Swish

2023 Official Selection: Short Film – Comedy

A habitually line-stepping hopeless romantic, plays the optimist in public while suffering in an abusive relationship.

Director(s): Jill Narciso
Writer(s): Stephen Kwame Agyei
Producer(s): Stephen Kwame Agyei, Jill Narciso
Key Cast: Stephen Kwame Agyei, Troy Walker, Sherry Mandujano

Los Angeles Premiere

Go to 2023 Official Selections – Films Page

Theatrical Screenings: All theatrical screenings are held at:
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
128 Artsakh Avenue
Glendale, California 91206
SOFF 2023 Theatrical Screenings held from November 29 to December 3.

Click here to purchase tickets!

Virtual Screenings: The SOFF 2023 Virtual Screenings run from Friday, December 1 to Sunday, December 10. There will be Virtual Exclusives as well as many of the films that screened at the theater.

Click here to visit our Virtual Screenings!

Sally Chooses Adventure

2023 Official Selection: Short Film – Comedy

In this delightful short film that mixes live-action and animation, we follow a little girl named Sally who just wants to cut to the chase in a dumb book her mom and dad gave her so she can get back to her screens.

Director(s): Matthew B.W. Sheehan
Writer(s): Matthew B.W. Sheehan
Producer(s): Matthew B.W. Sheehan
Key Cast: Paprika Sheehan, Laura Sheehan

World Premiere, West Coast Premiere, Los Angeles Premiere

Go to 2023 Official Selections – Films Page

Theatrical Screenings: All theatrical screenings are held at:
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
128 Artsakh Avenue
Glendale, California 91206
SOFF 2023 Theatrical Screenings held from November 29 to December 3.

Click here to purchase tickets!

Virtual Screenings: The SOFF 2023 Virtual Screenings run from Friday, December 1 to Sunday, December 10. There will be Virtual Exclusives as well as many of the films that screened at the theater.

Click here to visit our Virtual Screenings!

Carnevil by Anthony Cross

2023 Official Selection: Screenplay – Feature Film

An eccentric group of people seeking answers and justice band together in the summer of 1973 to try to take down a killer carnival on the run.

The SOFF 2023 screenplay awards ceremony will be held on December 3 at 1 PM at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas.

Go to 2023 Official Selections – Films Page

Screenplay Awards Ceremony & Theatrical Screenings are held at:
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
128 Artsakh Avenue
Glendale, California 91206
SOFF 2023 Theatrical Screenings held from November 29 to December 3.

Click here to purchase tickets!

Virtual Screenings: The SOFF 2023 Virtual Screenings run from Friday, December 1 to Sunday, December 10. There will be Virtual Exclusives as well as many of the films that screened at the theater.

Click here to visit our Virtual Screenings!

Pleroma

2023 Official Selection: Short Film – SciFi

Can a discarded Robot Prototype save a company’s workers from an Unleashed AI?

Director(s): Chris Browne
Writer(s): Chris Browne, Tim Hedrick
Producer(s): Kiana Aletaha
Key Cast: Kiana Aletaha

Click here to watch the Pleroma trailer!

Go to 2023 Official Selections – Films Page

Theatrical Screenings: All theatrical screenings are held at:
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
128 Artsakh Avenue
Glendale, California 91206
SOFF 2023 Theatrical Screenings held from November 29 to December 3.

Click here to purchase tickets!

Virtual Screenings: The SOFF 2023 Virtual Screenings run from Friday, December 1 to Sunday, December 10. There will be Virtual Exclusives as well as many of the films that screened at the theater.

Click here to visit our Virtual Screenings!

Little Deaths

2023 Official Selection: Feature Film – Arthouse/Experimental

In the outskirts of a world ravaged by disease and social upheaval, a young couple struggle to find something worth living–or dying, for.

Director(s): Brian Follmer
Writer(s): Brian Follmer
Producer(s): Nicole Alibayof, Kerri Romeo, Adam Leotta, Diego Ulgalde
Key Cast: Kerri Romeo, Adam Leotta

World Premiere

Go to 2023 Official Selections – Films Page

Theatrical Screenings: All theatrical screenings are held at:
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
128 Artsakh Avenue
Glendale, California 91206
SOFF 2023 Theatrical Screenings held from November 29 to December 3.

Click here to purchase tickets!

Virtual Screenings: The SOFF 2023 Virtual Screenings run from Friday, December 1 to Sunday, December 10. There will be Virtual Exclusives as well as many of the films that screened at the theater.

Click here to visit our Virtual Screenings!

Top 100 Best Reviewed Festival in one of L.A.’s Best Theaters

We never get tired of getting the email from FilmFreeway with the subject, “Congrats on your Top 100 status!”

“According to reviews from real FilmFreeway users, your festival ranks in the top 1% of more than 12,000 film festivals and creative contests around the world. No doubt, this ranking is a testament to the countless hours of hard work and care that you and your staff have devoted to creating such a wonderful event.”

Equally exciting news is that Sherman Oaks Film Festival has moved to the Look Cinema in Glendale, CA.  State of the art DCP projection with leather recliners, food & beverage service, and top of the line sound!

 

2022 Programmer’s Prize Winners

Programmer’s Prize

Exceptionally Unique Filmmaking – Adonai, After Sunset Dawn Arrives, Black Creek Trail, Chemistry, Moments:Trilogy (Castle, Mother & Six), Price of Love, The Care Giver, The Poet, The Rewind

Programmer’s Prize – given to film(s) that festival programmer Jeff Howard cannot bear to see go without an award. These films are generally off the beaten path and break conventions of format, genre or both.

2022 Filmmakers Award Winners

Filmmakers Awards

Outstanding Short Film – Animation – Experience the World – The Train
Outstanding Director – Animation – Bird’s Eye View – Matthew B.W. Sheehan
Outstanding Screenplay – Animation – Experience the World – The Train – Brad Pike
Outstanding Short Film – Arthouse/Experimental – amser / time
Outstanding Short Film – Arthouse/Experimental – Animals You Want To Eat
Outstanding Short Film – Arthouse/Experimental – Stories
Outstanding Director – Arthouse/Experimental – amser / time – Deborah Light
Outstanding Screenplay – Arthouse/Experimental – Space Junk – Adam Peltier
Outstanding Performance, Individual – Arthouse/Experimental – Dress Up – Sara Chia-Jewell
Outstanding Performance, Cast – Arthouse/Experimental – Space Junk
Outstanding Short Film – Comedy – Dick Control
Outstanding Short Film – Comedy – Church Camp
Outstanding Director – Comedy – Church Camp – Andrew Bourne
Outstanding Screenplay – Comedy – White Now Please – Kyle Lau
Outstanding Performance, Individual – Comedy – Moxie – Rocky Shay
Outstanding Performance, Cast – Comedy – The Perfect First Date
Outstanding Short Film – Drama – Essentially Amy
Outstanding Short Film – Drama – Ghosted
Outstanding Director – Drama – Ghosted
Outstanding Director – Drama – Essentially Amy
Outstanding Director – Drama – The Phoenix
Outstanding Screenplay – Drama – Ghosted – Rob Mor
Outstanding Performance, Individual – Drama – After (A Love Story) – Alyssa Thordarson
Outstanding Performance, Cast – Drama – Essentially Amy
Outstanding Short Film – Horror – Watcher
Outstanding Short Film – Horror – Mamu
Outstanding Director – Horror – Mamu – Michael Skanes
Outstanding Screenplay – Horror – Watcher – Alan “Poe” Sanchez
Outstanding Performance, Individual – Horror – Watcher – Soren McVay
Outstanding Performance, Cast – Horror – Somnium
Outstanding Short Film – SciFi – Above the Branches
Outstanding Short Film – SciFi – Super Dilemma
Outstanding Short Film – SciFi – When You Became Us
Outstanding Director – SciFi – See You On The Other Side – The Summers Brothers
Outstanding Director – SciFi – When You Became Us – Nicholas Geisler
Outstanding Screenplay – SciFi – See You On The Other Side – The Summers Brothers
Outstanding Performance, Individual – SciFi – When You Became Us – Jack Vincenty
Outstanding Performance, Cast – SciFi – When You Became Us
Outstanding Short Film – Web Series – Grey Area
Outstanding Director – Web Series – True Reviews – Neal Cornell
Outstanding Screenplay – Web Series – Grey Area – Asaad Salleh
Outstanding Performance, Individual – Web Series – Grey Area – Sarah Stouffer
Outstanding Performance, Cast – Web Series – True Reviews

2022 Audience Award Winners

Audience Awards

Best Feature Film – Arthouse/Experimental – Your Heart is a Dark and Rotten Place
Best Feature Film – Documentary – Frank Bey: All My Dues Are Paid
Best Feature Film – Documentary – Motherland
Best Feature Film – Drama – Ragged Heart
Best Feature Film – Horror – Dawning
Best Featurette – Documentary – Surviving Remote Learning
Best Featurette – Drama – Two Weeks to 29
Best Music Video – The Summer Set – “Back Together” – Gregory JM Kasunich, Director
Best Short Film – Animation – Fatherhood
Best Short Film – Arthouse/Experimental – Dress Up
Best Short Film – Comedy – White Now Please
Best Short Film – Drama – The Phoenix
Best Short Film – Horror – Magic Box
Best Short Film – SciFi – Orbital Christmas
Best Short Film – Dance – Guest
Best Web Series – True Reviews

2022 Grand Jury Award Winners

Grand Jury Awards

Best Feature Film – Arthouse/Experimental – The Young Dictator
Best Feature Film – Documentary – Party Dream
Best Feature Film – Documentary – Strangers to Peace
Best Feature Film – Drama – Ragged Heart
Best Feature Film – Horror – All Eyes
Best Featurette – Comedy – Two Anxious Bisexuals
Best Featurette – Documentary – Inside the Beauty Bubble
Best Featurette – Drama – 30 Meetings / 30 Days
Best Featurette – Horror – Delivery
Best Featurette – SciFi – Fieldtrip
Best Short Film – Animation – Bird’s Eye View
Best Short Film – Arthouse/Experimental – June
Best Short Film – Arthouse/Experimental – Space Junk
Best Short Film – Comedy – The Perfect First Date
Best Short Film – Dance – Guest
Best Short Film – Documentary – Never Again Para Nadie
Best Short Film – Drama – After (A Love Story)
Best Short Film – Horror – Somnium
Best Short Film – SciFi – See You On The Other Side
Best Short Film – Dance – Guest
Best Music Video – Guru$$
Best Web Series – True Reviews
Best Director – Feature Film – Ragged Heart – Evan McNary
Best Director – Featurette – 30 Meetings / 30 Days – Duane Andersen
Best Director – Short Film – June – Dwayne Cameron
Best Lead Actress – Feature Film – Dawning – Kim Ellis
Best Lead Actress – Featurette – 30 Meetings / 30 Days – Emily Goss
Best Lead Actress – Short Film – Essentially Amy – Stacy Chu
Best Lead Actress – Short Film – The Housesitters – Erin Pineda
Best Lead Actress – Short Film – See You On The Other Side – Grace Marlow
Best Lead Actor – Feature Film – Ragged Heart – Eddie Craddock
Best Lead Actor – Featurette – Laurentiu Ciucur – Fieldtrip
Best Lead Actor – Short Film – After (A Love Story) – Glenn Stanton
Best Lead Actor – Short Film – The Housesitters – Matt McConkey
Best Supporting Actress – Feature Film – The Young Dictator – Flavia Giurgiu
Best Supporting Actress – Featurette – Delivery – Jessie Gill
Best Supporting Actress – Short Film – Ghosted – Natasha Loring
Best Supporting Actor – Feature Film – Ragged Heart – Joshua Mikel
Best Supporting Actor – Featurette – Two Weeks to 29 – Luis Cherubini
Best Supporting Actor – Short Film – The Perfect First Date – Thomas Hobson
Best Performance by a Cast – Feature Film – Ragged Heart
Best Performance by a Cast – Featurette – 30 Meetings / 30 Days
Best Performance by a Cast – Short Film – After (A Love Story)
Best Screenplay – Feature Film – Ragged Heart – Evan McNary & Debrah McNary
Best Screenplay – Featurette – 30 Meetings / 30 Days – Duane Andersen
Best Screenplay – Short Film – After (A Love Story) – Alyssa Thordarson
Best Cinematography – Feature Film – Ragged Heart – Josh Fritts
Best Cinematography – Featurette – 30 Meetings / 30 Days – Bianca Cline
Best Cinematography – Short Film – See You On The Other Side – The Summers Brothers
Best Screenplay – Feature (Unproduced) – Time Piece – Stephen Inniss
Best Screenplay – Short (Unproduced) – These Bones Can Dance – Lauren Brown
Best Screenplay – Pilot/Web Series (Unproduced) – Deliver Me – Olivia Webb