2021's Short Film Fund Fall Winners

We are extremely proud to announce our GRAND PRIZE WINNERS and TOP 5 FINALISTS!

It has been such an honor reading so many powerful short scripts this season. But our Short Film Fund doesn’t end with the screenplay competition. While the decisions were undeniably challenging given the impressive quality of work shared with us, we are humbled and thrilled to now assist the winning scripts into production and beyond.

This is only the beginning.

For full details of what happens next, check out our Short Film Fund post-contest timeline.

THE SHORT FILM FUND RE-OPENS ON JANUARY 15TH, 2022.

GET YOUR SHORT SCRIPT INTO PRODUCTION WITH THE SHORT FILM FUND.

Download our CALENDAR to ensure you never miss a future deadline.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER - OTHER HOMES (AWARDED $15,000 CASH GRANT)
written by Joseph Lee

OTHER HOMES

In the winter of the Korean War, a North Korean family on the run escapes to the seaside, where they must quietly sneak across the water on a fisherman’s boat to reach freedom.

Read Production Interview

SECOND PLACE WINNER - HORNY (AWARDED A $10,000 CASH GRANT)
written by Hannah Leopard

HORNY

An insecure teenager, who is terrified of losing her virginity, discovers a horn is growing out of her forehead on the day she’s meant to do it.

Read Pre-Shoot Q&A

OUR TOP 5

In addition to our two grant winners, we would like to congratulate our Top 5 Finalists.

FOR PEOPLE IN TROUBLE by Alex Lawther
JUST LIKE SARAH by Jessica Rowlands
DESMOND’S NOT HERE ANYMORE by Lindiwe Suttle Müller-Westernhagen
ALICE & THE SECRET AGENT by Maju Cancella
A REAL ONE by McKenzie Chinn

This season, our Top 5 Finalists will receive feedback on their scripts from our Judges along with a Free Copy of Final Draft & Free Enrollment into our Ultimate Screenwriting Course. Plus, the Grand Prize Winner will also receive a free Festival Pass to HollyShorts 2022.

OUR TOP 15 FINALISTS

(in alphabetical order)

Alex Lawther	For People In Trouble	Where do you put it? How do you get up in the morning? Get on the tube, go to work, sit at your desk…go on a date at a pub with someone when maybe instead we should be planning for total societal collapse?
Dorothy A. Atabong	Eye Of The Veil	After the sudden death of her pregnant partner, a closeted attorney must embrace her sexuality and humanity, as she seeks custody of their newborn.
Hannah Leopard	Horny	An insecure teenager, who is terrified of losing her virginity, discovers a horn is growing out of her forehead on the day she’s meant to do it.
Jacob Perlmutter	A Wall	A woman forms a romantic obsession with a wall. As she spirals into torment, she is driven to levels of psychological despair, battling with her rationale as to what the true reasons are behind her struggle.
Jessica Rowlands	Just Like Sarah	After her sister is murdered while walking home at night, young Mia spends the rest of her life trying to find her own way home.
Joseph Lee	Other Homes	In the winter of the Korean War, a North Korean family on the run escapes to the seaside, where they must quietly sneak across the water on a fisherman’s boat to reach freedom.
Lindiwe Suttle Müller-Westernhagen	Desmond’s Not Here Anymore	The mother can’t remember, the daughter can’t forget.
Maju Cancella	Alice & The Secret Agent	When Alice and her sick mother move into a new house, the girl meets a Secret Agent that only she can see. Now, Alice needs to deal with anticipatory grief and a very annoying imaginary friend.
Martyn Eaden	Changes	When a woman meets a mysterious man at a hotel, an intimate moment forces her to face a monster from his past.
McKenzie Chinn	A Real One	A bright teenager on Chicago’s south side discovers the power and beauty of true friendship when her illicit relationship with a teacher is discovered amid the final weeks of her senior year in high school.
Molly Virostek & Emmy Rose Wheeler	Vanilla	An ex-bride-to-be attends her wedding cake tasting alone, where the flavor roulette forces her to process her ex-fiancés breakup line: you’re vanilla.
Nikki Palumbo	Coming Out (Again)	When Nikki’s 93-year-old Italian Nana asks her about a boyfriend during a family dinner, she decides to come out – again. Based on a painfully true story.
Roni Niu	Room Temperature	A plain white humanoid explores rooms with more vibrant colours to find where it belongs.
Solomon Amadiume	Where Penguins Lay	At his partner’s funeral, a grieving man is forced to confront unexpected feelings when his boyfriend’s ex shows up.
Taylor Foreman-Niko	El D. Ritch	Former demon of Hell and current private investigator, El D. Ritch, interviews a new client.