The much-awaited HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF) has unveiled its esteemed 2023 Jury, and it’s nothing short of a star-studded lineup! Comprising eighteen acclaimed industry professionals, this year’s jury will play a pivotal role in determining the prestigious HollyShorts award-winners, including four films that will qualify for the coveted Academy Awards®.
The festival, which is Oscar®-qualifying, has selected an impressive array of films for its 2023 edition, with 402 remarkable works set to grace the silver screen. What’s even more remarkable is the festival’s commitment to diversity, with 43.3% of the films being from female filmmakers and 30.5% from BIPOC filmmakers.
Among the illustrious names on this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival jury is the talented Oscar®-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, known for his exceptional performance in “12 Years a Slave.” Joining him are other industry luminaries like Sam Worthington, Zoey Deutch, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Whitehouse, and Christina Chong. The jury also includes Nelu Handa, the showrunner of “Run the Burbs,” and Academy® Award winner Jaime Ray Newman, renowned for her work in “Skin.”
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Zoey Deutch
The jury’s roster further boasts Tom Berkeley and Ross White, who clinched an OSCAR® for their outstanding film “AN IRISH GOODBYE.” Also, the jury is graced by 2022 Academy Award® Winner Aneil Karia (“The Long Goodbye”), and the 2023 OSCAR® nominees Pamela Ribbon (“My Year of Dicks”) and Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis (“The Flying Sailor”). Notably, returning for another year is the double OSCAR® winner and animation guru Joanna Quinn (“Affairs of the Art”), Academy Award® winner Alice Doyard (“Colette”), and 2023 OSCAR® nominee Joshua Seftel (“Stranger at the Gate”).
The HollyShorts Film Festival jury also includes esteemed industry professionals such as Variety journalist K.J. Yossman, IndieWire’s Executive Editor & Chief Critic Eric Kohn, and Awards Daily’s Joey Moser. Céline Roustan from Short of the Week, along with journalists Sandro Monetti and Zorianna Kit, will also lend their expertise to the jury’s deliberations.
Adding further credibility to the jury are Alexander Shekarchian, Ari Tan, Fanshen Cox, George Valentin Burcea, Jennifer Bertling, Jake Mitchell, Joel Walden, JT Mollner, Juliet Berman, Kalani Dreimanis, Lauren Bixby, Leah Philpott, Rakhee Morzaria, SJ Main Muñoz, Vivian Lin, Yulissa Morales-Silva, and Zach Cox.
Mark your calendars for this year’s hybrid celebration of short films, taking place from August 10 to August 20 at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. The festival will also offer virtual screenings through the official festival streaming platform, BITPIX, allowing global audiences to participate in the cinematic extravaganza.
Don’t miss the chance to witness the best of short filmmaking and join the excitement of the annual awards gala on August 20th, as the HollyShorts Film Festival brings together creative brilliance from around the world.
