Our winners have been chosen and are highlighted below
We've listed all the selected films alphabetically below together with information about each of them
(click on the thumbnail images to view larger versions of the supplied photographs & posters)
37 seconds apart
Entered in Documentary categoryAn investigation into the killing of a journalist on the Lebanese/Israeli border uncovers devastating evidence.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Fred Grace
Producer: Fred Grace
Duration: 11 minutes 15 seconds
Country of filming: Lebanon
Completion date: 4th December 2023
Production budget: $10,000 USDArea Boys
Entered in Comedy categoryTwo cousins smash a footbridge in South-East London and extort passersby for the privilege of crossing.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Bruno Atkinson, Toye Oladinni
Writer: Toye Oladinni
Producer: Will Slade
Cast: Kenyah Sandy, Selorm Adonu
Duration: 10 minutes
Genre: Comedy
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 7th August 2023
Production budget: £12,000
BITTERSWEET
Winner of the Best Young Filmmaker category
"I love you mum... After Hadi's mother falls terminally ill, he finds himself lost in a liminal maze, haunted by grief and regret."""
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Raiyan Chinoy
Writer: Raiyan Chinoy
Producer: Zain HAris, Marcus Hundsnes
Cast: Tashita Bebete, Juliana Lisk
Duration: 13 minutes
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 16th December 2023
Production budget: $7,500 USD View website Watch TrailerDispensary of Death
Entered in Horror categoryKevin is having a bad day. He's been bitten by one of those strange, shuffling creatures that suddenly seem to be everywhere. Perhaps the friendly people at his local pharmacy can help?
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Simon O'Neill
Writer: Simon O'Neill
Producer: Simon O'Neill, Aideen O'Sullivan
Cast: Keith Singleton, Niamh Branigan, Ruth Lehane, Jack Walsh
Duration: 14 minutes 17 seconds
Country of filming: Ireland
Completion date: 6th March 2022
View website Watch Trailer
High Tide
Entered in Rest of UK categorySky Arts Presents: High Tide After ransacking an ancient island monastery, two siblings, now trapped in their sinking campervan, are torn apart by history, hallucination, and a sacred stone. Official Selection at BFI London Film Festival 2023, British Shorts Berlin 2024, and BIFA-qualifying Sunderland Shorts 2023 and Brighton Rocks 2024.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Johnny Massahi
Writer: Johnny Massahi
Producer: Paul Ashton, Maria Caruana-Galizia, Philip Edgar-Jones, Solomon Nwabueze, Johnny Massahi, Caitlin Bramwell
Cast: Sam Troughton, Sam Purkis, Sarah Balfour
Duration: 10 minutes 20 seconds
Genre: Drama, Folk Horror, Horror, Horror Comedy, Psychedelic, Surrealist, Myth, Legend, Fantasy, Experimental, Fantastic
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 3rd October 2023
Production budget: £13,000 View website Watch Trailer
I am Kanaka
Winner of the Best Documentary category
A local Hawaiian hero fights to save his culture by teaching traditions, sustainability and life skills to disadvantaged indigenous kids.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Genevieve Sulway
Writer: Genevieve Sulway
Producer: Genevieve Sulway
Duration: 15 minutes
Country of filming: United States
Completion date: 23rd November 2022
Production budget: £6,752 View website Watch Trailer Open Facebook
Lionhead
Winner of the Best Rest of UK category
It's Chinese New Year in a small parish town where a teenage British-Chinese lion dancer strikes up an unlikely friendship with the most popular girl in his class. Prepared to shun the centuries long wu-shi folk dance of his forefathers in favour of the neon lights of his new love interest's house party, he must come to terms with his shame towards his own traditions before it's too late.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Alvin Yu
Writer: Alvin Yu, Sam Ward
Producer: Charley Packham, Millie Marsh
Cast: Aidan Cheng
Duration: 14 minutes 59 seconds
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 12th September 2023
Production budget: £30,000 Watch Trailer
Merman
Entered in Rest of UK categoryHaunted by what she has seen while carrying out humanitarian work with refugees in the Mediterranean and traumatised by her experiences, Mari returns to her parents? coastal home in rural Suffolk. There, through an unlikely acquaintance, she discovers the medieval legend of the Merman. The truth behind this seemingly innocent myth is darker than Mari could imagine. Merman explores themes of prejudice and isolation against the breath-taking backdrop of the Suffolk coastal landscape. Mari finds herself questioning whether humanity will ever be accepting of outsiders or are they destined to suffer as the Merman did hundreds of years ago.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Madeleine Wynn
Writer: Madeleine Wynn
Producer: Liz Cook, Fiona Darrington, Angela Hart
Cast: Phil Davis, Alistair Petrie, Eleanor Grace, Lucy Scott, Danny Burford
Duration: 13 minutes 50 seconds
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 15th June 2023
Production budget: £20,000 View website Watch Trailer Open Facebook
Midnight Whispers
Entered in North West Film-maker categoryIn a world where poetry is an illegal substance, a dealer roams around an estate receiving cash in exchange for whispering lines of illicit verse into her customers' ears. But when she runs out of material, she must find some fresh lines for her favourite customer before they meet again at midnight - or risk losing him forever.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Baldwin Li
Writer: Linxi Doël, Baldwin Li
Producer: Baldwin Li
Cast: Linxi Doël, Finn Wilson, Margot Leicester, Declan Coker
Duration: 9 minutes 59 seconds
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 10th October 2023
Production budget: £250 View website Watch Trailer
Opening Up
Winner of the Audience Choice Live Vote
Reluctant-dater Jas played by Tamzin Outhwaite (Eastenders) hadn't meant to kiss Adam played by Gary Beadle (Guy Ritchie's: The Gentlemen, Rye Lane & Star Wars: Andor). But she couldn't help herself. Freaking out, she bursts into her twelfth -floor flat and slams the door in his lipstick smeared face, leaving divorcee Adam alone on the doorstep, feeling the pain of rejection all over again. With the door now safely between them, Jas admits to Adam that the date had actually gone well. She even tells him much to his relief that the kiss was fucking amazing. So when he asks to see her again, and she says no, Adam leaves confused and heartbroken. And still holding her coat. In the comfort of her flat, Jas removes her makeup and changes into comfortable clothes. All she wants is some peace. Instead, she gets Ben, her interfering, matchmaking flatmate played by Mark Weinman (Antman and the Wasp: Quantumainia).
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Oz Arshad
Writer: Lorna Riley
Producer: Guy Lindley
Cast: Tamzin Outhwaite, Gary Beadle, Mark Weinman
Duration: 11 minutes
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 7th November 2023
Production budget: £13,000
Pari and the witch
Entered in International categoryThe border forest of Iran. A couple tries to take Pari across the border of Iran with them to reach her father who crossed the border a few days ago. All the creatures of the forest have been enchanted by the witch. Pari enters this forest to save her father, where no creature has the right to speak.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Mohammad Reza Yarikia
Writer: Mohammad Reza Yarikia
Producer: Mohammad Reza Yarikia
Cast: Ali Houshmand, Atefeh Makvandi, Jana Karimi, Mohammad Reza Yarikia
Duration: 12 minutes 52 seconds
Country of filming: Iran, Islamic Republic of
Completion date: 14th April 2023
Production budget: $2,000 USD
Piece Of Cake
Winner of the Best North West Film category
An elderly baker cooks up a sinister plan. But what should have been a piece of cake, becomes a very sticky affair...
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Jack Hartley
Writer: Jack Hartley
Producer: Rosie Ford
Cast: Steve Evets, Jennifer Banks, Susan Hilton
Duration: 10 minutes 40 seconds
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 4th November 2023
Watch Trailer
Quiet Life
Entered in Comedy categoryGeoffrey buries his phone and shuns technology in a one-man silent rebellion against the modern world. After a bruising public breakup, Geoffrey (Luke Rollason) seeks a `Quiet Life`. But when potential new human connection comes knocking, Geoffrey is torn between the world he has created and the one he left behind. Physical comedy and farce stumble into existential sadness in this semi-silent comedy for a disconnected world. Quiet Life stars Luke Rollason, whose performance in Extraordinary (Disney+) was named as one of the top TV performances of the year in 2023 by the Hollywood Reporter.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Ruth Pickett
Writer: Alex Bruce, Luke Rollason
Producer: Anthony Caveney
Cast: Luke Rollason, Ella Bruccoleri
Duration: 11 minutes 05 seconds
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Comedy-Drama
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 1st December 2023
SCRIPT
Entered in Horror categoryTwo screenwriters, a ghost story, the night that goes on. Who will put an end to this?
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Piero Cannata
Writer: Piero Cannata
Producer: Piero Cannata
Cast: Daniele Marotta, Monica Zanforlin, Marilea Vaglica
Duration: 8 minutes 10 seconds
Country of filming: Italy
Completion date: 1st July 2018
Watch Trailer
SUCK IT UP
Winner of the Best Comedy category
When their flatmate moves out and takes her vacuum cleaner with her, the remaining tenants are faced with a challenging road to domestic paradise.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Megan Shandley
Writer: Megan Shandley
Producer: Megan Shandley, Gergana G Popova
Cast: Roxana Bartle, Jessica Chamberlain, Harrie Dobby, Kieran Mortell
Duration: 8 minutes 55 seconds
Genre: Absurd, Bizarre, British Culture, Comedy, Debut, Drama, Female Director, Female Narratives, Female Producer, Friendship, Live Action, Low Budget, Narrative Fiction, Relationship, Short
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 5th September 2023
Production budget: £6,000 View website Watch Trailer Open Twitter
Spider-Zan
Entered in International categoryNegar is a young girl who loses something that causes trouble for her right on the day of her proposal ceremony.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Maryam Khodabakhsh
Writer: Maryam Khodabakhsh
Producer: Ali Tabe emam
Cast: Zahra Aghapour, Narges Mohtashami, Roza Hashemi
Duration: 12 minutes 45 seconds
Country of filming: Iran, Islamic Republic of
Completion date: 20th September 2023
Watch Trailer Open Twitter Open Facebook
The Cure
Winner of the Best International Film category
17-year-old Renal is brought to a sex worker by his uncle to prove his masculinity to his patriarchal father. An `educational` act driven by good intentions turns into psychological and physical abuse.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Taisia Deeva
Writer: Taisia Deeva
Producer: Anna Gasparyan
Duration: 12 minutes 59 seconds
Country of filming: Russian Federation
Production budget: €20,000 View website Watch Trailer
The Eyes of Marge
Winner of the Best Horror Film category
Logline: A self-hating social worker traumatised by his sister?s death from domestic abuse, is plagued by phone calls from an unknown woman looking for her dead sister. 'The Eyes of Marge' is a social horror that flips the gender stereotypes of a stalker/slasher film on their head. The world was inspired by the current conversation taking place regarding the prevalence of male violence towards women in our society. In a grimy, gritty world where the services put in place to protect us are no longer enough, a male social worker becomes subject to intrusive phone calls from an unknown woman. As this evolves into a haunting and his fear grows, the supernatural is used to reflect the very real fears felt by women in our own world every day.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Lily Howkins
Writer: Mark Griffin
Producer: Matthew Lawes-Wickwar
Cast: Olivia Bromley, Mark Griffin, David Solomon, Victoria Lucie
Duration: 14 minutes
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 15th September 2023
Production budget: £6,000 Watch Trailer
The House of Culture
Entered in Young Film-maker categoryThe House of Culture used to be the centre of community in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. After years of neglect, it is now in decay and ruin. We follow the building?s history through the filmmaker's family's memories. This short documentary started out as a graduate film at Edinburgh Napier University but has since evolved and expanded from the original concept. After graduating the production team travelled to Slovakia to visit The House of Culture and gain a greater understanding of the importance of this institution, and the feeling of loss which still exists in the community after its closure. It has been a project we have been working on for 3 years and are exceptionally proud to have completed. Eastern European history is fascinating and nuanced and is not often shown in this light in Western media. We were granted unique access to the building and had the chance to explore culture in the heart of Slovakia like never before. The personal connection with the director?s family and the building helps to emphasise the loss and forgotten experiences, that the building, and culture alike, have experienced. This documentary is a window into a history which for too long has gone unwritten, showcasing family, loss, and love in the face of devastating social and political upheaval.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Becky Miková
Producer: Ruth Aitken
Duration: 14 minutes 10 seconds
Country of filming: Slovakia, United Kingdom
Completion date: 20th May 2023
Production budget: £2,000 Watch Trailer Open Facebook
The Jubilee
Entered in Animation categoryThrough stop motion animation, Mimi is a little mouse girl who is made from the paper napkins from a wedding anniversary party. We follow her journey in this paper napkin world as she tries to navigate her confusion and frustrations of what is going on and through the help of an old man memories come flooding back in to play, as Mimi is an old lady who remembers fragments of her life through a cloud of dementia, through the help of Elder her husband, against a confusing backdrop of their 60th Wedding Anniversary party. A poetic and beautiful vignette of romance, love and loss. The characters based on the real life drawings on a paper napkin by the filmmakers Mother who suffered from dementia.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Wilma Smith
Writer: Wilma Smith
Producer: Carol Brown
Cast: Tina Gray, David Hayman
Duration: 12 minutes 07 seconds
Genre: Romance, Drama
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 29th June 2024
Production budget: £20,000 View website Watch Trailer Open Facebook
The Lab
Entered in Animation categoryA mad scientist is in her lab, working on her next creation.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Izzy Livesey
Duration: 3 minutes 14 seconds
Genre: Comedy, Thriller
Completion date: 24th May 2024
View website
The Wedding Veil of the Proud Princess
Winner of the Best Animation category
The most beautiful princess in the world demands the impossible: to marry a king who conquers all kings. The world is plunged into war as kings from all lands vie for her hand. Amidst the bloodshed, a mysterious suitor emerges claiming to be the one she?d asked for. Based on a story by L.M.Montgomery.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Anna-Ester Volozh
Producer: Anna-Ester Volozh
Cast: Pik-Sen Lim
Duration: 6 minutes 33 seconds
Genre: Fantasy, Dark Fairy Tale, Drama
Completion date: 8th February 2024
Watch Trailer
Turn Up The Bass
Winner of the Audience Choice Live Vote
'Turn Up The Bass' tells the remarkable and little-known story of Troi Lee, aka DJ Chinaman, the unstoppable force behind the UK's deaf music and rave scene. Produced by a mix of deaf and hearing creatives, including award-winning deaf Director, Ted Evans (Retreat, The End, Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change, Paralympics Opening Ceremony), deaf Assistant Director Sam Arnold (Name Me Lawand) and multi-award-winning Editor Sam Rogers (Last Breath, Jago, Fashion Reimagined). The film was one of just 5 shorts selected and backed by the prestigious 2023 Netflix Documentary Talent Fund. 20 years of archive footage is interwoven with interviews and actuality, charting Troi's evolution from underground raver to festival headliner. Hackney-born Troi has dedicated his career to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for deaf artists and performers, challenging misconceptions and fighting prejudice to show that deaf people can also enjoy, experience and make music. The film joins Troi as he puts on his 20 year anniversary show in London - showcasing deaf and disabled dancers, MCs, rappers and sign singers. Through heavy bass and deep vibrations, he connects audiences through the universal language of music.
Showing on Friday 20th September
Director: Ted Evans
Producer: Caroline Williamson
Cast: Troi Lee
Duration: 12 minutes
Genre: documentary, disability, deaf, British sign language, music, hiphop, London, advocacy
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Production budget: £30,000 View website Watch Trailer
Two Minutes
Entered in Comedy categoryTwo brothers rob a corner shop only to be interrupted by their Nan.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Jamie Benyon
Writer: Jamie Benyon
Producer: Annie Lees-Jones
Cast: Annette Badland, Samuel Bottomley, Ashley Margolis
Duration: 6 minutes
Genre: Crime, Comedy
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 19th January 2024
Production budget: £7,000
Waste
Entered in Young Film-maker categoryA lazy man in a grubby apartment finds himself with a magic bin that makes all his rubbish disappear. However, his actions have consequences. leading to his demise.
Showing on Saturday 21st September
Director: Anya Williams
Writer: Ryan Reid
Producer: Molly Franks-Calcutt
Cast: Ryan Done
Duration: 6 minutes 20 seconds
Genre: Environmental, horror
Country of filming: United Kingdom
Completion date: 27th April 2024
Watch Trailer
