There are approximately 150 Oscar-qualifying festivals for short films each year, and the competition is always tough. So many filmmakers are looking to make their mark in short films, with many hoping to garner support for future feature-length films. Recognition is difficult to come by, although as one who watches dozens of short films each year, I find the quality of storytelling and filmmaking in this segment to be quite extraordinary.
Held in Hollywood, California, 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the HollyShorts Film Festival, and as usual, the lineup was deep and diverse. I had limited viewing time this year, so my recap (including filmmakers' names) is limited to the 16 (sixteen) Short Films I watched in 3 (three) categories: Dark Comedy, Comedy, and Thriller. Only one of the films I watched ended up a prize winner on the festival's final day, but there's not a dud in the bunch.
Dark Comedy
BATHROOM BREAK 9:49
Dave Canning
An unusual tale set in an office environment, where Ben locks himself in the bathroom stall to avoid attending a mandatory meeting. We've all been there … can't bring ourselves to attend yet another meeting, no matter how hard our co-workers insist. This time Ben finds an unique way to escape.
OFFICE ROYALE 13:24
Sam Baron (director), Harry Kershaw and Chris Leask (co-writers)
Remember the standoff in Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS? Well this one has quite the twist – an office environment where the boss finds his own way out, while pitting the staff workers against each other. Oh yeah, they are armed and the stakes are high. This one truly earns the 'dark comedy' designation.
SEE SAW 11:40
Matt Porter
A data breach or system hack is not an uncommon occurrence these days. What happens when a targeted attack mistakes an innocent guy over the corporate type with the same name? Upheaval in the poor guys life is painful to watch as it impacts all facets.
GOOD GRIEF 12:03
Megan Chumbley (director), Rachel Brunner (writer)
The dark comedy block of shorts wouldn't be complete without an extreme family drama entry. A death in the family brings everyone together, and it's not a pretty sight. An airing of grievances that would fit any Festivus celebration shows how a small thing (pronunciation of a name) can be important to some. We do end on an emotional point.
Comedy
BAD DRIVER 6:16
Antonia Grilikhes- Lasky
This is short even for a short, but the twist is worth a laugh … and we need it after the lady behind the wheel recounts her story with a certain guy in excruciating detail. I enjoyed the punchline.
PEE PEE PLATTER 11:00
Jon Conklin
"Revenge ain't got a shelf life." That's the life philosophy of a kitchen worker to a waiter who is confronting his childhood bully while waiting tables. As these things so often progress, we find a pissing contest between the two emotionally-stunted adults. And this time it's literal.
GOLDEN CHILD 10:07
Hannah Levin (also stars as Lulu)
This one constituted a streak of two films where urine plays a crucial role … as does revenge. Avenging childhood drama is never easy, yet often satisfying. Familiar face Gillian Vigman appears as one who doesn't much appreciate Lulu's plan of attack.
LIBBI'S TRYING 9:53
Andrew Carter
Breaking into acting is difficult and sometimes emotionally draining. Divorce, especially when a kid is involved is also both of those things. Libbi is trying to juggle both, even taking her young one on an audacious audition.
DEEP TISH 13:35
David Paige
This film won 'Best Comedy" at the festival, and it blends the add-on of a deep tissue massage with the difficulty of matching for a first date in Los Angeles. Creative and odd … a good choice for an award.
KNEAD 11:30
Timothy Michael Cooper
First film I've seen that includes pastry school in Paris with an invasion by extraterrestrial slugs. It helps to keep in mind that "need" is a synonym of "knead".
Thriller
RAPT 11:50
Margot Budzynq (writer-director), Christian Tasiopoulos (co-writer)
An even more bizarre acting audition plays out here for Thea, as she takes on the pressure required for admission into an elite acting program run by Marc Menchaca ("Ozark"). The surreal proceedings are mind-bending, and it ends with The Everly Brothers' "Little Hollywood Girls".
HOME SAFE 8:36
Alison Winter
It's impossible for a man to truly comprehend what a woman must go through traveling alone at night through the city. Danger is always lurking This film creates some of that tension by showing a young woman riding the metro solo after an evening with her friends.
WEIGHT 10:01
Stefan Dezil
It's frightening when a bad marriage turns worse. It's a creative look at the relentless emotional burdens when things take a wrong turn, especially if an evil spirit may be present. You only think the bad news is your weight on the bathroom scale.
BORDOVASCA 11:21
Giuseppe Zampella
A beautiful sunny day in Italy finds a family on an outing at a local swimming pool. A father and daughter banter back and forth on the young girl's hesitancy to complete a head-first dive. Quickly, their playful manner goes terribly wrong.
STILL 11:53
Rakefet Abergel
Opening on a woman holding a dirty baby, the film then jumps into the mental anguish and chaos that can accompany a traumatic event. Visions, voices, doubts, and guilt are on display, and at the end, the "in loving memory" tribute makes quite an impact.
A MATTER OF MINUTES 11:34
Hannah Beach (director), Phoebe Campbell-Harris (writer)
EpiPens … when you need it, every moment matters. A girl is attending a house party with her friend, and as happens too frequently, peer pressure kicks in followed almost immediately by pure panic. The "Based on True Events" opening banner makes this all the more stressful.
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