The 20th anniversary of the HollyShorts Film Festival is set to honor a distinguished group of Hollywood talents, ranging from industry veterans to rising stars. The festival, which runs from August 8-18, will recognize actor Tom Skerritt, actor-director Alden Ehrenreich, director Catherine Hardwicke, and young actress Lexi Underwood.
HollyShorts will present its Luminary Award to Ehrenreich for his contributions both in front of and behind the camera. Ehrenreich’s directorial debut, “Shadow Brother Sunday,” was screened last year at HollyShorts following its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival. Ehrenreich expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am very flattered to receive this special honor. It is wonderful that HollyShorts provides a platform for emerging filmmakers and fosters a supportive community for artists in Los Angeles.”
Skerritt, whose career spans over six decades, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. His notable film credits include “MAS*H,” “Top Gun,” “Alien,” and “A River Runs Through It.” He also won an Emmy for his role in “Picket Fences.” Skerritt acknowledged the recognition from HollyShorts, stating, “I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible people throughout my career, and it all starts with the writer, the idea, and the story.”
The Visionary Award will go to Hardwicke, director of “Lords of Dogtown,” “Thirteen,” and “Twilight.” Hardwicke expressed her delight at receiving the award, emphasizing the festival’s celebration of the indie spirit of short-form filmmaking. HollyShorts will partner with the American Cinematheque for a special 35MM screening of Hardwicke’s “Lords of Dogtown” on August 18 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
Underwood, known for her role as Pearl in the Hulu series “Little Fires Everywhere,” will receive the Rising Star Award. She will next appear in “I Wish You All the Best” alongside Alexandra Daddario and Cole Sprouse. Underwood shared her gratitude, stating, “Short films are an essential medium for young actors to hone their craft, and I am grateful for the opportunity to tell stories and bring characters to life.”
HollyShorts is an Oscar-qualifying festival, with winners in four categories automatically qualifying for Oscar consideration: Best Short Film Grand Prize, Best Short Animation, Best Short Live Action, and Best Documentary Short. This year’s event will feature more than 400 films selected from over 6,100 submissions. Founded in 2005 by Theo Dumont and Daniel Sol, HollyShorts is dedicated to showcasing the best short films from around the world and advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panels and forums. Screenings will take place in person at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and virtually through the festival’s streaming platform, BITPIX.
