British Short Film Competition 1

Emma has a lot on her plate: her homework, looking after her annoying young sister, and wondering why her mum was taken in to see the manager at the supermarket? But the 11-year-old is determined to make sure that they all get what they need to survive.

Jamie Di Spirito | United Kingdom | | 12 mins | England Premiere

17-year-old Rae is “chronically ill and chronically awesome.” She loves her mum, her friends, and Timothee Chalamet. But when Rae’s symptoms get worse with no diagnosis, we see the mental and physical impact chronic illness has on her life and what little things can make every day a bit easier. 

Milly Garnier | United Kingdom | 2023 | 10 mins | Yorkshire Premiere

A mysterious neighbourhood fox takes young Sam on a journey to the attic where they discover the magical joys of playing with gender. Divina De Campo and Ian McKellen lend their voices to this wonderfully animated musical.

Riyadh Haque | United Kingdom | 2024 | 3 mins | Premiere

Director Riyadh Haque casts his own family in this almost-documentary that reimagines the childhood recollections of a Jersey inhabitant, Margaret, through the intimate lens of the director's British South Asian background. The film reconstructs and, crucially, threads together seemingly disparate memories and stories, finding a satisfying kinship of experience.

Riyadh Haque | United Kingdom | 2024 | 3 mins | Premiere

Living precariously and facing eviction, Angel, grieving for a love lost, is forced to live alongside Bathsheba, a younger woman who just may be the support and inspiration she needs. This stunningly shot debut drama was born out of our increasing housing insecurity and the rise of property guardianship. 

Myah Asha Jeffers | United Kingdom | 2024 | 14 mins | Yorkshire Premiere

Everyone’s been there, the complicated sexual and emotional intricacies of getting back with your ex. Is this right? Am I doing this for the ego or passion? Using explicit puppetry and silly puns, Talking Heads puts to screen what goes through your head(s) when you’re making a potentially bad decision.

Dario & Dom | United Kingdom | 2023 | 7 mins | UK Premiere

This coming-of-age comedy stars Alvin, a 14-year-old boy who hates sports (a sin in a Jamaican household). When he’s forced to run for his school’s sports day, Alvin must leap over and dash past the stereotypes and complexities of being a Black British boy. 

Rhys Aaron Lewis | United Kingdom | 2024 | 13 mins | Yorkshire Premiere

An investigative documentary seeking the truth behind a thirty-year-old memory: a once-watched film in which a house may or may not have featured being exploded. It’s a quest to understand the concept of home, urban regeneration and begins to question the absurdity of searching for what is real in memories.

Liberty Nam-Do Smith | UnitOK/NOTOKed Kingdom | 2024 | 17 mins | Yorkshire Premiere

Britain. The near future. Loretta attempts to find love with a new stranger whilst navigating the perils of subscriptions, customer services and unskippable adverts. A darkly comic sci-fi on the loneliness and isolation of modern city life. 

Pardeep Sahota | United Kingdom | 2024 | 13 mins | World Premiere