The 5th annual edition of the Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival (HCSFF) will feature over 30 screenplays in competition as well as 130 comedic short films in various forms like Rom Coms, Dark Comedy, Web Series, Horror Comedy, Cringe, Spoof, among others. From the organizers behind the Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, HCSFF will be virtual on Bitpix from December 11-18, 2020 and include screenings, filmmaker Q&As, panels, and a virtual awards gala.
Filmmakers will learn about the state of the industry and how to leverage their shorts to break out in comedy with the Opening Day Panel that features Emmy-nominated writer/director Ruth Pickett, The Righteous Gemstones’ James DuMont, writer Winter Tekenos-Levy (Schitt’s Creek), executive producers of Comedy Central’s YouTube series “Dope Movies” Pedro and Ramiro Castro, with moderator and Digital LA Founder Kevin Winston.
“Entertainment and especially comedy is more important than ever,” said HCSFF organizers Daniel Sol, Theo Dumont, and Nicole Castro in a joint statement. “We knew we wanted to bring back the festival however we could in order to build up our incredibly funny filmmakers and also bring some joy at the end of this unique year. Through Bitpix, audiences from around the world can enjoy these comedic shorts from the comfort of their quarantined homes.”
Some stand out comedies include: BEGINNER’S LUCK directed by Casey Feigh (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) starring Lauren Lapkus (Orange is the New Black), Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds), Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live), and Mary Holland (Happiest Season) who also appears in SUNDAY DINNER directed by Kevin Mead; Lauren Lapkus is also featured in in J.J. Shpall’s DATE NITE with Larry Hankin (El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie) and Josh Brener (The Internship); D.B. Sweeney‘s TWO DUM MICKS stars Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings); Amy Seimetz (Pet Sematary) and Max Silvestri (Big Mouth) star in Gates Bradley’s HIS & HERZOG; HollyShorts’ 2020 Best Comedy Winner Chelsea Devantez is back with her award-winning short BASIC starring Nelson Franklin (Veep) and Georgia Mischak (The Good Place); FUNNY TWEETS directed by Laurie McGuinness features Andy Richter (Madagascar) and Alec Sulkin (Family Guy); Brian VanHooker’s THE TRAMP starring John O’Hurley (Seinfeld) and Godfrey (Soul Plane). Sophie Simpson’s web series LOOP GROUP starring Wendie Malick (Waiting…), Ed Begley Jr. (Pineapple Express), and Laraine Newman (Coneheads).
Fresh from their HollyShorts run is Oliver Ponce’s LOUEY & BRI TV starring Luis Guzmán (Traffic) and Bri Smith (Curb Your Enthusiasm) as well as Parks and Recreation’s Alison Becker’s A$$ LEVEL; Alysse Leite-Rogers’ TIPPED starring Fiona Vroom (Powers Rangers), Beverley Elliott (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Teryl Rothery (Stargate SG-1); Hana Mae Lee (Pitch Perfect), Betsy Sodaro (Hubie Halloween), and John Ennis (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) star in Rhyan Schwartz’s ARTISTA OBSCURA; Chad McCord’s F.Y.D. starring John Larroquette (Night Court); A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE INTERVIEW directed by Terence Digan starring Christy St. John (Duels) and Colombian model Julieth Restrepo (Loving Pablo); Matthew Evans Landry’s RE: POSSESSED HOMES horror comedy with Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black) and Alanna Bale (Cardinal); Frankie Shaw (SMILF) and Ryan Eggold (BlacKkKlansman) star in PHONE STACK directed by Cami Delavigne; and Hart of Dixie’s Kaitlyn Black stars in RELATIONSHIP DELI directed by Ian Van der Werff.