All the Empty Rooms is a 2025 American documentary short film directed and produced by Joshua Seftel. It follows Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they embark across the United States to memorialize the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings.[1]
| All the Empty Rooms | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joshua Seftel |
| Produced by |
|
| Cinematography | Matt Porwoll |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Alex Somers |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates | |
Running time | 33 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
All the Empty Rooms had its world premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2025. Netflix released it globally on its streaming service on December 1. At the 98th Academy Awards, it was awarded the Best Documentary Short Film. [2][3]
Premise
editSteve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp embark across the United States to memorialize the untouched bedrooms of children lost to school shootings.[4]
Four children and their bedrooms were featured in the film:
- Hallie Scruggs, a victim of the 2023 Nashville school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee
- Dominic Blackwell, a victim of the Saugus High School shooting in Santa Clarita, California
- Gracie Anne Muehlberger, also a victim of the Saugus High School shooting
- Jacklyn Jaylen Cazares, a victim of the Uvalde school shooting in Uvalde, Texas
The full project included four additional children who were not shown in the film. These included three victims of the Parkland high school shooting and one victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.[5]
Release
editIt had its world premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2025.[6] It also screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2025.[7][8] Prior to its Telluride premiere, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film.[9]
Accolades
edit| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | March 15, 2026 | Best Documentary Short Film | All the Empty Rooms | Won | [10] |
| Hamptons International Film Festival | October 13, 2025 | Subject Matter Award | Won | [11] | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Documentary 'All the Empty Rooms' examines the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings – MPR News on YouTube
- ↑ "98th Oscars Shortlists in 12 Award Categories Announced". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ↑ Hilary Lewis, Beatrice Verhoeven (December 16, 2025). "2026 Oscars Shortlists Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ↑ "All the Empty Rooms". The Film Collaborative. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Unmade beds and overdue books: Photographing the rooms of kids killed in school shootings". CBS News. March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
- ↑ Hammond, Pete (August 28, 2025). "Telluride Film Festival Lineup: 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere', Edward Berger's 'Ballad Of A Small Player', Chloé Zhao's 'Hamnet' Among World Premieres". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 7, 2025). "Idris Elba's 'Dust To Dreams' Starring Seal Set To Premiere In TIFF Shorts + Full Lineup". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ↑ "All the Empty Rooms". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ↑ Feinberg, Scott (August 28, 2025). "Telluride: Netflix Acquires Doc Short 'All the Empty Rooms' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ↑ "The 98th Academy Awards | (2026)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ↑ "HIFF33: Awards Announced!". Hamptons International Film Festival. Retrieved November 7, 2025.