Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 7/22/26 – Directed by Michael Keaton, Sweetwater is a poignant and timely short film about grief, memory and the unsettling possibilities of artificial intelligence.
Keaton stars as the son of a late celebrity who returns to his childhood home and unexpectedly encounters an AI-generated hologram of his mother, played by Kyra Sedgwick. The experience forces him to confront both his unresolved loss and the troubling reality of a digital afterlife.
Written and scored by Sean Douglas, Sweetwater uses its futuristic premise to ask a deeply human question: If technology allowed us to see and speak with someone we lost, would it help us heal, or make letting go impossible?
Keaton brings sensitivity and restraint to the material, while Sedgwick gives the artificial recreation a haunting emotional presence. Thought-provoking and quietly moving, Sweetwater is a memorable addition to the 2026 HollyShorts Film Festival, taking place August 13–23 in Hollywood.
