Jessica Rizk’s “Cracked” to Premiere at HollyShorts LA

The acclaimed Lebanese-American filmmaker brings her hand-drawn dystopian short to the Oscar-qualifying 22nd Annual HollyShorts Film Festival

Filmmaker Jessica Rizk is bringing her visceral animated short, “Cracked,” to the 22nd Annual HollyShorts Film Festival for its official Los Angeles premiere. Scheduled to screen at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatres during the festival’s run from August 13th to 23rd, the five-minute film arrives in Hollywood following a wave of early critical praise.

A Gritty Exploration of Urban Isolation

“Cracked” offers a haunting examination of the alienating and dissociative experiences inherent in big-city life. Through a series of “grating and perturbing visuals,” the film follows a woman’s dark journey into her own mind as she navigates her daily routine. The protagonist’s internal struggle and self-neglect are viscerally represented through flickering lights, invasive roaches, and accumulating grime that eventually drive her to a breaking point.

Artistic Inspiration and Picasso’s Blue Period

Visually, Rizk sought to bridge classical art with modern storytelling to reflect the film’s somber themes. “The visual inspiration for ‘Cracked’ emerged from Picasso’s Blue Period,” Rizk explains. “I wanted to use animation to explore a modern character drawn in a similar melancholic palette to Picasso’s and elaborate on the psyche that may germinate in such a dismal environment”.

This aesthetic approach is paired with an original score and sound design by pianist and composer Soren Anderson, Rizk’s husband and frequent collaborator, who helped build the film’s unique auditory landscape.

A Two-Year Labor of Love

The film is a significant technical achievement, representing two years of continuous work to produce just five minutes of 2D animation. The project required 7,000 hand-drawn frames, a process Rizk describes as a “labor of love”.

Critical Acclaim

Ahead of its L.A. premiere, “Cracked” has already garnered significant critical praise. Film Threat awarded the short a perfect 10/10, with critic Bobby LePire noting that Rizk successfully imparts a “deeply thought-out message that everyone can relate to” in a very brief runtime. Steve Kopian of Unseen Films further hailed the work as a “dystopian masterpiece”.

About the Filmmakers

Jessica Rizk is a Lebanese-American director, writer, and multi-disciplinary artist currently based in New York City. A 2024 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design’s animation program, she is already developing a feature-length animated script. Soren Anderson, an alumnus of Harvard College, provided the film’s musical foundation.

Screening Information

“Cracked” will be featured as part of the Animation I Block during the festival.

• Date/Time: Friday, August 14th @ 12:00 PM
• Location: TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028

Tickets for the 22nd Annual HollyShorts Film Festival are available through the festival’s official website:  22nd Annual HollyShorts Film Festival