The Hollyshorts Film Festival withdraws all the stops of its 21st edition, assembling a range of power plants with the icon of world music Stormzy, the late Michael Madsen, Viola Davis, Stephen Fry, Idris Elba, Letitia Wright and a crowd of other A-List talents.
During August 7 to 17 in Chinese theaters TCL in Los Angeles, the festival will also broadcast worldwide via Bitpix, presenting films selected from 7,000 records in the world.
Stormzy features the “Big Man” of the Oscar winner, Aneil Karia, while Viola Davis occupies the front of the stage as a narrator of the documentary of Emmai Alaquiva “The Ebony Canal: The Story of Black Infant Health”. Idris Elba plays in the premiere of the west coast of “Victory”, the cinematic album of the Hip-Hop Slick Rick icon, with also Nas and Giggs and directed by Meji Alabi. Stephen Fry plays alongside Miriam Margolyes in “A Friend of Dorothy” by Lee Knight.
Among other marquee entries, Madsen appears in Thibaud Goarin’s “The Things We Carry”, which explores the cycle of armed violence in America. The Festival program notes the film as one of the many pressing social problems in America, including Sam Hendersen’s “teenage”, featuring Jenifer Lewis in a moving performance on school shoots and their consequences.
Letitia Wright made her director’s debut with “Highway to the Moon”, marking a major step for the acclaimed actor.
Several high -level executive producers support projects this year. Cate Blanchett Executive produced “11:11” by Mahoror Euceph, while Patty Jenkins and Chris Pine are behind “What’s the Deal with Birds” by Taylor Bakken. The management of Issa Rae produced “Grief Retreat” by Jeremie Cander, and Spike Lee supports “How I Greed to Die” by Manya Glassman.
The live weapon includes the “bulldozer” of Andrew Leeds, with an overall distribution, notably Joanna Leeds, Tim Bagley, Nat Faxon, Allen Leech, Kate Burton, Mary Steenburgen and Nick Armstrong. “Money Talk $” by Tony Mucci features David Mazouz, 24kgoldn, Fredro Starr, Tyler “Hook” Senerchia and Bo Dietl.
Among the other notable entries, let us quote the “Too Good” by Méron Alon with Jean Smart, “Under the Infinite” by Warren Fu with the winner of Tony Darren Criss and “Main Man” by John de Menil with Haley Joel Osment and Finn Witrock.
The documentary range includes “Welcome to My Roots” by Celebrity Jacket, Jeff Hamilton, directed by David Serore, who will be presented in the first opening evening in the sports category. Hamilton, known for making emblematic jackets for Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Madonna, will receive the Icon Award culture sports. The documentary presents the appearances of LeBron James, Snoop Dogg and DJ Khaled.
The animation entries include the “retirement plan” of John Kelly, told by Domhnall Gleeson, who won prices in Sxsw and Palm Springs earlier this year. The “snow bear” of the Aaron Blaise Oscars Nominés presents the 2D animation drawn by hand, while “The Whistle” by Greg Franklin, produced by Josh Gad, tells a story in Nazi Germany in 1938.
Jeremy Renner’s sincere tribute to his daughter, “Wait”, directed by Evan Hara, completes the clip selections.
As an Oscar qualification event, Hollyshorts offers an Oscars consideration in four main categories: the best short film short film, the best short animation, the best documentary short film and the best live short-act.
The festival will end with the Hollyshorts Awards gala on August 17, where the winners will be revealed.
