Trouble & the Shadowy Deathblow
HollyShorts, is unveiling details of the what it describes as its most star-studded opening night in the festival’s history, for its upcoming 10th anniversary edition which takes place on Thursday August 14 at the TCL Chinese Theater. HollyShorts opening night will feature filmmakers and talent from the most popular TV series and Feature films.
Stephanie Laing, Producer for some of the most popular shows including Veep, Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals, will premiere her short film Trouble & the Shadowy Deathblow. On hand for her big night will be the cast which includes: Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Andy Buckley (Bridesmaids), Jean Villepique (I Love You Man),Tim Baltz (Drunk History), and Frankie Faison (Banshee). Also supporting Laing’s premiere will be friends and colleagues Danny McBride, and Chris Addison (In The Loop) and other cast members from Veep and Eastbound & Down.
HollyShorts is also premiering on opening night The Visitant, a short film horror by Nick Peterson produced by Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) and co-produced Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville). Directed by Nick Peterson, The Visitant stars Amy Smart (Crank) and Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth).
The Human Voice
HollyShorts opening night will also feature Edoardo Ponti, son of legendary actress Sophia Loren, who will be presenting his short film The Human Voice starring Sophia Loren. The Human Voice, which made a splash at this years’ Cannes Film Festival, is a gripping adaptation of Jean Cocteau’s one-woman play.
Director Renny Maslow will be on hand presenting his short film Effed co-written by and starring Ethan Sandler (The Bourne Supremacy) and Adrian Wenner (Whitney). Effed! also stars Zach Braff, Ted Levine, Talia Tabin and Brian Gattas.
Director David Martin Porras will present his acclaimed short film Inside The Box, which stars Wilson Bethel (Heart of Dixie) and Regina King. The film is Executive Produced by Pau Brunet.
These new additions to the HollyShorts opening night will join the previously announced: Alumni brothers Joe and Anthony Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) who are receiving the HollyShorts Visionary Award. The fest will premiere Luke Wilson’s Award-winning short film Satellite Beach, which follows the unique journey of the Endeavor space shuttle as it travels through the streets of LA and the final move of the Atlantis space shuttle to the Kennedy Space Center. The King of Indie Animation Bill Plympton will receive the HollyShorts Animation Indie Icon Award on opening night and premiere his short film Footprints and he will show a clip from his new animated feature film Cheatin’ which is being released theatrical in Los Angeles that weekend. The Russo’s will be showing a 10-minute exhilarating clip from Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
“In just a few year’s I’ve seen HollyShorts explode to become one of the biggest and best showcases of short form content in the world and I’m delighted to have the 10th anniversary celebration kick off with such a star-studded and fun lineup of movies,” said Managing Director Nicole Castro. “It’s going to be an epic 10 days of HollyShorts. We have filmmakers coming from all continents, and over 400 movies being presented, a festival record, we can’t wait!”