Once a year, we get the best of the best in short films, all in one place. With hundreds of films over ten days, an absolute feast of some of the most talented filmmakers in the medium will be showing off their work to the world. Opening Night is one of the biggest of those ten days of screenings, with major stars debuting films and some of the most talked about projects getting their chance to shine. What comes below is just five of the many incredible films from opening night, as a preview and an incomplete summary of what’s in store. In addition, check below the film recaps for an interview with filmmaker Meron Alon, whose film Too Good was a big part of the opening night program and will continue to make waves throughout. Thanks for joining us for another wonderful festival! Tickets for any future days can be found here with films also screening on streaming platform BitPix after their screenings in case you missed anything.
OPENING NIGHT PROGRAM
Em and Selma Go Griffin Hunting – A gorgeous black and white film, it stars Milly Shapiro and Pollyanna McIntosh as a mother-daughter duo looking to go through the women’s rite of passage in this world, which includes killing a griffin, a morphed, tainted version of the beasts of fantasy legend that now have more of a resemblance to vultures than what we know from myth. Killing one is a trial of womanhood in this world, with Selma (McIntosh) trying to prepare her daughter Em (Shapiro) for when the times comes, accompanying her on her hunt and knowing that they can’t come back until its completion. The film itself is beautiful, with excellent creature effects and some incredible world building by the cast, crew and especially writer/director Alexander Thompson.
Too Good – Lil’ Rel Howery and Jean Smart star in this Meron Alon film that sees Howery play Michael, a man who recently passed away and is sent into the entry line of heaven to meet God (Smart). This becomes an interrogation into whether or not he’s good enough for entry into the great afterlife, with a series of questions that get more and more personal and embarrassing. It’s very silly and fun, with great performances from Smart and Howery. Also, casting Jean Smart to play God is just a good idea.
Road Kill – Ryan Farhoudi writes and directs this short film that stars Skylar Gisondo and Jonthan Tucker, focusing on Adam, a good guy who’s just looking to get to his destination on a desolate highway. With nothing in front of or behind him it seems, he stumbles upon something on the side of the road that will change his life forever. It’s a tense and gripping film that feels like the realization of a nightmare for so many, both in the isolation of the road and in what Adam finds. It’s some great work by all involved.
Rise – Starring Tongayi Chirisa and Sikhanyiso Ngwenya, this inspiring story is based on a true one, as a young boy, abandoned by the world around him and assaulted by those who do know of him, meets an self-isolated boxing coach. After being beaten up and robbed by the neighborhood boys yet again, Rise (Ngwenya) enlists the help of Tobias, known only as ‘Coach’ to the young boy, with Tobias teaching Rise the ways of boxing and self-defense, the two of them forming an unbreakable bond along the way. It’s a gorgeous and beautiful film by Jessica J. Rowlands, and is sure to bring tears to the eyes of many , as well as fill their hearts with joy.
Big Man – Michael “Stormzy” Omari, acclaimed musician and rapper, stars in this Aneil Karia film about Tenzman, a rapper whose star has faded, who finds himself building a friendship with two local kids. After initially trying to scam him, Tenzman ends up forming a bit of a bond with Klevis (Klevis Brahja) and Tyrell (Jaydon Eastman). It’s a great debut for Omari, and the duo of Brahja and Eastman are terrific together, showing great chemistry as two close friends.
That’s it for opening night! Be sure to read below for an interview with Meron Alon! It was wonderful to get to speak with them. And check back every day until the end of the festival for more films, interviews and news!
What inspired you to make films?
I’ve always been drawn to the gray areas – questions we don’t like to ask ourselves, feelings we don’t quite know how to name. A lot of my work lives at that edge of discomfort, where something just beneath the surface wants to be seen. I’ve explored topics like class guilt/resentment, climate anxiety, and monogamy, but the common thread is an interest in challenging assumptions and reframing the way we look at ourselves. For me, filmmaking starts as a personal excavation, trying to understand my own reactions and biases honestly, and then using storytelling as a way to ask those same questions out loud.
What message were you trying to communicate with this film?
In Too Good, a man who’s just died (played by Lil Rel Howery) finds himself at the gates of heaven, where God (played by Jean Smart) asks him a series of pointed questions about his behavior on Earth. She’s trying to decide if he’s “good enough” to get in.
To me, the film is almost like an interactive experience. As the questions unfold, the audience is invited to answer each question themselves — whether they’ve done these so-called “bad” things – and reflect on their own choices. And I think, for most people, the honest answer is yes: at some point, we’ve all fallen short.
The message? In a time when people like to point fingers at others, Too Good is a reminder that none of us are in fact perfect. We’re all works in progress – and maybe part of being “good” is being willing to take a closer look.
What kind of challenges did you face when making this film?
We shot the film on a soundstage in L.A., with the Gates of Heaven environment created through visual effects. Because we’re a small, indie production, we had to be strategic – VFX shots with lots of extras or complex camera movement can get expensive fast. So one of the biggest challenges was balancing ambition with practicality: making the world feel expansive while staying within our budget.
How does it feel to be a part of this year’s HollyShorts?
It’s such an honor to premiere at Hollyshorts! The festival is known for showing boundary-pushing work so we feel like it’s the perfect place to share Too Good. I hope being part of this lineup helps us reach the kinds of collaborators and champions who connect with this type of offbeat humor.
What’s next for you?
A feature-length expansion of the short is developed and is ready for the marketplace. It’s a whimsical, colorful comedy that further explores the age-old question: “What does it mean to be a good person”? I’m also working on a really fun, dark comedy series that explores all the sexual taboos we’re not supposed to talk about.
BITPIX TV News 