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Films
Battle of LA is Patrick's third project and first under the Tiny Rocket Films company. It tells the story of two young scientist who find a crashed ‘something’ in the early morning and work through the night figuring out what it is, how to keep it safe, and ultimately, how to help it. This 15 minute short is based on real events that happened in Los Angeles on the eve of WWII one February night in 1942.
Battle Of LA
Credits
Director/Writer/Producer - Patrick Pizzolorusso
Patrick Pizzolorusso - Clay
Lauren Olipra - Sylvie
Adam Wasser - Ralph
Alexandra Kopko - Radio Reporter
Director of Photography - Rodolphe Portier
Editor/Sound Designer - Ken Ramos
Assistant Director - Kei'la Ryan
Assistant Director - Kyle Kirkpatrick
Sound Mixer - Rebecca Burgess
Boom Operator - Matthew Simpson
Colorist - Raphaëlle Dufosset
Gaffer - Nicholas Luna
First AC - Kevin Rios
Key Grip - Justin McQuaig
Makeup/Hair - Dasha Kittredge
PA - Gina Pizzolorusso
Post-Production Sound Mixer - Nicolas Ruau
There is no higher honor than to be able to screen at the mecca of all things pop culture and Sci-Fi.
Battle of LA screened at the San Diego Comic Con as part of their Independent Film Festival on July 25, 2025.
Followed by at Q&A. Notable attendees were the Fantastic 4.
Over the course of our run we've received numerous honorifics and won 36 awards spanning all aspects of our filmmaking process and honoring all members of our team. From acting to directing to editing and make up and hair.
Awards
Neumann Inspires Film Festival
Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film & Screenplay Festival
Pasadena International Film Festival - April 6, 2025
Nominee Best Sci-Fi
Action/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Thriller Festival
Winner - Best Short Film
Sci-On!
Winner - Area 51 Award
Melrose Hill Short Film Festival
Winner - Best Short Film
Balticon Sunday Short Science Fiction Film Festival May 25, 2025
Symbiotic Film Festival
First Contact Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival
Nominee
Fortean Film Festival
Winner - Best Ufology/Aliens Film”
Hollywood Blood Horror Film Festival
Winner - Best Sci-Fi
Winner - Best Actor - Patrick Pizzolorusso
Winner - Best Actress - Patrick Pizzolorusso
Winner - Best Supporting Actor - Adam Wasser
Winner - Best Sound Design - Ken Ramos
Winner - Best Make up and Hair Styling - Dasha Kittredge
McMinnville Sci-fi Film Festival
Digital Griffix Film Awards
Nominee
WILDsound Feedback Film and Screenplay Festival - May 29, 2025
Kraken International Film Festival
Winner - Comedy
Winner - Best Make up/Hair
Winner - Best Actress
FantaSci Short Film Festival
Marina Del Rey Film Festival - June 21, 2025
Miscon International Short Film Festival - June 21, 2025
Long Island International Film Expo - July 11, 2025
Winner - Best Cinematography
Nominee - Best Sci-Fi
ConGregate Film Festival - July 12, 2025
San Diego Comic Con International Film Festival - July 25, 2025
San Antonio Film Festival - July 25, 2025
The Chain Film Festival
Winner - Filmmaker Favorite
Detroit Independent Film Festival
Studio City International Film Festival - September 1, 2025
Tarzana International Film Festival - September 6, 2025
Nominee - Best Sci-Fi
San Fransisco Science Fiction Short Film and TV Awards - September 15, 2025
Winner - Best Short
Santa Barbara indie Film Fest - September 20, 2025
Burbank International Film Festival - September 26, 2025
Winner - Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Seattle Film Fest
Semi-Finalist
The New York Science Fiction Film Festival - September 19, 2025
The MN Genre Film Expo
Diff Short - October 18, 2025
The Haunted Pamlico Film Festival - October 18, 2025
Winner - Best Sci-Fi
Berlin Sci-Fi Film Fest - October 23, 2025
New York Long Island Film Festival - October 25, 2025
Nominee - Best Horror/Sci-Fi Short
Nominee - Best Sound Horror/Sci-Fi Short - Ken Ramos
Nominee - Best Screenplay Horror/Sci-Fi Short - Patrick Pizzolorusso
Nominee - Best Director Horror/Sci-Fi Short - Patrick Pizzolorusso
Nominee - Best Actor Horror/Sci-Fi Short - Patrick Pizzolorusso
Nominee - Best Actress Horror/Sci-Fi Short - Lauren Olipra
Cosmic Holler Film Fest - October 26, 2025
ZedFest Film Festival - November 11, 2025
Winner - Outstanding Screen Story - Patrick Pizzolorusso
Winner - Outstanding Acting Performance - Patrick Pizzolorusso
Winner - Outstanding Acting Performance - Lauren Olipra
Los Angeles International Film Festival - November 14, 2025
Winner -
Weyauwega international Film Festival - November 14, 2025
Planet 9 Film Fest - November 16, 2025
Winner - Coolest Award
Los Angeles Fantasy Fest - November 20, 2025
Nominee - Best Sci-Fi/Horror Short
Santa Clarita International Film Festival - December 13, 2025
First Night Morris Film Festival - December 31, 2025
Magnolia Independent Film Festival - February 19, 2026
McMinnville Short Film Festival
Honorable Mention
Hollywood Short Film Festival - March 28, 2026
Winner - Best of the Festival
International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival - April 10, 2026
GenCon Film Festival - August 1, 2026
Director's Statement
I set out to tell a smart and charming story based on real events but infused with fantastical elements. A fantastical story from the past that is relevant today with themes of hope, helping others, and especially compassion for things we don't understand and for people who may be different than us. I wanted to root those elements in reality as much as possible through the use of practical effects and real working props. The more tangible a thing can be, the more an audience can grab on and relate to it. So, I wanted to ground the fantasy as much as possible and have our actors touching and interacting with real working props. If an actor can touch it, the audience is transported more fully into the world we are creating.
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