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MEET THE MAKER
Spotlighting the people and projects you need to know
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Meet the Maker
Theo Dumont and Nicole Castro, HollyShorts co-founder and managing director
By Brandon Kirby
THE 17TH ANNUAL
HollyShorts film festival, running Sept. 23–Oct. 1 in Hollywood, California, honors and celebrates the craft and creativity of the short film form. Co-founded by Theo Dumont as a passion project in a small theater, the Oscarqualifying event has exploded into a global festival with 6,000 submissions annually. Backstage asked Dumont and managing director Nicole Castro about what makes a short film impactful, and why festival attendees should never be afraid to say hello. “You don’t know [if] the person you’re speaking to might be somebody to bring you to that next level or to inspire you,” says Castro.
When and how did HollyShorts
begin? Theo Dumont: It was created by me and Daniel Sol to create a platform for filmmakers to get together, meet, get representation, get signed, and move their careers forward. [Daniel’s] brother owned a small theater called the Space Theater, and we started it there. There was a oneday event where we did a call for submissions, got 23 films, and showed all 23. It was an amazing energy. And it became a tradition…. This [festival] is devoted to the art form of short films. And then we like to party. Listen, it’s a serious thing. But in the real world, when people can see each other—which is happening this year; it’s going to be live and in-person again, thank goodness—there’s a lot of knowledge-sharing, a lot of bonding. Nicole Castro: These filmmakers have spent a lot of money to make these films and submit them to our festival. We want to make sure that you’re having the best experience you can have for the money you’ve spent to come to our festival. We work hard to provide really incredible programming—the panels, the networking opportunities.
Theo Dumont, Nicole Castro, and Daniel Sol
mode.” — THEO DUMONT
How can a film festival attendee get the most out of
the experience? TD: What’s the best lesson? It’s trying to capitalize on all of it. When you’re in the festival, it’s festival mode. NC: Don’t be afraid to go to these events and speak to the person sitting next to you or the person standing there by themself, staring at their phone awkwardly. Everybody’s at the festival because you either have a project, you’re looking to connect, or you’re just an enjoyer of this whole experience. Right? You already have things in common; you’re all in the same place. So it doesn’t hurt to just say hello. Exchange a card!
What advice do you have for filmmakers who are creating
shorts? TD: Keep it short and sweet. Get to the point. No long title sequence at the beginning—that’s a pet peeve of ours. You only have a certain amount of time to tell a beginning, middle, and end. The pacing is critical. Clear your music; you don’t want to have a copyright issue. Have a good time. Have fun. And then keep a budget in mind for festival submission. NC: Don’t be discouraged if you get a lot of rejections. Remember that the programmer’s opinion is subjective. So if you didn’t get into SXSW or Tribeca or a little festival somewhere that you’re sure 20 people have heard of, it doesn’t mean that you’re a horrible filmmaker; it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a good story. And always ask for feedback if you can.
