All the Empty Rooms
Directed by Joshua Seftel
Produced by
  • Joshua Seftel
  • Conall Jones
  • James Costa
  • Trevor Burgess
  • Steve Kerr
Cinematography Matt Porwoll
Edited by
  • Erin Casper
  • Stephen Maing
  • Jeremy Medoff
Music by Alex Somers
Production
companies
  • Smartypants
  • Artemis Rising Foundation
  • Hyperobject Industries
Distributed by Netflix
Release dates
  • August 31, 2025 (2025-08-31) (Telluride)
  • December 1, 2025 (2025-12-01) (Netflix)
Running time
33 minutes
Country United States
Language English

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 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

Steve 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

Release

It had its world premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2025.[5] It also screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2025.[6][7] Prior to, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film.[8]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards March 15, 2026 Best Documentary Short Film All the Empty Rooms Won [9]
Hamptons International Film Festival October 13, 2025 Subject Matter Award Won [10]

See also

  • Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film
  • Submissions for Best Documentary Short Academy Award

References

  1. ^ Documentary 'All the Empty Rooms' examines the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings – MPR News on YouTube
  2. ^ "98th Oscars Shortlists in 12 Award Categories Announced". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  3. ^ Hilary Lewis, Beatrice Verhoeven (December 16, 2025). "2026 Oscars Shortlists Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  4. ^ "All the Empty Rooms". The Film Collaborative. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "All the Empty Rooms". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Feinberg, Scott (August 28, 2025). "Telluride: Netflix Acquires Doc Short 'All the Empty Rooms' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "The 98th Academy Awards | (2026)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  10. ^ "HIFF33: Awards Announced!". Hamptons International Film Festival. Retrieved November 7, 2025.