Ado (film)
| Ado | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Sam Henderson |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Eric Branco |
| Edited by | Maverick Moore |
Release date |
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Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Ado is an American short film co-written and directed by Sam Henderson. It follows a middle school theatre teacher whose rehearsal is disrupted by a school shooting. It was shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards.[1][2][3]
Plot
The film centers on Ms. Hopkins, a middle school theatre teacher whose rehearsal of Much Ado About Nothing with her students is abruptly disrupted by a school shooting.
Cast
- Jenifer Lewis as Ms. Hopkins
- Zach Lane as Bradley Taylor
- Karis Henderson as Maddie
- Lucas Krystek as Kenneth
- Jacob Estrada as Kid Cast
- Harvey B. Jackson as LAPD Ofc. B. Leasure
- Jayshawn Leake as Kid Cast
- Anna Scales as Kid Cast
- Norman Sieger as SWAT Officer
- DeAnna Toten Beard as Principal
- Jaxon Thomas Williams as Kid Cast
Release
Ado had its world premiere at the 2025 Flickerfest in January.[4]
In April 2025, it won Best Student Short Audience Choice Award at Cleveland International Film Festival.[5]
In June 2025, it won the HBO Short Film Award Showcase at the American Black Film Festival, presented by HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery, receiving a $10,000 cash prize.[6]
In August 2025, it screened at HollyShorts Film Festival.[7]
References
- ↑ "Independent film from Waco named to Oscar shortlist". kcentv.com. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
- ↑ "Short film made by Baylor theatre professor earns Oscar qualification". kcentv.com. July 29, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
- ↑ Jackson, Destiny (December 17, 2025). "Oscar Short Films Shortlists Include Pics Supported By Emma Thompson, Domhnall Gleeson, Jennifer Lewis, Miriam Margolyes & Zar Amir". Deadline. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
- ↑ "Flickerfest | Ado". Retrieved December 31, 2025.
- ↑ "Cleveland Film". www.clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
- ↑ Miami, ABFF (June 23, 2025). "2025 American Black Film Festival Announces This Year's Best of ABFF Winners – American Black Film Festival Miami". Retrieved December 31, 2025.
- ↑ "Sam Henderson's "ADO": A HollyShorts Story of Shakespeare and Tragedy". League of Filmmakers. August 12, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025.