Author: Sherman Oaks Film Festival

2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Drama

Program 06 – Poignant Spotlight · Fri, Dec 4, 2026 · 9:45 PM

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• Director(s): William Michael Anderson
• Writer(s): William Michael Anderson
• Producer(s): William Michael Anderson, Robert Steven Anderson, Philipp Hafner, Kat Anderson
• Key Cast: Salvador Chacon, Marcelo Tubert, Cynthia Shawnee Ho, Danielle Juliette Ma, Robert Steven Anderson, Brandon Modelo, Romeo Montez
• Editor(s): Nailah Robinson
• Cinematographer(s): Philipp Hafner
• Production Designer(s): Seif Nabulsi
• Sound Designer(s): Emilie Corpuz
• Composer(s): Doug Organ

Language: English, Spanish

Runtime: 13m

Country: Austria, United States

Synopsis: An overwhelmed shipyard worker, Mateo, struggles to keep his life in order. Between his dying father, a failed marriage, and his infant son suffering from a heart condition, he is forced to confront his uncertain future.

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2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Drama

Program 09 – Authenticity Spotlight · Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · 6:00 PM

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• Director(s): Amanda Williams
• Writer(s): Amanda Williams
• Producer(s): Amanda Williams
• Key Cast: Noreen Mao, Natasha Ero, DeAnna Noel, Jules Miranda, Nick Pinelli
• Editor(s): Amanda Williams, David Maddox
• Cinematographer(s): Joe Owens
• Sound Designer(s): Morgan Honaker
• Composer(s): Kat Vokes

Language: English

Runtime: 8m

Country: United States

Los Angeles Premiere

Synopsis: A doctor balances personal uncertainty while caring for a patient in crisis.

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2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Drama

Program 18 – Inspiring Spotlight · Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · 3:15 PM

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• Director(s): Marissa Vonn
• Writer(s): Glory Simon
• Producer(s): Sami Bass
• Key Cast: Glory Simon, John Charles Meyer

Language: English

Runtime: 15m

Country: United States

Synopsis: When an encounter with her high school boyfriend, Eric, reveals life shaking news to Callie, a woman hiding out from life by working as a desert diner manager, she must decide if she will stay in her safety bubble or change a decision she made 25 years ago that will set her life on an unknown course.

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2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Comedy

A marketing executive’s pitch becomes an existential crisis.

Program 21 – Cutting Edge Spotlight · Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · 5:15 PM

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• Director(s): Brett Weiner
• Writer(s): Brett Weiner
• Producer(s): Jasmine Garcia
• Key Cast: Lily Sullivan, Timothy Granaderos, Ken Kirby

Language: English

Runtime: 13m

Country: United States

Synopsis: In a world hyper-saturated by marketing, KENZIE is a true believer in the transformative power that is brand. As she prepares to present creative for a new “water product”, the company’s authenticity expert, TOBIN, is added to the project. Then, Kenzie receives some devastating personal news but still has to win over the high-profile "water product" client in a pitch-off against Tobin.

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2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Horror

Program 20 – Innovative Spotlight · Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · 3:45 PM

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• Director(s): Talon Darren Winsnes
• Writer(s): Talon Darren Winsnes
• Producer(s): Elias Brekke Solberg, Jon Strøm
• Key Cast: Liva Lykke Gyring Barck, Tiril Emilie Almo-Stabell

Language: Norwegian

Runtime: 13m

Country: Norway

Synopsis: In a Christmas-decorated home on the outskirts of Trøndelag, where the grief of their mother’s death still lingers heavily in the walls, Tuva (12) watches as their father leaves them. When her older sister Emma (19) also plans to leave, something dark and unexplainable awakens in the house, forcing the sisters to stand together against escalating dangers.

2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Arthouse/Experimental

Program 18 – Inspiring Spotlight · Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · 3:15 PM

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• Director(s): Bridget Avildsen
• Writer(s): Bridget Avildsen
• Producer(s): Bridget Avildsen, Jared Ashkar
• Key Cast: Bridget Avildsen, Ignacio Navarro, Danielle Power, Sean James, Serafin Canizares Jr., Billy Vera

Language: English

Runtime: 5m

Country: United States

Synopsis: In a world that feels increasingly heavy, a young woman continues forward through moments of darkness, doubt, and fleeting beauty. As shadows and light quietly intertwine around her, small sparks of hope begin to emerge in unexpected places. Despite It All is a haunting yet hopeful reflection on perseverance and the quiet courage it takes to keep moving forward.

2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Comedy

Screening date & tickets — to be announced

• Director(s): Michael Rojo
• Writer(s): Michael Rojo
• Producer(s): Jane A Rogers, Emmanuel Salgado
• Key Cast: Michael Rojo, Jane A Rogers, Spencer Kramber

Language: English

Runtime: 11m

Country: United States

Synopsis: While at a funeral for an uncle he barely knew, Jonathan must sneak out to avoid more uncomfortable conversations and to make it the party of a lifetime.

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2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Comedy

A close shave leads a young woman down a dark path.

Program 03 – Eclectic Spotlight · Fri, Dec 4, 2026 · 8:00 PM

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• Director(s): Macy Glen, Curtiss Johns
• Writer(s): Macy Glen, Curtiss Johns
• Producer(s): Macy Glen, Curtiss Johns
• Key Cast: Macy Glen, Curtiss Johns, Azim Rizk
• Editor(s): Macy Glen, Curtiss Johns
• Cinematographer(s): Macy Glen, Curtiss Johns
• Production Designer(s): Macy Glen, Curtiss Johns
• Sound Designer(s): Vincent M. Earley
• Composer(s): Vincent M. Earley

Language: English

Runtime: 8m

Country: United States

Los Angeles Premiere

Synopsis: A young woman struggles to find peace with her partners new look.

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2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Horror

When his war-traumatized father’s obsession with alien conspiracies turns deadly, a young boy trapped in their desert RV must survive, guided only by the hero on his flickering VHS

Program 14 – Haunted Spotlight · Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · 9:45 PM

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• Director(s): Luke Blackburn, Steven Ramos
• Writer(s): Cade Hamilton
• Producer(s): Luke Blackburn, Steven Ramos, Cade Hamilton, Alex Morper
• Key Cast: Shawn Ochangco, Tyler Yoon, Ivan Hernandez
• Editor(s): Luke Blackburn
• Cinematographer(s): Luke Blackburn
• Production Designer(s): Madison Ochangco
• Sound Designer(s): Luke Blackburn

Language: English

Runtime: 5m

Country: United States

Synopsis: When his war-traumatized father’s obsession with alien conspiracies turns deadly, a young boy trapped in their desert RV must survive, guided only by the hero on his flickering VHS tape.

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2026 Official Selection: Short Film – Drama

A single mother uses play and imagination to shelter her daughter from a reality she’s too young to understand.

Program 20 – Innovative Spotlight · Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · 3:45 PM

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• Director(s): Remington Hoffman, Ida Hoffman
• Writer(s): Ida Hoffman
• Producer(s): Ida Hoffman and Remington Hoffman
• Key Cast: Ida Hoffman, Una Bay Hoffman, and Benjamin Chamberlain
• Editor(s): Jack Craymer and Jesse Suchomel
• Cinematographer(s): Remington Hoffman
• Production Designer(s): Ida Hoffman
• Sound Designer(s): Lucas Heinel

Language: English

Runtime: 13m

Country: United States

Synopsis: Christmas Angels follows an unhoused mother and daughter during the holiday season, exploring resilience, dignity, and the moral complexities of survival, where doing the wrong thing can sometimes feel like the only right choice.

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