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HALLELUJAH
by Karen Pecota

Victor Gabriel, USA, 2022

This film is a HollyShorts Film Festival 2022 award winner* and now an OSCAR®-qualifying short film for Grand Prix Best Short Award category

Gabriel's directorship gives his audience a relatable storyline with delightful humor dealing with a very serious life choice in HALLELUJAH. There is no question why the festival jury chose Gabriel's short to not only receive the festival's Grand Prix Best Short prize, but to move it forward in the competition for the 2023 OSCAR®-qualifying short film category.

Hallelujah (Stephen Laroy Thomas) is anything but a cool kid like many of the teenagers in his hometown of Compton, California. Hallelujah is a tall, lanky, and smart adolescent but is often annoying because he doesn't fit in to many social settings. His little sister, Lila (Mariah Aaliyah Pharms) adores Hallelujah, and since the sudden passing of their highly educated parents, she takes on the role of his protector.

Their two uncles, Paper (Bruce Lemon) and Chetty (Richard Nevels) have been deemed guardianship over the nerdy siblings. The two questionable "adults-in-the-room" enter into a great debate whether it is prudent for them to take on the responsibility of being caretakers. (KP)

*The Grand Prix Best Short Award Winner will be qualified for Oscars® 2023 and receive a $15,000 camera package from Panavision, a sales deal from Eroin Films, and a management meeting with Alta Global Media.