‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ & ‘The Singers’ Lead HollyShorts UK Awards as Festival Accelerates Global Growth

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 … Continue reading ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ & ‘The Singers’ Lead HollyShorts UK Awards as Festival Accelerates Global Growth

REVIEW: Where Beauty Turns to Dread: The Haunting Power of SKIN

In SKIN, writer-director Urvashi Pathania delivers a haunting, emotionally resonant short that cuts deep into the psychological toll of colorism and the pursuit of self-worth. Following its world premiere at Fantasia, the film makes a striking US debut at the 2025 HollyShorts Film Festival, standing out as a searing blend of genre and cultural critique. The story follows a young Indian American woman who accompanies … Continue reading REVIEW: Where Beauty Turns to Dread: The Haunting Power of SKIN

REVIEW: In the Quiet Corners of Childhood: RECESSES Confronts the Pain We Can’t See

Dylan Trupiano’s Recesses is a profoundly moving short film that offers a poignant and intricately layered exploration of hidden childhood trauma, delicately navigating the complex intersection of pain and repression. The story centers on Sherry (Solia Cates), a compassionate school secretary who stays behind with Bailey (Charles John Wilson), a young student disciplined for creating an “inappropriate” drawing. As their time together unfolds within the … Continue reading REVIEW: In the Quiet Corners of Childhood: RECESSES Confronts the Pain We Can’t See

REVIEW: Hannah Rose Ammon’s WE DO OUR BEST Captures a Mother-Daughter Bond in Flux

Making its debut at the 21st HollyShorts Film Festival, Hannah Rose Ammon’s WE DO OUR BEST is a sharply observed, emotionally nuanced short that navigates the fragile balance between protection and independence with striking authenticity. Set over one transformative night in New York City, the film reflects on the tender contradictions of growing-up for both sides of a mother-daughter relationship. Inspired by a formative night from writer-director … Continue reading REVIEW: Hannah Rose Ammon’s WE DO OUR BEST Captures a Mother-Daughter Bond in Flux

HOLLYSHORTS SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Julia Weisberg Cortés – Director of BOYFIGHTER

BOYFIGHTER feels deeply personal and emotionally charged. What was the initial spark for this story, and how did it evolve into a short film? I was walking through New York City in July 2024, coming up on the one-year anniversary of my brother’s passing. I remember feeling incredibly heavy; emotional in a way I couldn’t quite contain. Tears welled up, but I have this thing … Continue reading HOLLYSHORTS SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Julia Weisberg Cortés – Director of BOYFIGHTER