The fourth annual 815HORTS Film Festival returns Friday-Saturday, November 14-15, 2025, in Rockford, Illinois. This year's 815HORTS has again expanded to include: five dedicated short film screening blocks; the Illinois Film Office’s Shortcuts Student Film Contest; premier educational sessions highlighted by the return of Tribeca Festival’s shorts programmer; the first feature length film screening in the festival’s history; and a screening of the Sundance Film Festival Shorts Tour for the fourth-straight year. A portion of event proceeds benefit Founders Commission (501(c)(3)).
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815HORTS is proud to partner with the Illinois Film Office on the Shortcuts Short Film Contest, which is a statewide short film contest curated for Illinois students/residents ages 22 and under. The winner of Shortcuts will receive $250 and the winning short film will be screened at 815HORTS.
2025 SCHEDULE + FEATURED GUESTS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025
5 p.m. - Doors Open, 5HORT Industry Mixer
6 p.m. - 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour
8 p.m. - Illinois Film Office's Shortcuts Screenings + Unveiling of Contest Winner
9:30 p.m. - 5HORT After-Party
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
10 a.m. - Doors Open
10:15 a.m. - Animated Short Films Screening Block
11 a.m. - "815 Live: Direct from Tribeca", Q&A featuring Madison Egan, Tribeca Festival
12 p.m. - "City Stage BTS Lunch + Learn", Lunch Q&A featuring Josiah Sjöström, City Stage Studios
1 p.m. - Short Documentary Premiere: Silicon Prairie Dreams (Directed by James Enzo Forni)
1:45 p.m. - "Lawful Break-In", Panel + Q&A featuring James Enzo Forni, Octane Rich Media,
and Elaine Wyder, Convex Legal
2:30 p.m. - Documentary Short Films Screening Block
4:30 p.m. - Live Action Short Films Screening Block
7 p.m. - Illinois Film Festival Premiere: See Her Be Her (directed by Jean Fruth)
9 p.m. - See Her Be Her Panel + Q&A featuring Denae Benites, USA Baseball Women's National Team,
and Dr. Leslie Heaphy, International Women's Baseball Center
9:30 p.m. - The 5HORT Awards, Closing Remarks + 5HORT After-Party
GET TICKETS: $30 WEEKEND or $20/DAY!
Note: Schedule is subject to change.
DENAE BENITES
Baseball Player,
USA Women's
National Team
MADISON EGAN
Shorts Programmer,
Tribeca Festival
JAMES FORNI
Founder,
Octane Rich Media
PETER HAWLEY
Director,
Illinois Film Office
DR. LESLIE HEAPHY
Board Chair,
International Women's Baseball Center
JOSIAH SJÖSTRÖM
Founder,
City Stage Studios
ELAINE WYDER
Managing Attorney,
Convex Legal
2025 815HORTS FILM SCREENINGS
2025 815HORTS PARTNERS
ACADEMY PARTNER
CHAMPION PARTNER
IN-KIND PARTNERS
FRIEND PARTNERS
VENUE PARTNER
NONPROFIT PARTNER
SPECIAL THANKS
Sundance Film Festival + Luxe Productions + Peter Hawley
+ Denae Benites + Madison Egan + James Forni + Don Hatton
+ Dr. Leslie Heaphy + Josiah Sjöström + Elaine Wyder
2025 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SHORT FILM TOUR
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour is a dynamic showcase of seven standout short films from the 2025 Festival, including two Festival Award–winning titles. A 100-minute program curated for theatrical audiences, the tour is a special opportunity to discover a collection of fiction, nonfiction, and animated shorts, and offers an eclectic mix of storytelling that highlights bold voices and fresh perspectives.
The Festival’s Short Film Program has long been established as a place to discover talented directors, such as past alumni Andrea Arnold, Lake Bell, Damien Chazelle, Destin Daniel Cretton, Jay and Mark Duplass, Debra Granik, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Todd Haynes, Sterlin Harjo, Don Hertzfeldt, Sky Hopinka, Shaka King, Lynne Ramsay, Dee Rees, Joey Soloway, Taika Waititi, and many others.​ The 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour is presented by Vimeo. Since 2022, 815HORTS has screened the Sundance Short Film Tour in Rockford.
CONTACT + PRODUCTION
Partnerships and Inquiries: Nick@PlusSevenCompany.com or 815.708.1644.