It’s gone by fast, but we’re nearing the end of the 21st annual HollyShorts Film Festival. With only two more days (including this one) remaining, there’s still a lot to enjoy as multiple blocks will be screening today; Student, Social Impact, VFX, UK Spotlight, and rounding it off with Romance. For those unable to attend in person, the films will be streaming on BitPix following their in-person screening, and anyone looking to close out the show face to face can get tickets here! All the films from this incredible HollyShorts Film Festival will be available soon, so be on the lookout for all previously screened films on the platform. And be sure to keep reading to check out an interview with today’s highlighted filmmaker, Izzy Shill! It was lovely to get to chat with them. And now, on to today’s films!
STUDENT
What If We Could Stay – Director Stephen Steelman and writer Sasha Das bring forth one of the most emotionally impactful films of the festival with their entry, which stars Jillian Bell and Gloria Cole. It sees Bell play Sam, or inhabit the body of Sam, as Bell’s true character is that of an being that enters the body of a person as they get blackout drunk, inhabiting them through their intoxication until they sober up a bit and move on to the next. Having no idea what is really happening, Sam eventually meets a fellow being inside the body of a woman named Grace, the two of them bonding as Grace guides Sam through this experience, helping her to understand what is happening. It’s a fascinating concept that brings about more questions than answers, but is so heartfelt that it still feels impactful throughout. Really well done, and Bell is excellent in the leading role.
SOCIAL IMPACT
The Truck – Elizabeth Rao’s short film about a young couple in crisis after sex is one that really sets a tone for how important the availability of choice can be. Jo (Shirley Chen), a Chinese-American teen and her young boyfriend Arash (Daniel Zolghadri) find themselves in need of either a pregnancy test or the morning after pill in a small town, post-Roe v. Wade. With options limited, the two teens ask Mason (Garrett Richmond), the first adult they see for help because they’re underage, leading to some rash and dangerous decision making from the two in order to get something that could have been available in a world where a woman’s body wasn’t so heavily regulated. This film’s message is incredibly important, because it shows how perilous it can be for women to get the care they needs in terms of reproductive health, and the lengths some will go when safer options aren’t available. This is especially true for young people, as not having a safe avenue can lead them to be impulsive and scared, leading them to be taken advantage of in traumatic or potentially harmful ways.
VFX
Houston, We Have A Crush – Omer Ben-Shachar directs this film that was written by them and Jen Kim that tells the heartbreaking story of Ditto, a bird-like alien creature (played by Sam Hunphrey) who finds an astronaut’s misplaced phone, and after figuring out how to manipulate it, develops a crush on the mysterious space man (played by Ben Rigby) after going through the phone and finding photos and other media of him. It’s an absurd and silly story that takes a very emotional turn when the astronaut comes back for his device and isn’t the person that Ditto came to believe through their look into the life of the astronaut. There’s so much to love about this film, and the emotional resonance of finding out someone you were infatuated with isn’t who you make them out to be in your mind is a relatable one.
UK SPOTLIGHT
22 + 1 – Pippa Bennett-Warner directs this film, which was written by Bennett-Warner, along with Pippa Vosper and Kefi Chadwick about something very important but often overlooked; the tribulations of black women when it comes to pregnancy and carrying a child. An inordinate amount of black and brown women face health complications during pregnancy in comparison to white women, and are often treated less fairly by the medial establishment, something highlighted in this film. Starring Bennett-Warner and Harry Lloyd as mixed-race couple Ruby and Will, it’s a powerful and heartbreaking film about struggle, loss, and how some are treated in comparison to others, the effects of which are on full display.
ROMANCE
Piggy At The Pool Party – Karim Saleh, Sofia Di Biasio, Diana Irvine and Josh Margolin star in Izzy Shill’s film about seduction, manipulation and viciousness when a couple (Saleh and Di Biasio) arrive at a friend’s pool party with their young daughter Piggy (Isadora Marconi), greeted by their friend and host (Margolin) and his longtime friend and crush (Irvine). As the party progresses, the vibes get real weird as subtle games are played by the couple with and against one another, ensnaring others in the process. It’s a fascinating film that is engrossing, uncomfortable and utterly captivating.
That’ll do it for the penultimate day of screenings! Be sure to check out the films after their blocks on BitPix as they join our previous films. And thanks again to Izzy Shill for taking the time out for a quick interview! Take a look below! We’ll see you tomorrow for coverage of the final day of the festival!
What inspired you to make films?
I started out as a dancer and actor. I loved performing. The intimacy I had with my characters was like jet fuel to me. After many years focused on acting, I turned to writing and directing and found that I could source the same energy from these other crafts. Today, I love to combine all three.
What message were you trying to communicate with this film?
This is inspired by a real party I attended. I met a married couple who brought their daughters to a BBQ where there were only adults. I was in another country and most people were from all differently parts of the world, removing any assumed cultural norms. Lines became blurry and I felt that I’d been drawn into a game of cat and mouse that I didn’t understand or consent to. I wanted to make a film where I leaned into the murkiness of the afternoon, where very few questions are answered and intentions are unclear. I’m really curious to see how the project is received by audiences!
What kind of challenges did you face when making this film?
Plenty! I’m not going to put them in print, though. We’re really happy with the final product.
How does it feel to be a part of this year’s HollyShorts?
Super exciting! It’s my first time playing the festival and I can’t wait to connect with the community!
What’s next for you?
I’m currently packaging my second feature that’s a British Christmas Rom Com!
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