Penn Badgley Comedy Short to Premiere at HollyShorts Film Festival

A new comedy short starring Penn Badgley will premiere as part of a group of short films that will screen as the opening night attraction at the 8th annual HollyShorts Film Festival that kicks off Aug. 9 at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

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Presented under the umbrella title of PERIODS., the program of improvised comedy shorts, created by Victor Quinaz and Anna Martemucci, will also include several other new films, including one starring Willie Garson (White Collar) and another starring Grace Helbig (Attack the Show).

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Zachary Quinto, who starred in an earlier series of the PERIODS. films called BEFORE AFTER and now executive produces the eries through his production company, Before the Door Pictures, will be on hand to host the HollyShorts opening night.

"It is always thrilling to support the work of friends and collaborators with whom I (and my company) expect to be in the business of telling stories for years to come,” he said. “I am enormously proud of Victor and Anna - and excited to celebrate this significant accomplishment with them in August.”

Of his own participation in one of their shorts, Badgley commented, "It's rare to find people you can work with effortlessly, and to end up with a piece of something original. These guys are doing something smart and subtle, but that's how the good shit starts...I think."

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Quinto and his team also recently wrapped PERIODS. Films' first feature film, which they produced alongside Anonymous Content. That film's title and premise have been being kept under wraps but will be unveiled during the opening night program when its first trailer is shown.

HollyShorts co-founders and co-directors Theo Dumont and Daniel Sol said of the opening night selection, "The PERIODS. crew exemplifies what modern indie filmmaking is really all about--- working together to create high quality content for global audiences while utilizing tangible digital tools and social media to promote and release the works to the masses."

Quinaz and Martemucci are both repped by Anonymous.