HollyShorts delivered a burst of Hollywood energy to London this week, closing its second U.K. edition with a packed awards ceremony at Vue Cinemas West End. Franz Böhm’s Rock, Paper, Scissors and Sam Davis’ The Singers dominated the evening, underscoring the event’s rising profile on the international festival circuit.

Now Oscar-qualifying and rapidly scaling its global footprint across Europe, the Middle East, and North America, HollyShorts UK drew filmmakers from three continents—further cementing its reputation as one of the world’s premier launchpads for next-generation short-form creators. The awards ceremony was hosted by Karen Bryson MBE, recently seen in The Rainmaker and widely known fo The Teacher.

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Böhm and Davis Headline the 2025 Winners

Böhm’s Rock, Paper, Scissors claimed the festival’s top honor, the Best Short Film Grand Prize, earning a £20,000 Panavision lens package alongside prizes from Essex Bouqcakes. The film also secured Best Student Film, marking Böhm as one of the breakout voices of the 2025 class.

Sam Davis’ The Singers mirrored that momentum with wins for Best Director, presented by Cotrini Skincare and accompanied by a £5,000 post-production package from The Farm, plus Best International Film. The dual victories signal Davis’ growing stature on the global shorts landscape.

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2025 HollyShorts UK Award Winners

Best Short Film Grand Prize
Rock, Paper, Scissors — Franz Böhm
Prize: £20,000 Panavision lens package; Essex Bouqcakes prize package

Best Director (Presented by Cotrini Skincare with £5,000 Post Production Package from The Farm)
The Singers — Sam Davis

Best Student Film
Rock, Paper, Scissors — Franz Böhm

Best Animation
Two Black Boys in Paradise — Baz Sells

Best Comedy
Chasers — Erin Brown Thomas

Best Drama (Presented by Le Kool Champagne)
A Friend of Dorothy — Lee Knight

Best Thriller
ADO — Sam Henderson

Best International (Presented by Sushi Samba)
The Singers — Sam Davis

Best Music Video
Bile Bile — Rango Musau

Best Music Documentary
Hugel – The Entourage — Ludovic Genco, Hugo Lucas Pompier

Best Sports Documentary
Fighting Demons — Simon Stock

Best Shot on Film (Presented by Kodak Motion Pictures)
A Death in the Family — Yasmin Hafesji

Best Cinematography (Prize Package Presented by ShotDeck)
Stomach Bug — Andri Haraldsson

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HollyShorts Outlines Ambitious 2026 Expansion

During the ceremony, organizers announced the festival’s most significant global expansion to date. HollyShorts UK will return November 12–15, 2026, with submissions for the 2026 cycle opening tomorrow.

In parallel, HollyShorts Dubai will debut December 12–14, 2025, marking a major step into the Middle Eastern market. The festival’s flagship Hollywood edition—its 22nd—will run August 13–23, 2026.

Founded in 2005, HollyShorts has solidified its role as a vital discovery platform for emerging filmmakers, offering both Academy Awards and BAFTA-qualifying categories, along with extensive partnerships across production, post-production, and distribution sectors.

Confirmed sponsors for the 2025 London edition include Cotrini Skincare, IMGN, Miller Insurance, LeKool Champagne, Panavision, Alta Global, Dumont Luxury Real Estate, Essex Bouqcakes, Sushi Samba, The Farm, Kodak, and additional industry partners.