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My Little Hobby

A behind-the-scenes look at the competitive world of hobby horsing through the eyes of an eighteen year old fanatic.

  • Lauren Stava
    Director
  • Michael Costello
    Writer
  • Isabelle Bright
    Producer
    Bob Hearts Abishola (CBS), The Kominsky Method (Assistant to the Executive Producer - Netflix), Mike & Molly (Assistant to the Executive Producer - CBS), and more
  • Tillie Howard
    Producer
  • Ni'Cole Pettis
    Producer
    This Fool (Second Second Assistant Director - FX/Hulu), Punky Brewster (Second Second Assistant Director - Peacock), Snowfall (Second Second Assistant Director - FX), and more
  • K. Wisocky
    Key Cast
    "Abigail Adams"
  • Maiia Kushnerenko
    Key Cast
    "Helen Litsky"
  • Joyce Hii
    Key Cast
    "Rachel Jones"
  • Mark Ball
    Key Cast
    "Fitz Patrick"
  • Daniel Button
    Director of Photography
    Seize the Night (2022), Witnesses (2019), Keepsake, and more
  • Lauren Stava
    Editor
    Mother's Day (Directed by and Starring Kathryn Boyd Brolin), Vanderpump Villa (Hulu), The Real Housewives of Potomac (Bravo), Buddy Games (CBS), Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Amazon Prime), Welcome Home Nikki Glaser? (E!), Keeping Up With the Kardashians (E!), The Challenge (MTV), The Real World (MTV), Born This Way (A&E), The Real Housewives of Dubai (Bravo), and more
  • Michael Costello
    Editor
    Mother's Day (Directed by and Starring Kathryn Boyd Brolin), Smoke (Apple TV+), Black Bird (Lead Assistant Editor - Apple TV+), An American Pickle (Lead Assistant Editor - HBO Max), The Girl in the Pool (theatrical), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (Nickelodeon), Q: Into the Storm (HBO Max), and more
  • Kate Rubino
    Music Supervisor
    Vanderpump Villa (Hulu), The Challenge: USA (CBS), The Challenge (MTV), Buddy Games (CBS), Valerie's Home Cooking (Food Network), and more
  • Aaron Eaton
    Colorist
    Atlas (VFX Supervisor), Avatar: The Way of Water (VFX Artist), Black Adam (VFX Supervisor), Secret Invasion (VFX Artist), Thor: Love and Thunder (VFX Artist), Red Notice (VFX Supervisor), The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (VFX Supervisor), and more
  • Peter Zongting Li
    Re-Recording Mixer
    Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Music Department), DreamScapes (Music Department), Little Emma (theatrical), Reincarnated Love: Amy's Revenge (TV Series), and more
  • Janice Berridge
    Makeup Artist
    Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or a Special - Two and a Half Men, Bob Hearts Abishola (CBS), Extended Family (NBC), Mom (CBS), Disjointed (Netflix), Young Sheldon (CBS), Mike & Molly (CBS), Two and a Half Men (CBS), and more
  • Adam Korbesmeyer
    Original Music by
  • Eric Sturr
    Original Music by
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Mockumentary
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED 4K
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Lady Filmmakers Festival
    Beverly Hills, California
    United States
    September 29, 2024
    World Premiere
    Winner - Blockbuster Short Film / Winner - Best Ladies First Short Film / Official Selection
  • Big Apple Film Festival (Fall Edition): Los Angeles
    Glendale, California
    United States
    December 3, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Utah International Film Festival
    Provo, Utah
    United States
    January 10, 2025
    Utah Premiere
    Nominee - Female Filmmaker Award / Official Selection
  • Santa Monica Film Festival
    XOLO.TV - Online
    March 1, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Marina del Rey Film Festival
    Culver City, California
    United States
    June 21, 2025
    Winner - Best Mockumentary Short / Official Selection
  • Marin County Fair International Festival of Short Film and Video
    San Rafael, California
    United States
    July 3, 2025
    Official Selection
  • The Broad Humor Film Festival
    Santa Monica, California
    United States
    August 28, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Calabasas Film Festival
    Calabasas, California
    United States
    September 20, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Burbank International Film Festival
    Burbank, California
    United States
    September 24, 2025
    Nominee - Best Comedy Short Film / Official Selection
  • Catalina Film Festival
    Avalon, California
    United States
    September 27, 2025
    Official Selection
  • ReadingFilmFEST
    Reading, Pennsylvania
    United States
    October 10, 2025
    Pennsylvania Premiere
    Official Selection
  • DaVinci International Film Festival
    DaVinci Virtual Cinema - Online
    October 10, 2025
    Honorable Mention
  • Another Hole in the Head Film Festival
    Eventive - Online
    December 1, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Atlanta Comedy Film Festival
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    February 7, 2026
    Georgia Premiere
    Nominee - Best Mockumentary Film / Official Selection
  • Con Nooga Film Festival
    Chattanooga, TN
    United States
    February 20, 2026
    Tennesse Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
    Idyllwild, California
    United States
    March 5, 2026
    Official Selection
  • International Short Film Week Regensburg
    Regensburg
    Germany
    March 7, 2026
    International Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Lauren Stava

Lauren Stava has spent over a decade shaping unscripted television as a professional editor, lending her talents to more than 20 popular shows. Some of her credits include The Real World, The Challenge, Born This Way, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, multiple Real Housewives franchises, and Vanderpump Villa. But her dream has always been to direct her own film, and "My Little Hobby" is her directorial debut. She is also the co-editor, and stars as Linda Costello in the film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Thank you for considering “My Little Hobby” for your festival!

When a video from the Finnish Hobby Horse Championships first caught the attention of myself and writer Michael Costello, we immediately knew that we wanted to tell a story in that world. Hobby horsing is a very serious sport with a host of eccentric characters, and because I’ve edited a lot of comedic unscripted television throughout my career, framing this story as a mockumentary felt instinctive. Our Executive Producer Isabelle Bright is also an equestrian, and through that was already very familiar with hobby horsing. She was essential in consulting us every step of the way on this project, from what terminology to use to training our actors how to jump with their hobby horses.

When it comes to the aesthetics and tone of “My Little Hobby,” we were heavily inspired by Director Christopher Guest and his mockumentary style of filmmaking, particularly the film “Best in Show.” The film "Theater Camp" as well as television shows such as “The Office” and “Abbott Elementary" were also used as inspiration.

We also are featuring a combination of original and licensed music in this film. We felt like songs from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite” would be amusing for the main portion of the competition, and our Music Supervisor Kate Rubino helped us secure those. For the rest of our music, everything is composed originally by Adam Korbesmeyer and Eric Sturr, who currently work with bands such as Big Time Rush.

“My Little Hobby” has been a passion project of ours, and we’re so excited for you to see it. Our crew is made of close friends who all happen to work in the entertainment industry, and finally had the chance to come together and bring a story to life.

We had a blast making this, and we hope you have even more fun watching it!

- Lauren