SLS February News 💌

We had our February screening on Friday (02/06)

Whether you were able to make it or not, we’ve got some news to keep you in the loop!

News Highlights

• 02/06 Screening
  -We featured 23 live action and animated shorts by LA creators but a couple of the filmmakers even traveled from places like NY to screen their work!
  
  -On the patio we had art vendors including Cartoonist Julie Fiveash, Artist/Animator Jim Punch, and Comic Artist Bess Thompson
  
  -We had a professional photographer, Erica Brown, taking photos of the night which was an incredible help! She was wonderful to work with and really captured the spirit of the evening. Good, candid, crowd photography is not easy to do and she nailed it. We would recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer!

  

  

  

  

  

• Fellowship Films

  -We premiered our animated 2025 fellowship film ‘Hot Drop: Lil Gibbos’ by Arius Ziaee

  

  

  Photo by Erica Brown Photography

  
  -Last month in January we premiered our live action 2025 fellowship film ‘What Happens in Vegas’ by Jewell Karinen

  

  -Our 2025 fellows are currently in the process of submitting their fellowship films to various film festivals in the US and abroad. Fingers crossed!

  -Our 2026 fellows have all met with their mentors that we have paired them with and have made production schedules so things are off to a great start so far!
  

• We have a New Sponsor
  Open the Portal is a creative studio with a specialization in animation and sound. They have an impressive portfolio of work including Film & TV work for Smiling Friends, Rick and Morty, Adult Swim, Music videos for Mac Demarco, Fall Out Boy, Brand work for DoorDash, Mattel, Vans and much, much more.
  -As mentioned in our previous post, we screened a special preview clip of their debut stop-motion feature film ‘The Princess and the Goblin’.

  

  Behind the Scenes photo of the work process on Open the Portal’s ‘The Princess and the Goblin’

  -They tabled out on the patio and chatted with people while showing off the stars of the show aka their puppets!

  

• Project Updates
  -We have been gearing up for the first episode of our Podcast to be released soon…just putting some finishing touches on thanks to our Editor Jim Punch so keep a lookout!
  -The SLS Podcast is hosted by Animator, Writer & Director Mike Manor (who has screened with us many times, you might recognize his Adult Swim Smalls series ‘Beantown’). He even went above and beyond to animate his own intro!

  

  Still from Mike Manor’s animated intro that will be in the SLS Podcast

  -We filmed at the iconic Starburns Industries studios. They are a SLS sponsor and were kind enough to let us use their space for the podcast. You can even spy some of their stop motion puppets in the background (as shown below). Thanks Starburns <3
  -This first episode will feature Writer & Animator Katy Fishell aka Sex is Weird

  

  Still from Mike Manor’s animated intro in the SLS Podcast ft. Katy Fishell

• Monthly Events in February:
  -In addition to our monthly screening, we will ALSO now have a monthly community hang out. This will be a casual, free event to give more of a chance to chat and meet other people in the SLS creative community. Even if you’ve never been to a screening before, you’re welcome to join us!
  
  -Our next Community Hang is on Thursday, February 12th at 7pm at Drugstore Cowboy and the RSVP is on Partiful if you want to save the date :)
  
  -You might have noticed the location changed- El Cid had a scheduling conflict so we’re gonna hang out at Drugstore Cowboy instead! It’s right up the street from El Cid. They have drinks, food, movies playing in the BG, and a patio out back where you can shoot some pool!

  

• Coming Up Next Month:
  -Next month’s screening is Friday, March 6th (it’s always the first Friday of each month this year)
  
  -We will have a special comedy fundraiser event on Tuesday, March 24th at El Cid hosted by comedian Grace Freud
  
  -We have a special screening coming up on Thursday, March 12th in Atlanta at the Plaza Theater! If you can find a way to get there, you’re welcome to submit and attend! Or tell your friends in ATL & the South East area! It would really help us to spread the word. Submissions are due February 23rd.

  

  
  
  
  Thanks for reading!
  <3
  Karissa
  & the Silver Lake Shorts Team