"Trapped" Claims Grand Prize at Hollyshorts, Earns Oscar Qualification

Hollyshorts Film Festival Celebrates Excellence in Short Films

The 2025 Hollyshorts Film Festival has concluded, and the event once again highlighted some of the most compelling short films from around the world. Among the many accolades awarded, Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz’s "Trapped" took home the prestigious Grand Prize, securing its place in the Academy Awards competition for Best Live-Action Short. This award is one of four Oscar-qualifying categories at the festival, meaning that the winning film must meet specific criteria to be eligible for the Oscars.

In addition to "Trapped," several other films have been recognized for their excellence and have qualified for the Oscar race. These include:

• Best Animation: "Hurikán," directed by Jan Saska
• Best Live Action: "A Son and a Father," directed by Andrés Ramírez Pulido
• Best Documentary: "Voices From the Abyss," directed by Irving Serrano and Victor Rejón

Lee Knight also received recognition for his work on "A Friend of Dorothy," earning the Best Director award. The festival, which was established in 2005, featured an impressive lineup of 427 films that were screened in Hollywood from August 7 through August 16.

A Comprehensive List of Winners

The festival honored a wide range of talent across various categories, showcasing the diversity and creativity within the short film community. Here are some of the key winners:

Oscar Qualifying Categories

• Grand Prize: "Trapped," Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz
• Best Animation: "Hurikán," Jan Saska
• Best Live Action: "A Son and a Father," Andrés Ramírez Pulido
• Best Documentary: "Voices From the Abyss," Irving Serrano and Victor Rejón

Other Notable Categories

• AAPI Award: "Mushroom Dad," Michael Yuchen Lei
• Best Cinematography: "Lo Que Desaparece," Mario Lerma and Alex Rapariz
• Best Comedy: "Susana," Gerardo Coello Escalante and Amandine Thomas
• Best Drama: "Trapped," Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz
• Best Director: "A Friend of Dorothy," Lee Knight; Special Mention: "A Son and a Father," Alexander Farah
• Best Editing: "Say Wuff!," Fabian Podeszwa
• Best Horror: "Heirlooms," Dan Abramovici
• Best International: "The Painting & the Statue," Freddie Fox
• Best Midnight Madness: "Stomach Bug," Matty Crawford
• Best Music Video: "Earth Defender," Sil van der Woerd, Jorik Dozy, and Kynan Tegar
• Best Podcast: "Moonburn," Robbie Hyne
• Best Producer: "Money Talk$," Tony Mucci (Director and Producer), Scott Aharoni (Producer), Bryan Schmier (Producer), and David Mazouz (Producer)
• Best Sci-Fi: "The Second Time Around," Jack Howard
• Best Special Effects: "Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting," Alexander Thompson
• Best Student Film: "1:10," Sinan Taner
• Best Thriller: "Plastic Surgery," Guy Trevellyan
• Best TV: "Chasers," Erin Brown Thomas
• Best Web Series: "Hasaan Hates Portland," Mischa Webley
• Kodak Best Shot on Film, 16MM: "Ragamuffin," Kaitlyn Mikayla
• Kodak Best Shot on Film, 35MM: "The Singers," Sam Davis
• Kodak Honorable Mention: "Synthesize Me," Bear Damen
• Latine Award: "Cura Sana," Lucía G. Romero
• LGBTQIA+ Award: "Dancing in Tomorrowland," Jakob Roston
• SAGindie Award: "L'avance," Djiby Kebe
• Social Impact Award: "Rise," Jessica J. Rowlands
• Best Sports Drama: "Negro League Nights," Kyle Sykes
• Best Sports Documentary: "It's On Like a Pot of Neckbones," Joey Garfield

Top 10 Live Action Short Films Finalists

The festival also showcased the top 10 live action short films, including: - "A Son and a Father," Andrés Ramírez Pulido
- "Mercenaire," Pier-Philippe Chevigny
- "Ragamuffin," Kaitlyn Mikayla
- "Amarela," André Hayato Saito
- "L'avance," Djiby Kebe
- "Trapped," Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz
- "One Of Them," Mostafa Vaziri
- "A Friend of Dorothy," Lee Knight
- "Rise," Jessica J. Rowlands

Script Awards

The festival also celebrated outstanding screenwriting with the following awards: - ISA Story Award – Best Feature Screenplay: "The Dope Friend," Matt Ferrucci
- Best Female Screenplay: "The Unraveling," Samantha Mallory
- Best Short Screenplay Grand Prize: "Mudslide," Frederik Ehrhardt

The 2025 Hollyshorts Film Festival has once again proven to be a platform for emerging and established filmmakers alike, offering a glimpse into the future of cinema through the lens of short films.