🎬 Behind the Shorts
The Love Your Shorts Film Festival is an annual showcase in the heart of Sanford, Florida, where short films from all over Florida, the United States, and the world come to life!
Founded in 2010, this festival is all about embracing and appreciating the incredible art of the short film. From its humble beginnings at the Greater Sanford Regional Chamber of Commerce building known as Monroe Hall, the festival has soared to new heights and now finds its home at the iconic 1923 Ritz Theater, one of Florida’s few remaining historic theaters.
During this unforgettable event, film fanatics get to indulge in captivating films, each lasting up to 30 minutes. With a wide array of categories to explore and inspiring film workshops to attend, there’s never a dull moment at Love Your Shorts.
But it’s not just about the films. Sanford, the vibrant cultural and county seat of Seminole County Florida, paints a picture of artistic wonder. Nestled along the majestic St. Johns River, this enchanting city boasts a downtown cultural corridor, a plethora of art galleries, an annual art festival, lively community folk performances, and an array of active community theater troupes. It’s no wonder that Love Your Shorts Festival feels right at home here.
🎞 From the Filmmakers
Lisa Belcher
Lisa is an award-winning director, actor, writer & producer under her Austin based production company, Jump Rock Pictures. She directed the feature thriller/horror House Of Abraham, starring Natasha Henstridge and Lin Shaye. Her many short films have played film festivals all over the world, earned many awards (including Best Director), and also received distribution. She is in development on a feature romantic comedy that will go into production in Austin in 2025.
Lukas Hassel
Born and raised in Denmark, Lukas Hassel trained and graduated from the Samuel Beckett Theater School, Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Resides in the US.
As a screenwriter, Lukas won the Screencraft and CineStory Fellowship as well as placing top 30 and top 40 in the Nicholl’s Fellowship. Won the Shore Film Fund as well as Fresh Voices TV Pilot competition.
Lukas wrote and directed the sci-fi short film “Into the Dark” which went on the win multiple awards for acting, writing and directing and played in over 70 film festivals world wide. His latest award winning horror short film, “The Son, the Father…” got a production deal after winning the Hollyshorts Film Festival competition for best screenplay and has screened on over 60 film festivals winning multiple awards. He’s working on getting his first feature as a writer/director underway.
He has appeared on TV recently as recurring Elias VanDyke in The Blacklist as well as in shows such as Blue Bloods, Limitless, Elementary and more. In features like The Black Room, Art of the Dead, In Sickness and more.
Lisa Belcher
Lisa is an award-winning director, actor, writer & producer under her Austin based production company, Jump Rock Pictures. She directed the feature thriller/horror House Of Abraham, starring Natasha Henstridge and Lin Shaye. Her many short films have played film festivals all over the world, earned many awards (including Best Director), and also received distribution. She is in development on a feature romantic comedy that will go into production in Austin in 2025.
Lukas Hassel
Born and raised in Denmark, Lukas Hassel trained and graduated from the Samuel Beckett Theater School, Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Resides in the US.
As a screenwriter, Lukas won the Screencraft and CineStory Fellowship as well as placing top 30 and top 40 in the Nicholl’s Fellowship. Won the Shore Film Fund as well as Fresh Voices TV Pilot competition.
Lukas wrote and directed the sci-fi short film “Into the Dark” which went on the win multiple awards for acting, writing and directing and played in over 70 film festivals world wide. His latest award winning horror short film, “The Son, the Father…” got a production deal after winning the Hollyshorts Film Festival competition for best screenplay and has screened on over 60 film festivals winning multiple awards. He’s working on getting his first feature as a writer/director underway.
He has appeared on TV recently as recurring Elias VanDyke in The Blacklist as well as in shows such as Blue Bloods, Limitless, Elementary and more. In features like The Black Room, Art of the Dead, In Sickness and more.