The 19th edition of the HollyShorts Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying festival, is taking place this year from August 10th to the 20th both in-person at the TCL Chinese Theaters in Hollywood and streaming via Bitpix TV. This is quite honestly one of my favorite festivals each year, not only for the wild amount of official selections, but for the intriguing balance of star-powered projects and newcomers alike. It has a little bit of everything, from PSAs to animation, non-fiction dives to fictional creativity that shows just what these filmmakers can do.

Here are the top selections that I am looking forward to this year:

Death & Ramen

This just sounds incredibly funny and insightful. Bobby Lee is a ramen chef who fails to commit suicide and ends up discussing life with the Grim Reaper. Would it work as a feature film? Probably not, but as a short it has promise.

Fat Girl

Makez Rikweda’s film focuses on a young girl experiencing the pressures of her peers to meet society’s version of desirable looks. The short trailer was intriguing and looked edgy.

Last Call

Starring Tom Holland (sold) and directed by his brother Harry, Last Call premiered at Tribeca and follows a mother attempting to reconnect with her son. It is said to focus on mental health, so sign me up.

Shadow Brother Sunday

A film that also premiered at Tribeca, Alden Ehrenreich wrote this short, directed it, and stars as young musician who attends his younger brother’s movie premiere with the intent to steal and sell his computer to the paparazzi. Interesting enough and I’m a big Ehrenreich fan.

The Shepherd

A short film heading to Disney+ and based on the novella by Frederick Forsyth, this stars John Travolta and Ben Radcliffe. It tells of a pilot who gets lost over the sea and needs a miracle to get home.

Villain

Bella Ramsey stars as an orphan who heads to a creatures lair to get revenge after it destroyed her home, but she discovers more “than she bargained for.” Okay, say less.

Check back here throughout the festival for the latest reviews!