Chicago-based Sparkly Productions has announced that its latest short film, CHOKE, has been selected for the 2026 Oscar qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival. The film will make its world premiere during the festival’s Midnight Madness program on Saturday, August 15, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
More than 7,000 films were submitted for this year’s festival, with approximately six percent selected, making CHOKE one of a small number of films invited to screen at the festival.
Written by and starring Second City Film School alum Joelle Velez, CHOKE is described as a dystopian dark fantasy set in the fictional Very Nice Town, where citizens must endure a disturbing loyalty test known as “the Choke,” leaving them unable to speak for 24 hours.
“CHOKE is a dystopian, girly-pop, dark fantasy,” said Velez. “The easiest way to describe it is like an episode of Black Mirror, if it were written by Dr. Seuss, and set in Barbie Land.”
Director Cee Pham said the film explores the value of free expression through a heightened fictional world.
The cast features Chicago actors John Mossman, Jennifer Jelsema, Elena Victoria Feliz and Carlo Aparo.
Produced on a micro-budget, CHOKE was co-created by Velez and Local 476 cinematographer Kemi Mayomi, who served as director of photography and co-director. Pham joined the creative team as director to help shape the film’s distinctive visual style.
Production wrapped in fall 2025 after filming in Chicago’s Albany Park and Humboldt Park neighborhoods, along with locations on the city’s South Side. Post production concluded in June 2026 with editor Angie Panganiban, Quicksilver Color and Argonaut Audio.
The 2026 HollyShorts Film Festival runs August 13 through August 23 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
