EXCLUSIVE: Some high-profile jurors will be selecting winners for the 20th edition of the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival.
Among those on board to adjudicate for the festival, which runs from August 8-18 at the TLC Chinese Theater in Hollywood: Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, upcoming Superman movie); Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka, Rent); Tyrese Gibson (Fast & Furious franchise); Matthew Modine (Oppenheimer, Full Metal Jacket); David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil); actor-director Alex Winter (Zappa, Bill & Ted Face The Music); Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog, Maude); Danny Pino (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Cold Case); Josh Hamilton (Reality, The House of Yes); Peter Macon (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Orville); Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel), Sarah Shahi (Red, White & Royal Blue, Black Adam); Jon Huertas (This Is Us, Castle); Samuel Arnold (Emily in Paris), among others. [Scroll for complete list of jurors]
Former NBA great Metta Sandiford-Artest (Metta World Peace) will serve as head of the jury for HollyShorts’ Sports section, a new category this year. Also serving on the Sports jury will be Emmy Award-winning producer Jessica Badawi and NBA agent Colby Schinto.
HollyShorts/Matthew Carey
Winners of HollyShorts awards in four categories automatically qualify for Oscar consideration: Best Short Film Grand Prize, Best Short Animation, Best Short Live Action, and Best Documentary Short.
“From over 6,100 entries, over 400 films form this year’s anniversary program,” HollyShorts said in a release. “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.”
The festival notes that it 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.”
Actor-producer Mehrdad Sarlak signs a poster at the HollyShorts Film Festival.
Matthew Carey
Among other jurors slated to participate in the 20th anniversary HollyShorts are several with Oscar credentials: Alice Doyard, producer of the Oscar-winning short documentary Colette, Joshua Seftel (Oscar nominee for Stranger at the Gate), Misan Harriman (Oscar nominated for The After), and Student Academy Award winner Omer Ben-Shachar.
Deadline’s Awardsline chief Joe Utichi will participate as a HollyShorts juror and (full disclosure), so will I.
This is the full list of jurors in alphabetical order:
Samuel Arnold
Jessica Badawi
Adrienne Barbeau
Omer Ben-Shachar
Ryan Black
Rachel Brosnahan
Matt Carey
David Dastmalchian
Rosario Dawson
Alice Doyard
Kalani Dreimanis
Tyrese Gibson
Josh Hamilton
Misan Harriman
Tricia Helfer
Jon Huertas
Michelle Krusiec
Jennice Lee
Peter Macon
Katherine McNamara
Sandro Monetti
Joe Moser
Danny Pino
Adam Rackoff
Rosa Salazar
Metta Sandiford-Artest
Colby Schinto
Joshua Seftel
Sarah Shahi
Lio Tipton
Joe Utichi
Alex Winter
Ramin Zahed