Directors Notes // The Home of Independent Filmmaking

11 Gems From Conero Film + ADV 2026 to Look Out For

Conero Film + ADV’s Pianeta Fresco is full of short films that surprise. DN picks 11 must-watch titles from the 4th edition of this mighty event in Ancona.

Live Action, Premiere

Émile Lavoie Delivers an Unabashedly Grizzly, Expectation Defying Horror Comedy With ‘Mean Ends’

Émile Lavoie twists horror expectations to bloody ends in his darkly humorous short film that shows what happens when you dare judge a book by its cover.

Live Action, Premiere

Life Reflects Art in Émile V. Schlesser’s ‘Backstage’ Blending On-Stage Power Play With Real-Life Abuse

Émile V. Schlesser draws on personal experience for his absorbing drama about abuse and power dynamics between directors and actors in the theatre world.

Live Action

10 Short Films Capturing the Essence of Riga International Film Festival 2026

From experimental documentaries to unconventional animation, DN picks out ten standout shorts from the 2026 Riga International Film Festival.

Live Action

From “Back Alley Head Job” to SXSW Award-Winner: Lee Lawson on the Evolution of ‘Man Eating Pussy’

Lee Lawson discusses the practical effects and unexpected tenderness behind the provocative premise of her SXSW award-winning short, 'Man Eating Pussy'.

Live Action

Max Clendaniel Wields a Cheesy Horror Prop as an Ego-Shattering Weapon in Improvised Comedy ‘Dummy’

Max Clendaniel's improv comedy magnifies the fine line between an actor's vanity & their justifiable concerns about how a director depicts them onscreen.

Live Action, Premiere

Who Gets Believed? Susan Wokoma Confronts the Adultification of Black Children in ‘Dark Skin Bruises Differently’

Drawing on her childhood, Susan Wokoma writes, directs and stars as a teacher torn between instinct and complicity in a staffroom deciding a girl’s fate.

Live Action, Premiere

Robert Piel’s ‘The Lap’ Harvests the Unspoken Fears and Desires Behind a Teenage Struggle for Power

With only four days, expired 35mm stock and an apple harvest dictated schedule, Robert Piel learned to trust instinct over coverage for his coming of age

Awards

Exclusive First Look at the BIFA 2026 Best British Short Film Longlist

Fearless, inventive and wonderfully varied - Directors Notes is proud to announce the 29th BIFA Best British Short Film longlist.