas” was selected by Tribeca, swept Best Cinematography at the 2006 Malibu International Film Festival, and was an Official Selection to eight other international film festivals. Heavily influenced by such filmmakers as Francois Truffaut and Terrence Malick, Liberman’s sense of realism and portraiture was felt in his French New Wave cinema-influenced “Pretty Dead Flowers” which was featured at last year’s HollyShorts Film Festival.

Small Jeans

Directed by Julian WestUSA│16:00│Dramedy

‘Zoe discovers that before you can save the world, you probably haveto save yourself.’

Anonymous

Directed by Cristian PozoSpain│20:00│Drama

An underground love story.

Si-mi.com online festival winner

Alex Scott: A Stand For Hope

Directed by Larry MendteUSA│23:40 │Documentary

Thousands of children may live cancer free one day because Alex Scott lived. A little girl with a dream and a lemonade stand can do amazing things.

3:50pm-4:20pm: Superpanel

4:20-5:20pm

The Maxwell Multiple Climax

Directed by Brandon MaxwellUSA│29:36│Experimental

The Maxwell Multiple Climax is an epic instructional film with a mod retro-style that teaches men how to achieve multiple orgasms.

Twitch (OurStage May Winner)

Directed by Leah MeyerhoffUSA│10:00│Drama

A young girl fears her mother’s disability is contagious. Slamdance Grand Jury Prize winner and Student Academy Awards finalist.

Y Que Cumplas Muchos Mas

Directed by David AlcaldeSpain│13:00│Thriller

Horror in disguise of a social drama, a lot of blood and some birthday cake!

Honey I’m Home

Directed by David BraninUSA│5:34│

He cheated, she knows. World Premiere.

5:15-7:15pm

The Oates’ Valor

Directed by Timothy CahillUSA│13:30│Drama

Fourth chair trombonist, Boyson Oates, bends to his father’s will and quits the marching band to join the high school ROTC squad. After a failed attempt to run away with his neighborhood girlfriend, Boyson rolls the dice at reconciliation with his father.

Sam and Piccolo

Directed by Adam WalkerUSA│14:53│Animation

Everything is perfect in the isolated world of two friends until one is overcome by blinding greed.

Kabul Girls Club

Directed by Johnson McKelvyUSA│25:16│Documentary

The brave young women of Kabul struggle to form Afghanistan’s first women’s soccer league.

3 Pes Acima da Terra (3 Feet Above the Ground)

Directed by Andre DoriaBrazil│6:35 │ThrillerThe Sexually disturbed behavior of a married woman is captured by a camera 3 feet above the ground.

Wilbur

Directed by Dago RodriguezUSA│20:01│Student: Comedy

In an off-centered town north of London, In an orb about ten feet above ours, exists Wilbur. Baker extraordinare. Stutterer supreme. Unfortunately, for this thirty-something man, women are not flocking Love is his only escape… will he ever be free? In comes a little green package… in it, “the bean”…not just your ordinary bean, but a mail order bean that grows into something that promises to make Wilbur’s dreams come true…

Last Day of December

Directed by Bogdan ApetriUSA│15:00│Student: Drama

A man returns home to confront his past in this chilling tale.

Sarah & Dee

Directed by Karen Dee CarpenterUSA│19:47│Student: Drama

When you’re a kid they tell you that you can be anything you want. They lied.

Stomping Grounds

Directed by Rob SchroederUSA│22:00│Documentary

the story of a pioneering emcee, the Diabolical Biz Markie, and the places that made him…him. Spanning his childhood and early recording years, Biz takes us on a tour of his Stomping Grounds, showing us his favorite spots and revealing the many geographical influences and personalities that made this artist truly a one of a kind individual.
7:30pm: HollyShorts Awards
8-9pm: Awards after party

Advanced Tickets Available for Purchase by visiting:http://www.acteva.com/go/hollyshorts

HBO.com News

Plan B
Adrian Grenier's plot to skip the gymAdrian Grenier's short but not-so-sweet film 'Euthanasia' will be the opening night film for Hollyshorts, a short film festival celebrating it's third year in August. "Adrian Grenier is multitalented and has quickly been gaining tremendous respect as a director," said the festival's director Daniel Sol. This will be the Hollywood premiere for the coming-of-age story about two young girls who grow up fast when an afternoon joy ride turns gloomy. Grenier told Time Out recently what he liked about helming: "For me, directing is another skill to support myself if this whole acting thing doesn't work out. You also don't have to be fit and trim to be a director. Or go to the gym as much." (photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage.com)

IFA Newsletter

Adrian Grenier's Euthanasia to Premiere at HollyShorts Short Film Festival HollyShorts Short Film Festival - August 10-12, 2007

Volume 90
o Adrian Grenier's Euthanasia to Premiere at HollyShorts Short Film Festival

A few weeks back, IFA delivered a sampling of some of the best and brightest of nation-wide film festivals. Our list was by no means complete and to prove that fact we present to you a fest that we missed on the last go round. Say hello to HollyShorts, Short Film Festival located right here in downtown Hollywood.HollyShorts Short Film Festival is a celebration of the best of 30 minute and under short film submissions from around the world. Dedicated to providing its applicants and attendees with a forum for filmmaking discussion and an ever increasing industry networking web, HollyShorts takes submissions for four months - from February to May. After some deliberation and, unfortunately, elimination, the festival runs the top submissions in early August. This year, the 2007 Fest will run August 10 thru 12 at Cinespace: Digital Superclub in Hollywood, CA.“In just three years, our festival has quickly made its mark, delivering high quality short films,” states Daniel Sol, HollyShorts, Short Film Festival Director. “As we continue striving to reach our goal, which is to advance the careers of filmmakers globally and showcase great short form projects in front of film enthusiasts, the industry, fellow filmmakers and actors, this year’s event is poised to be a tremendous experience for everyone involved.” Slated to open the 2007 HollyShorts Fest is Actor/Director Adrian Grenier’s short film, Euthanasia. While most know him as Hollywood darling Vincent Chase from HBO’s Entourage, Adrian is far from just a pretty face. Founding his own company, Restless Productions in the early 2000s, Grenier has been making a name for himself as a talented and insightful director/producer. The screening of Euthanasia at HollyShorts marks the films world premiere and lends an air of progression to the HollyShorts fest.

Below, Cinespace Theatre - the location for the 3rd Annual 2007 HollyShorts Short Film Festival.
“It’s an honor for HollyShorts to host the Hollywood premiere of “Euthanasia,” one of the most critically acclaimed short films in quite some time,” said Sol. “Adrian Grenier is multitalented and has quickly been gaining tremendous respect as a director. We look forward to opening our festival with his short film . . .”Seventeen minutes in length, Euthanasia is a dark comedy revolving around the lives of two young girls. Having just earned her driver’s license, Sam takes her best friend Becky out for a spin. The world is ripe with possibilities, dripping with freedom. There is nothing they can’t do, nothing they can’t try. They are, at long last, their own authorities . . . until an unfortunate accident plants them face to face with some difficult questions about life, death and growing up. To put it bluntly, HollyShorts Short Film Festival has plenty to offer and a plethora of venues for involvement. If you’re a filmmaker, submissions are currently being accepted for the 2007 HollyShorts, Short Film Festival. With the regular deadline coming on April 27, 2007 and the late deadline, May 25, 2007, all submissions are required to be 30 minutes or under. Categories include Short Live Action, Short Animation, Short Documentary and Student Short. To submit, visit Withoutabox at www.withoutabox.com/login/4655. If investment is the name of your game, sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available. Current sponsors and festival partners include Women in Film, Fetro, Creative Screenwriting Magazine, New York Film Academy, Breakyouself.com, Dreamhouse Ensemble, Stash, Si-Mi.com, Sharp Radio Network and Indiepix.
Above, Director Adrian Grenier keeps things flowing smoothly on set while below, Euthanasia stars Hannah Mets and Stella Maeve deal with the deeper issues of life.

If you consider yourself the biggest movie fanatic known to mankind, HollyShorts can even satiate your appetite for all things film. HollyShorts offers a monthly screening series at the Space Theatre in Hollywood. This month’s screening, taking place on March 29th, will highlight the work of Larry Hankin (Money Talks, Seinfeld, Oscar Nominated director for short Solly's Diner 1980). HollyShorts is currently offering $5 off submission fees for the 2007 Festival to all IFA filmmakers. Discounts for the HollyShorts Film Festival itself will later be available to IFA members. To find out more about HollyShorts, the submission process or how you can further get involved, visit www.hollyshorts.com.
Above, Director Adrian Grenier keeps things flowing smoothly on set while below, Euthanasia stars Hannah Mets and Stella Maeve deal with the deeper issues of life.

The Third Annual HollyShorts takes place August 10-12, 2007. Call For Entries is now!

The HollyShorts team watch the shorts on a small screen at Cinespace
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Ben Pratt of Sharp Radio Network (far left) moderating the filmmaker Q&A
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HollyShorts Day 1, "Through These Eyes" Director Kevin Callies (far left)
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Shawna Baca (R) Director of 3:52 participates in a the filmmaker Q&A at Day 1 of HollyShorts
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Heidi H. Hamelin delivered a memorable speech in memory of filmmaker Derek Lake
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"Absolution" Director Andrew McGary (L) participates in panel
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Cinespace HollyShorts
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Dan Sol of HollyShorts and Michael Steinbach Director of "Placebo" at Day 2 of HollyShorts
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"Rosa" Director William Olsson participates in an intense Q&A session at HollyShorts Day 1
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HollyShorts Best of '05 DVD available on www.indiepix.net. Get your copy today!
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HollyShorts Day 1
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HollyShorts Day 1 atmosphere at Cinespace
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Kelly Rigg (C), Director of "Fuzion" arriving at the HollyShorts Opening Night reception at Joseph's
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"Pretty Dead Flowers" crew at HollyShorts opening night party
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Theo Dumont of HollyShorts (L) "Maxi Doodles" Director Broston Jones (C) and Dan Sol of HollyShorts (R)
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HollyShorts opening night party at Joseph's Cafe had strong support from Fetro.com
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Director Carmen Cabana (Center) prepares for a great fest at HollyShorts opening night party
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Joseph's Cafe
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2nd Annual HollyShorts, Short Film Festival
August 12-13, 2006, Cinespace, Hollywood
Tickets go on sale July 31 on Hollyshorts.com

HOLLYSHORTS ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL LINEUP FOR
2ND ANNUAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL June 29, 2006

53 of the Best Short Films From Around the World
to Be Showcased at Cinespace in Hollywood

Joseph's Cafe to Host Opening Night Reception


Hollywood—-The organizers of HollyShorts, Short Film Festival (www.hollyshorts.com) announced today the line up of the short films that will be showcased at the 2nd annual event. Joseph’s Café in Hollywood will host this year’s opening night reception on August 11. The short film screenings will take place August 12 and 13 at Cinespace: Digital Super Club and Lounge in Hollywood. 13 countries will be represented as 53 of the best and brightest short will be screened.

“We had a great turnout of submissions for this year’s event and our panel of judges carefully selected the most creative, original and thought provoking short films from around the world,” said Daniel Sol, Producer and Co-Founder of HollyShorts, Short Film Festival.

HollyShorts ‘06’ official opening film is “Round 5,” an action-packed short from Illegal Artists, a directing duo out of Mexico City, comprising of siblings Javier and Jorge Aguilera . Jorge and Javier have been confirmed to direct the live-action adaptation of the Japanese anime “Kite” for producers Rob Cohen and Anant Singh. The closing short for this year’s festival is the Oscar nominated short film “Ausreisser (The Runaway),” Directed by Ulrike Gote of Germany. Cinespace is located at l6356 Hollywood Blvd. Tickets for the event will be available for purchase beginning July 31, 2006.

This year’s official selections include the following:

3:52
Directed by: Shawna Baca
Country: USA

A Prayer For Area 23
Directed by: John Alberts
Country: Malawi, Africa

Absolution
Directed by: Andrew McGary
Country: USA

And Now A Word From Our Sponsors
Directed by: Wojciech Lorenc Evanston
Country: USA

Artistic License
Directed by:Michael Wohl
Country: USA

Assumption
Directed by: Christopher Keller
Country: USA

Ausreisser (The Runaway)
Directed by: Ulrike Gote
Country: Germany

Available Men
Directed by: David Bottrell
Country: USA

Brazil
Directed by: Ramon and Pedro
Country: USA

Conversando con Junior (Chatting with Junior)
Directed by: Carmen Cabana
Country: Venezuela

Dammi il La
Directed by: Matteo Servente
Country: Italy

Dediche D’Amore (Love Dedications)
Directed by: Alessandro Merluzzi
Country: Italy

Dirty Mary
Directed by: Stuart Rogers
Country: USA

DOOBIE PINK or how I quit being a party freak…
Directed by: Sary Sehnaoui
Country: Canada

Dream a Little Dream
Directed by: Brett Blewitt
Country: Australia

Elysion
Directed by: Kimiko Sano
Country: USA

Everlast
Directed by: Bryan Law
Country: USA

Every 30 Seconds
Directed by: Jeremy Corray
Country: USA

Fear Tomorrow
Directed by: Gregory Hobson
Country: USA

Fizzy Days
Directed by: Mark Millicent
Country: United Kingdom

Fumi and the Bad Luck Foot
Directed by: David Chai
Country: USA

Fuzion
Directed by: Kelly Rigg
Country: USA

Genesis Antipode
Directed by: John Robinson
Country: New Zealand

Harry and Greta
Directed by Ryan Cooper
Country: USA

Inicio do Fim (The Beginning of the End)
Directed by: Gustavo Spolidoro
Country: Brazil

King’s Echo
Directed by: Haim Silberstein
Country: USA

Knife Shift
Directed by: Jim Hudson
Country: New Zealand

Linear Progression
Directed by: Kat Kosmala
Country: USA

Lucky
Directed by: Avie Luthra
Country: South Africa

Maxi Doodles
Directed by: Bronston Jones
Country: USA

Namibia, Brasil
Directed by: Miguel Silveira
Country: Brazil

Nasuh
Directed by: Anya Belkina
Country: USA

Not A Pick Up Artist
Directed by: Johnny Roc
Country: USA

Ozone
Directed by: Honey
Country: United Kingdom

Perils in Nude Modeling
Directed by: Scott Rice
Country: USA

Placebo
Directed by: Michael Steinbach
Country: USA

Pretty Dead Flowers
Directed by: Justin Liberman
Country: USA

Rape For Who I Am
Directed by: Lovinsa Kavuma
Country: South Africa

Rosa
Directed by: William Olsson
Country: USA

Round 5
Directed by: Illegal Artists
Country: USA

Sans Pertinence
Directed by: Derek Lake
Country: USA

Seasons
Directed by: Jim Travernetti
Country: USA

Spin
Directed by Jamin Winans
Country: USA

Squirrel Man
Directed by: Jeffrey Lynn Shepherd
Country: USA

The Curling Stones
Directed by: Pascal Franchot
Country: USA

The King of Siam
Directed by: Byron McKim
Country: Canada

The Legend of Flashpants
Directed by: Nate Foll
Country: USA

The Locrian Mode
Directed by: Eric Lodal
Country: USA

The Pros and Cons of Breathing
Directed by: Seth Manheimer
Country: USA

The Way I See It
Directed by: Cindy Konits
Country: USA

Through These Eyes
Directed by: Kevin Callies
Country: USA

Valle Paraiso
Directed by: Eduardo Martin Julve
Country: Spain

Window
Directed by: Varda Hardy
Country: USA

About HollyShorts
HollyShorts, Short Film Festival is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe. HollyShorts is devoted to the advancement filmmakers through screenings, Q&A sessions and networking events. The HollyShorts Film festival showcases the top short films produced 30- minutes or less. For more information, please visit www.hollyshorts.com.
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Contact:

Theo Dumont/Dan Sol
HollyShorts, Short Film Festival
e. staff@hollyshorts.com
p. 818-760-9897

Cinespace Short Mondays in Hollywood features an assortment of really great short films. On June 5, an acclaimed short "Shoot-Out" along with 5 other shorts will be showcased. If you are in LA and want to network with HollyShorts and see some great shorts, you are invited to come check it out.
RSVP by calling 323-817-3456. The bar opens at 7:00 p.m., seating for dinner starts at 7:30, The Q & A and screening starts at 8:45.

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