‘LITTLE BUG’ Turns the Space Race Into an Intimate Story of Love, Loss and Connection

Writer-director Matt Branston on bringing Laika’s final days to the screen, shooting from a dog’s perspective, and using the 1957 space race to tell a deeply human story The story of Laika, the Soviet space dog sent into orbit in 1957, has become one of the most haunting chapters in the history of space exploration. But in LITTLE BUG, writer-director Matt Branston deliberately moves away from … Continue reading ‘LITTLE BUG’ Turns the Space Race Into an Intimate Story of Love, Loss and Connection

‘BLEEDER’ Director Jeremy Max on Turning Physical Pain Into Emotional Survival: “I Wanted to Give My Character the Win I Needed Myself”

Ahead of the psychological drama’s World Premiere at HollyShorts, the filmmaker discusses the personal tragedy behind the film, casting former professional boxer John Duddy, its visual language and the feature adaptation now in development. Jeremy Max’s BLEEDER began during a period when the filmmaker found himself questioning his relationship with the things he had once loved most. That introspection became the foundation for a psychological drama about … Continue reading ‘BLEEDER’ Director Jeremy Max on Turning Physical Pain Into Emotional Survival: “I Wanted to Give My Character the Win I Needed Myself”

London Flair PR Founder Catherine Lyn Scott to Host Oscar-Focused Panels at HollyShorts Film Festival

Publicist Catherine Lyn Scott will moderate industry conversations on awards strategy and Oscar qualification as part of HollyShorts’ 2026 industry programme. London Flair PR founder and publicist Catherine Lyn Scott will host two Oscar-focused industry panels at the 2026 HollyShorts Film Festival, bringing together filmmakers and industry experts to discuss awards campaigns, Academy Award qualification and navigating the road from the festival circuit to awards season. The panels … Continue reading London Flair PR Founder Catherine Lyn Scott to Host Oscar-Focused Panels at HollyShorts Film Festival

Must-See Films at HollyShorts Film Festival 2026

With more than 430 films screening at this year’s Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival (August 13–23), narrowing the lineup isn’t easy. Here are standout shorts that should be high on your watchlist: Meeting Your Maker (Dir. Gregory J.M. Kasunich | Starring Jonathan Kite, Thomas Lennon, Lenny Jacobson & The Sklar Brothers) A brilliantly original comedy with a delightfully offbeat premise, Meeting Your Maker blends big laughs with surprisingly thoughtful ideas about identity … Continue reading Must-See Films at HollyShorts Film Festival 2026

HOLLYSHORTS FEATURE – Meeting Your Maker Is an Oscar-Worthy Masterpiece of Dark Comedy

Meeting Your Maker is one of those rare short films that catches you completely off guard. What begins as an outrageous premise, a beloved children’s television puppet contemplating suicide before his 300th episode, evolves into a surprisingly profound, emotionally resonant and genuinely unforgettable meditation on creativity, purpose and self worth. Writer director Gregory JM Kasunich has crafted something wonderfully original, a film that balances razor … Continue reading HOLLYSHORTS FEATURE – Meeting Your Maker Is an Oscar-Worthy Masterpiece of Dark Comedy