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Jamie Lee Curtis, Zoe Saldana, Thomasin McKenzie: Annual Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival celebrates their 20th anniversary

Zoe Saldana, Thomasin McKenzie, Jamie Lee Curtis: Annual Oscar-Qualifying® HollyShorts Film Festival celebrates their 20th anniversary

The Oscar® Qualifying HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL returns for its much-anticipated 20th edition from August 8-18, 2024.

From over 6000 entries, over 400 films form this year’s anniversary program.

This Friday, July 12, HollyShorts will share the entire 2024 selection on YouTube.

Last year, the Academy® granted the festival their 4th OSCAR®-qualifying award for Documentary Short Film, this accolade joined their other three top awards, Best Short Film Grand Prize, Best Short Animation and Best Short Live Action. The winners of these awards will be eligible for consideration for a 2025 Academy® Award.

HollyShorts has also launched an inaugural Sports category with NBA Champion, Metta World Peace as the head judge, he is also a producer of a film to be premiered on opening night called, “With Love Charlie”. The festival’s sports category is led by producer Jessica Badawi and will include work from former NBA player and champion Matt Barnes premiering his documentary “Black Mark”, an episode from the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks series “The Sound of the Seahawks”, “The Syd & TP Show” with WNBA stars Theresa Plaisance and Sydney Colson, the show is produced exclusively by TOGETHXR, a media and commerce company founded by four of the world’s greatest athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Sim, Simone Manuel and Sue Bidr. Also joining this new category will be Red Bull Media House’s “Life of Kai”  featuring ESPY award winner Kai Lenny and “Race and Surf” from Selema Masakela, NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies “Marc Gasol: Memphis Made”, “ESPN 30 for 30” and two documentaries from the Italian powerhouse soccer team AC Milan including “Roots-Bennacer”.

Some of the documentary short films selected for the 20th edition include “Alok” directed by Alex Hedison and executive produced by Jodie Foster, “The Final Copy of Ilon Specht” directed by two-time Academy® Award winner Ben Proudfoot, Benjamin Alfonsi’s “Whitney Houston in Focus”, John Beder’s “How to Sue the Klan” and “XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture” directed by Ferne Pearlstein and produced by Trevor Noah.

The star-studded live-action short film entries include “How Can I Help You” directed by Eliza Scanlen and starring Thomasin McKenzie, Marco Perego’s “Dovecote” with Zoe Saldana, “Dammi” starring Riz Ahmed and Isabelle Adjani, Ken Cheng’s “Summons” starring Jimmy O. Yang and Alexandra Shipp, “Midnight” from  legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike, Louisa Connolly-Burnham’s “Sister Wives” featuring BAFTA Rising Star Award winner Mia McKenna-Bruce, “Hearts of Stone” with Noomi Rapace and Jessica Barden, “French” directed by Dylan Joseph and produced by OSCAR® nominee Kobi Mizrahi, “Vlog” starring and directed by Yvonne Strahovski in her directorial debut,  “Edge of Space” directed by OSCAR® nominee Jean de Meuron, Russell Goldman’s “Burn Out” produced by Academy® Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis, “Fall Risk” featuring Victoria Pedretti, directed by Alex Martini, and produced by Bella Thorne, and Jim Cummings’ “Pretty Sad”, Yasmin Afifi’s BAFTA winning JELLYFISH AND LOBSTER and  Tom Stuart’s GOOD BOY starring Ben Whishaw  also join this fantastic lineup.

Among the animated short film entries are Nadia Hallgren and Jamie-James Medina’s “The Brown Dog” with voice performances by Steve Buscemi and the late Michael K. Williams, Paul Shammasian’s “An Angel on Oxford Street” narrated by Christopher Eccleston, “Play Again” directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Zen Pace, voiced by Benjamin Bratt and Eric Briche’s “Volcelest”.

Notable music videos include Shania Twain’s “Giddy Up!” and Nikki Lorenzo’s “Lista,  directed by Bianca Poletti and starring Academy® Award nominee John Hawkes.

Additional noteworthy selections include Bella Thorne’s “Unsettled” featuring Chris Zylka, Eli Newman’s “Concrete” starring Ed Harris and Sophia Ali, Mackenzie Davis’ directorial debut “Woaca”, “If Not Now, When?” starring Kate Dickie, Hanna Gray Organschi’s “Merci, Poppy” with Victoria Pedretti, Danielle Baynes’ “The Dog” starring Kate Walsh, Francesca Scorsese’s “Fish Out of Water”, Richie Keen’s “The Grievance” with Rosie O’Donnell and Kevin Pollack, Mika Simmons’ “My Week with Maisy” starring Joanna Lumley, Annie Girard’s “One in the Chamber” starring Wilson Bethel, Hector Prats’ “Heaven is Nobody’s” starring Roger Guenveur Smith, Michael Perez-Lindsey’s “Will I See You Again?” featuring  Richard Lawson, Blake Winston Rice’s “Tea”, co-directors Brit Crawshaw and Josh Hayward’s “Female Captive” starring Pauline Chalamet, Academy Award winner’s Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton’s Slick Films selected shorts include Rhys Chapman’s “Ryan Can’t Read” and Elizabeth Peace’s “The Golden Boy”, Benjamin Verrall’s “Shouting at the Sea” starring Harry Michell, Maia Scalia’s “His Mother”, Ethan Kuperberg’s “Paper Towels” starring Josh Brener, and “Swollen” directed by Roxy Sorkin.

HollyShorts 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.

To view the full list of official selections visit  http://www.hollyshorts.com

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.

HollyShorts screenings will take place from August 8-18th at TCL Chinese Theatres, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., 3rd Level, Hollywood, CA, 90028, followed by the annual awards gala on August 18th.

For additional information and tickets visit https://hollyshorts2024.eventive.org/passes/buy

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Award-Winning Horror Hit “Soul Trader” Screens in LA for Calabasas Film Fest Sept 21, Susan Dynner, Shauna Grace in-person

Award-Winning  Horror Hit “Soul Trader” Screens in Los Angeles Calabasas Film Fest Sept 21 1pm.

Award-winning short film The Soul Trader returns to Los Angeles to be screened as part of Calabasas Film Fest on Saturday September 21 at 1pm.

The Soul Trader is a 12 minute short proof of concept for a feature or series directed by Susan Dynner (Brick, Punk’s Not Dead, Code Blue: A Love Story) and starring Shauna Grace (Real Housewives…, Vanderpump Rules), Shane West (A Walk to Remember, ER, The Dirty South), Donna Mills (Knots Landing, Nope, Origin).

The story follows Coral Chase (Shauna Grace), an occult hitwoman who has the power to steal life-extending souls, which she then sells to vain, wealthy elites like Erica Claessen (Donna Mills), who clings to the crumbs of youth. She’s flanked by stoic bodyguard Damien (Shane West), who ultimately emerges from the shadows as her rival when she’s about to carry out a money-spinning hit at a target’s home and realizes she’s not the only one with murder in mind.

“We’re excited that the audience is falling in love with this story and

a strong female lead.

I want to keep sharing this story with audiences everywhere”

Director / Producer Susan Dynner

 

The short film launched at the Cannes Film Festival’s American Pavilion in May and has been gaining momentum ever since.  

It won its first award just weeks later at the Manhattan Film Festival in NYC. Then more acclaim at Rock The Shorts in Beverly Hills and DC Shorts in Washington, DC, one of the country’s largest short film festivals.

Now it’s set to screen at many more festivals on the West Coast, East Coast and across the globe.

“I’m proud this project is inspiring so many women.

We meet people after every screening, women who are excited by the Coral characters.

Playing the role of Coral, working with our cast and crew has been incredible.

But the biggest thanks is the reaction from the audience. 

Getting to meet people who are excited and inspired by the story and characters.”

Actress / Executive Producer Shauna Grace

 

Meanwhile the filmmaking duo Susan Dynner and Shauna Grace are busy taking meetings toward their next step.

What is their next step?

 

“This was always meant as a proof of concept short film to become a feature film or TV series. 

With the sold-out screenings and awards, it just confirms our feeling that this story is so much bigger than a short.”

Susan Dynner

 

Actress Shauna Grace has been receiving strong reviews, comparing her on screen presence to other heroines including Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson.

Dynner’s experience as a studio development executive for visionaries such as Richard Donner and Wolfgang Peterson shines through.  Also, her producing work on Sundance hit “Brick” and festival darling “Punks Not Dead” shows her ability to bring production value on a range of budgets.

Both Dynner and Grace will attend their Calabasas Film Festival screening on Saturday September 21 at 1pm and be available afterwards to discussion.

The Soul Trader is directed and produced by Dynner, written by newcomer Mike Underwood, photographed by Matthias Schubert (The Door Man, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, Shelter in Solitude), produced by Lauren Bancroft (The Making of Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles, Wild Bitch, Bite Size Halloween), edited by David Hopper (God Bless America, In Between Songs, Rust Creek), and executive produced by Shauna Grace, with music composed by Jeff Russo (Fargo, Ripley, Star Trek: Discovery).

See The Soul Trader at Calabasas Film Festival on Saturday September 21, 2024 at 1pm.  Tix available here: https://calabasasfilmfestival.com/session/shorts-program/

 

 

Los Angeles Halloween Event List 2024 :Freakiest, Scariest, Tastiest (Updated)

Los Angeles’ Freakiest, Scariest, Tastiest, Halloween Event List 2024 (Updated)

Our guide to Halloween 2024 in Los Angeles has you covered with the best treats, the most inspiring costumes and the best neighborhoods for fun, frights and memorable nights.

Los Angeles Halloween Event List 2024

Los Angeles Halloween: Universal Studios’  Halloween Horror Nights

8 Terrifying Haunted Houses

 

From cinematic greats and crazed cult favorites to the park’s original abominations, enter mind ripping haunted houses inspired by the biggest names in horror.

Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse

Terrifying Blumhouse characters have taken over the Terror Tram. Face the murderous android M3GAN. The Grabber. And more.

 

4 Sinister Scare Zones

Take on four sinister scare zones, each with a different terrifying theme.

Luchadores Monstruosos

¡Ojo! You’re about to get caught in the middle of a Lucha Libre horror film as two luchadores battle masked monsters.

Murder of Crowz

You’ve foolishly ventured into a massive crow’s nest. Now the fearsome flock will descend upon you and peck your bones clean.

 

Chainsaw Punkz

Get revved up for your night of terror as soon as you enter. Chainsaw-wielding punk rockers with masks and mohawks will close in on you.

Skull Lordz

All hail the royal court of the undead, where gothic kings and queens reign. Beware! Cross into their spectral kingdom at your own peril.

 

Explore the Gore Your Way

Grab your tickets to the terror. Enhance the horror with an R.I.P. Tour or admission that includes express access. Or, maximize your fear by staying near the screams with a Hotel & Ticket Package.

Buy your tix today:

https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hhn/en/us/tickets

Los Angeles Halloween: Delusion

Story takes place in the mid 20th Century, centering around the brilliant psychologist Dr. Frederick Lowell and you, his cohort of unusual patients.

An epic and haunting adventure awaits those willing to play their part in Delusion’s latest interactive play. You will play the role of Dr. Frederick Lowell’s most prized patients, found sleepwalking on the grounds of the Red Castle. Yet this time, when you awake, your memory has faded and Dr. Lowell is nowhere to be found.

PLAY YOUR PART EXPERIENCE

Head to the VIP lounge for your private bar where you might stumble upon a few hidden surprises and performers.

Then venture beyond the veil of the show and prepare to showcase your mad talents. A quick costume change into mental asylum garb and off you go, awaiting actual patrons of the play as they move through a deranged scene that features you!

Buy tix to Delusion here:

https://enterdelusion.com/buy-tickets/

Los Angeles Halloween Event List 2024

West Hollywood Halloween Carnival

 

West Hollywood loves Halloween, and the City of West Hollywood is thrilled that Halloween is back with Halloween Carnaval 2024!

The City’s incomparable Halloween Carnaval is one of the most unique Halloween gatherings in the world.

Halloween Carnaval is free to attend and will take place on Thursday, October 31, 2024 on a one-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between N. Doheny Drive and N. La Cienega Boulevard.

Staged on Santa Monica Boulevard/Historic Route 66, Halloween Carnaval will feature a stage at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and N. San Vicente Boulevard with a live DJ set, food trucks and thousands of wildly dressed Halloween revelers for a one-of-a-kind experience.

There will also be Halloween celebrations at businesses, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues throughout the City!

The City invites Halloween Carnaval-goers to get into the spirit and show off costumes by uploading photos to social media sites with the hashtag #wehohalloween.

 

Halloween at Cinespia

For its October 2024 lineup, presented by Amazon MGM Studios, the LA-based organization announced screenings of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Trick ‘r Treat, Coraline and Suspiria, leading up to Halloween.

Cinespia will also host a special Halloween night screening of director Dario Argento‘s horror classic Suspiria on Oct. 31 at the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles.

Walt Disney Concert Hall: Nosferatu

Walt Disney Concert Hall: Nosferatu

Walt Disney Concert Hall: Nosferatu

Halloween Organ, Film & Music: Nosferatu

Thu / Oct 31, 2024 – 8:00PM

Silent film specialist Clark Wilson returns for Walt Disney Concert Hall’s annual Halloween concert, performing a chilling, original organ score to the 1922 Nosferatu—one of the most influential works in cinema and the horror genre—live to picture.

Tix here: https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/3006/2024-10-31/halloween-organ-film-music-nosferatu

David Gilmour at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Halloween

David Gilmour at the Hollywood Bowl

Tix here: https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/3507/2024-10-30/david-gilmour

Knox Dobson RTD Wins Double Gold Medal, Old Fashioned Wins Gold At 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Knox Dobson ’s Superior Ready-to-Drink Improved Whiskey Cocktail Wins Prestigious Double Gold Medal & Old Fashioned Wins Gold At 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Knox & Dobson, a new collection of superior ready-to-drink cocktails, proudly announces that their Improved Whiskey Cocktail has been awarded the prestigious Double Gold Medal and their Old Fashioned Cocktail has won a Gold Medal in the Ready-to-Drink category at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).

Founded in 2000, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the oldest and largest competition of its kind. Receiving a high-tier medal at SFWSC is a testament to exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

This year’s competition featured nearly 5,000 entries, judged by experienced and knowledgeable spirits critics through a blind tasting process, ensuring impartiality and integrity.

Knox & Dobson’s new collection of premium ready-to-drink bottled cocktails is designed to be shared with friends, making it easy to simply Open, Pour, and Enjoy!

The collection was meticulously curated with an uncompromising commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and taste by Knox & Dobson Founder & President Rob Levy (Former Owner, The Raymond 1886) and Creative Director Peter Lloyd Jones (The Raymond 1886, Everson Royce Bar, Proof Media Mix).

The lineup includes a gin Martini, classic Old Fashioned, Improved Whiskey Cocktail with Maraska Maraschino Liqueur, Rye Manhattan, and Moscow Mule.

Each cocktail features the highest quality ingredients such as hand-selected barrel-aged whiskey, distilled gin, natural cane sugar, and authentic Angostura Bitters.

“Our mission was to create a collection of cocktails that were equal in taste and quality to those freshly crafted by a skilled bartender. Peter Lloyd Jones was the best choice, and I can’t imagine working with anyone better,”

Rob Levy

Knox & Dobson Founder & President

“Pete’s experience at 1886 Bar at The Raymond and Everson Royce Bar, combined with his passion and creativity, make him the perfect partner at Knox & Dobson.”

Levy’s upbringing in Skokie, Illinois, at Knox Avenue and Dobson Street, is where he spent most of his adolescence in the ‘60s and ‘70s, hanging out “on the corner” with neighborhood kids who remain lifelong friends. Knox & Dobson is as much an elevated on-the-go handcrafted beverage experience as it is a distillation of hometown pride and a love of bringing people together.

The Knox & Dobson Improved Whiskey Cocktail (35.42% ABV), which was awarded this year’s Double Gold Medal, is made with straight aged rye whiskey, Maraska Maraschino Liqueur, and Angostura bitters. This cocktail features a spiced flavor profile combined with American oak, citrus, and bright and deep cherry notes, making it a whiskey cocktail meant to be sipped and savored.

The Knox & Dobson Old Fashioned (38% ABV), which was awarded the Gold Medal, consists of straight aged bourbon, natural cane sugar, orange oil, and Angostura Bitters. Enjoy the taste of aged bourbon with bright citrus flavors, bitters, raw cinnamon, clove, and American oak.

Knox & Dobson’s new collection of superior bottled cocktails are best served chilled or over ice. Each 200-milliliter bottle features two servings, perfect for sharing, so simply Open, Pour, and Enjoy!

Knox & Dobson is available for delivery Nationwide.

Visit Knox & Dobson to order your new favorite bottled cocktails today.

To see the full list of locations to purchase directly, please visit Knox & Dobson’s Stockists page.

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