Shorts Exclusive: ‘Jane Austen’s Period Drama’ Wins Best of the Fest at HollyShorts Comedy Film Festival

Los Angeles May 5, 2025 — The  HollyShorts Comedy Film Festival (HSCFF), formerly known as the Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival came to a close last night with a special Awards ceremony honoring this year’s winning short films from its 9th edition which was held May 2-4 this week.

Jane Austen’s Period Drama by Julia Aks and Steve Greist took home the top Best of Fest Grand Prize.

Formerly known as the Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival, HollyShorts Comedy is now emerging as the premiere destination for Comedy film fans, next generation storytellers, and lovers of funny shorts.

88 comedy short films made this year’s official selections. The festival kicked off with a special opening party at Fabric Studios in Marvista. This year’s festival program will be available for streaming for an additional week on BitPix TV.  The organizers have also announced the dates for next year’s HollyShorts Comedy Shorts Film Festival: May 1-3, 2026.

2025 HollyShorts Comedy Full winners list:

Best Cringe

The Hole Truth by Christine Lakin

Best Alternative

Dumb Rich Sluts by Cara Norris

Best Horror Comedy

Dry January by C.J. Arellano

Best TV Episodic

The Hype by Justin Casselle

Best Student Comedy

Death! by Matthew B.C.

Best Rom Com

Bootie’s by Milana Vayntrub

Best Dark Comedy

And Now I Lay Me Down by Rani DeMuth

Best Web Series

WASP, Episode 4 “Joshua Tree Was A-mah-zing” by Jon Mackey

Best TV Comedy Pilot Screenplay 

Commercial Space written by Trent Miller & Lesa Miller

Best Comedy Feature Length Screenplay

VOODOO VALENTINOS written by Michael Louis Gould

Best Short Comedy Screenplay

Olivia Colman Says My Farts Don’t Stink written by Lisa Marie Tedesco

Best of Fest Grand Prize

Jane Austen’s Period Drama by Julia Aks & Steve Greist

This year’s sponsors/partners included: 88th Street Productions, Alta Global Media, Magic Mind, Dulce Vida Tequila, vitaminwater, Angel City Pizza, Monta Factory, Badawï Media Group, TEOLEO Radio Show, BehindTheBooth, and Kodak. Festival Manager Hollings Rankin. Design by Dalton Corr. Social Media by Aira Antunes. Technical operations Kevin Anderson and Simple DC. HollyShorts Comedy, HollyShorts Film Festival and HollyShorts London were created by co-founders Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont.