Discover Indie Film
Best Feature Film – Abigail Before Beatrice
Best Featurette – Focal Point
Best Short Film – How The Rose Reaches
Best In Fest – determined by the festival’s official selection committee, this category was added to pander to important organizations that demand a festival give out awards not specific to genre/category.
Sherman Oaks FIlm Festival has combined forces with its sponsor YOW.tv to create an online presentation of our Official Selections from Dec 7 to Dec 22.
Full access is $9.99 to the public and can be accessed here.
This is when we mention that if you or your friends/family/collaborators pay ten bucks to view the 29 films that Opted In, then a nonprofit charity for the arts gets a little help with its annual budget.
Please share the link https://yow.tv/studio/discover-indie-film with anyone who loves excellent indie films!
2025 Official Selection: Featurette – Experimental/Arthouse
Welcome to chapters 1-5 where love transcends into the other side , so trust us and vote YES on the “Soft Exit.” ;). *** This message is generated by your government assisted AI network 5th Wall***
Director(s): Brett Willis
Writer(s): Brett Willis
Producer(s): Anthony Saldana, Adolfo Espinosa, Sarah Curry, Brett Willis
Key Cast: Eric Lutz, Grant Merritt, Mary Garet, Angel Garet, Andrew Tamarkin, Seth Goodfellow, Carissa Rhea Tajudeen, Christopher Sanchez, Jacklyn Dardarian, Kevin Evans Johnson, Priscilla Valldejuli
Country: United States
Los Angeles Premiere
2025 Official Selection: Short Film – Horror
A short-sighted prank at a sleepover hurts more than just the perfect hairs on Brittany’s head.
Director(s): Nee Kirschman
Writer(s): Nee Kirschman, Zachary Foster
Producer(s): Nee Kirschman, Zachary Foster
Key Cast: Taylor Shurte, Teya Patt, Sherry Mandujano, Lauren Mayer, Jonaye Kelsey Anderson
Country: United States
Los Angeles Premiere
2025 Official Selection: Short Film – Comedy
A trans teen and her mom must survive a night of winter camping after being challenged by her politically incorrect uncle.
Director(s): Michael D. Cohen
Writer(s): Michael D. Cohen
Producer(s): Felix Mack, Michael D. Cohen
Key Cast: Erinn Hayes, Sophie Giannamore, Michael D. Cohen, Chris Cornish
Country: United States
2025 Official Selection: Short Film – Experimental/Arthouse
One man’s fix. Everyone’s Story.
Director(s): Shawn Welles Linzey
Writer(s): Shawn Welles Linzey
Producer(s): Shawn Welles Linzey
Key Cast: Merle Racer, Chris SeaWill Williams, Elizabeth Merlot Prince
Country: United States
Death comes for a bitter, depressed widow who doesn’t fight back – he’s happy to die but before he goes he wants to have one last “magic” adventure with the daughter he never got it right with.
Director(s): JT Doran
Writer(s): JT Doran
Producer(s): Hao Li
Key Cast: Joe Chan, Emily Fan, Dominic Wong, Xiao Ping Wang, Mia Yu
Country: United States
2025 Official Selection: Short Film – Experimental/Arthouse
When a cowboy is forward in time to modern day Los Angeles he struggles to find a way home.
Director(s): Caleb Garrett
Producer(s): Sasha-Jo Garrett, Elyse Runkle
Key Cast: Isaiah Howard
Country: United States
2025 Official Selection: Short Film – Animation
LIFTED is an animated tale of awakening and transformation, following one man’s fantastical journey aboard an elevator.
Director(s): Daniel Robichaud
Writer(s): Daniel Robichaud
Producer(s): Daniel Robichaud
Country: United States
2025 Official Selection: Short Film – Drama
A divorced couple tries to navigate addiction, control and custody of their young son.
Writer(s): Alyson Croft
Producer(s): Actor’s Cartel
Key Cast: Alyson Croft, Hunter Bodine
Country: United States
World Premiere
