The 21st HollyShorts Film Festival returns this summer with an all-star jury, lighting up Hollywood from August 7-17 at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatres.
Some of the high-profile names who will adjudicate this year’s selection include Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice, Zero Dark Thirty), Essie Davis (The Babadook, Babyteeth), Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey, After Life), Lewis Tan (Deadpool 2, Cobra Kai), Jake Lacy (The White Lotus, The Office), Mena Suvari (American Beauty, RZR), Catherine Curtin (Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things), Yeardley Smith (The Simpsons), Andrea Bang (Kim’s Convenience), Bradley James (Merlin, Damien), director Adam Graves who was a 2025 Oscar nominee for his live-action short Anuja, and director Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Lords of Dogtown) who was last year’s recipient of HollyShort’s Visionary Award.
Winners of HollyShorts awards in four key categories earn automatic Oscar qualification: Best Short Film Grand Prize, Best Animated Short, Best Live Action Short, and Best Documentary Short.
Founded in 2005, HollyShorts has grown into one of the world’s leading platforms for short-form cinema, championing bold, diverse storytelling across an array of genres and artistic styles. This year’s edition promises to be the greatest yet, with over 400 films set to make their mark from a record breaking 7,000 submissions.
Among the other names to join the esteemed jury are Ward Bond (journalist), Matthew Carey (journalist), Cecilia Delgado (filmmaker), Sonia Gumuchian (writer), Aimee La Joie (actor), Sharon Lawrence (actor), Abi Leiff (actor), Kris Mercado (director), Caroline Monnet (filmmaker), Sandro Monetti (journalist), Joey Moser (journalist), Krishna Naik (producer), Leah N.H. Philpott (actor), Colby Schinto (NBA Agent), Weiman Seid (publicist), Sarah Stunt (actor), Amelia Tyler (actor), and Rahmin Zahed (journalist).
HollyShorts is devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panels and forums. The festival showcases the top short films produced in 40 minutes or less.
This year’s hybrid celebration of short films will take place in person, with screenings at the world-renowned TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and virtually through the official festival streaming platform, Bitpix TV. The festival opens on August 7 and will culminate in the Awards Gala on August 17, where the winners will be announced.
“I’m honoured to join the HollyShorts jury this year. This festival is a celebration of bold creativity and the power of storytelling in its most distilled and impactful form.” – Dame Penelope Wilton
“I’m thrilled to join the jury at HollyShorts, a festival that champions emerging voices, and storytelling at its most inventive.” – Jennifer Ehle
“Knowing the blood, sweat and multiple favours called in to bring these projects to fruition; makes it even more of an honour to be a judge for Hollyshorts this year. I must confess I won’t be watching these films with the cold detachment of a judge but as an enthusiastic fan, wide-eyed and caffeinated, eager to learn from the terrific talent on display.” – Bradley James
“I’m excited to take part in the HollyShorts jury this year – a festival that honors the artistry and innovation of short films and the filmmakers behind them.” – Jake Lacy
“I’m so honored to be a part of this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival. Not only is it a wonderful festival that provides so much opportunity across the board, but I’m so happy to be able to support the incredible, trailblazing talent that emerges from such a medium.” – Mena Suvari
The full list of jurors in alphabetical order are:
Andrea Bang
Ward Bond
Matthew Carey
Catherine Curtin
Essie Davis
Cecilia Delgado
Jennifer Ehle
Adam Graves
Sonia Gumuchian
Catherine Hardwicke
Anthony Head
Celia Imrie
Bradley James
Aimee La Joie
Jake Lacy
Abi Leiff
Kris Mercado
Caroline Monnet
Sandro Monetti
Joey Moser
Krushan Naik
Lean N.H. Philpott
Colby Schinto
Weiman Seid
Yeardley Smith
Sarah Stunt
Mena Suvari
Lewis Tan
Amelia Tyler
Penelope Wilton
Rahmin Zahed
Bloody Flicks 