By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 08/16/2026
Lunch Box is an exciting short film that isn’t just about lunch; it’s about competition, friendships, and camaraderie. Set in a middle school, the story follows 8th graders competing for a coveted lunch box during their break time. The competition resembles gambling, as both teams add snacks to the lunch box and vie for snack winnings.
The teams consist of the All-Stars, made up of athletically gifted students, and the Rejects, who are the underdogs taking center stage in this fun film. While the All-Stars dominate the games, the scrappy Rejects persistently aim to change the status quo.
On the first day, a new student is introduced. He is judged immediately and pushed onto the Rejects team, but to the surprise of the All-Stars, he turns out to be a skilled player, helping the Rejects secure their first lunch box victory. On the second day, the All-Stars attempt to recruit him, but rain forces them indoors for a basketball match. They allow Robert, the new student, to play with the Rejects since basketball is the All-Stars’ preferred sport, which levels the playing field.
Lunch Box is co-written and co-directed by Sean Billings-Almendarez and Romeo Okwara, and it was shot on Fujifilm. There’s something about shooting on film that digital cannot replicate; the colors and lighting are stunning, and I wish more films were created this way. The ensemble cast features fresh young actors, including Grady Bartholf, Julian Alexis, Benjamin Carro, Elliana Dauplaise, Darby David, Cam Healy, Grayson Hood, Kai Jackson Szopa, Tyler Nunnery, and Kai Morgan, many of whom we’ll likely see in future projects.
Lunch Box takes audiences back to a time filled with nostalgia, fun, and the carefree days before teen angst and rebellion. I highly recommend watching it.
Lunch Box will screen at this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival.
