As has been the case in previous years, once again the short films of the London Film Festival continue to demonstrate the eclecticism of the festival programmers’ tastes. Despite being the UK’s largest film festival, the team behind this 68th edition of LFF aren’t afraid to have shorts from filmmakers of various backgrounds sitting next to each other. Watching through the programmes on offer, you’ll see student filmmakers next to established directors, horror shorts sitting alongside intimate documentaries, high budgets next to low budgets. It’s just a wonderful mix of films that are clearly put together without any sort of prejudice or preconceived assumptions. Below you’ll find a list of ten short films from the festival this year that we deemed recommendation-worthy but bear in mind the programme is very much worth your time across the board. So, once you’ve finished with this list, do venture forth into everything else screening this year as it’s a doozy of a lineup.
Cold Snap – Ellen Evans
When Anna returns home to the farm she grew up on, her Mother becomes rattled by the unexpected drop in. Ellen Evans’ short is in Competition at LFF and it’s easy to see why. It’s a gripping, grounded drama that has a quiet, sizzling tension that permeates throughout its fourteen minute runtime. It also has a moment where it veers off stylistically into more dreamlike territory, a choice which showcases the scope of Evans’ vision and the potential for her filmmaking going forward.
Outside Noise – Ethan Evans
The cleverness of Ethan Evans’ horror short (a filmmaker I highlighted in my 2021 Halloween Scares selection with Time Out) is how he takes the comforting and makes it terrifying. The film follows a young woman who’s struggling to sleep and decides to use an ambience app. But when the sounds coming out of her phone start to blend with reality, she’s unsure of what’s actually in the room with her. An example of a seemingly simple concept executed at an impressive level.
Pigs – Julia Jackman
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Pigs is one of those shorts which, from the off, keeps you guessing. It opens with Laura, heading to her Gran’s for dinner, but when she opens the door she informs Laura that they’ve run out of wine. At least not enough for her. What ensues is a strange and darkly comic dinner party with unexpected guests, wild hairstyles, and plenty of tension. If you’re a fan of Yorgos Lanthimos or wonderfully weird comedies in general, be sure to keep an eye on Director Julia Jackman.
The Real Thing – Charlie Fink
A desperate, lonely guy must rid his apartment of an embarrassing secret after a date goes more successfully than he was expecting. Charlie Fink’s Susan Wakoma and Thomas Gray starring short is well written, witty and looks great too. It’s a proper escalator as well, starting with some relatively small shenanigans before racking up the absurdity of protagonist Danny’s baffling circumstances.
Travelling Home – Juliet Klottrup
Travelling Home is a documentary following traveller and retired farrier Joe Cannon Sr, as he looks back upon his life during his annual journey to Appleby Fair in Cumbria. I think what I liked most about Juliet Klottrup’s film is how beautifully made and open it is. She captures Joe’s life, as he moves and cares for his horses, in such a calm, non-judgmental light that just feels refreshing and needed.
The Nobody – Razan Madhoon
Equal parts funny and thought-provoking, NFTS graduate Razan Madhoon’s short tells the story of an Airport Immigration Officer who questions her role when an unidentified passenger dies on a flight from Egypt. It’s a film which asks what happens when we become so entrenched in systems and roles and can’t see the wood for the trees. It’s also just impressively realised as a production, with real sets and locations used to bring a strong authenticity to screen.
Dream Creep – Carlos A. F. Lopez
Filmmaker Carlos A. F. Lopez’s Dream Creep is one of those short films that shouldn’t be explained before you watch it. The only preface I’ll give you is that it’s a conceptual horror short set around a couple who wake in the middle of the night. Saying any more than that would take away the joy of experiencing this film, which is funny, clever and excellently paced.
Salone Love – Tajana Tokyo
Running at a tight five minutes in length, Tajana Tokyo’s animated documentary short Salone Love takes a scrapbook approach to place and opinion. As a filmmaker she captures the thoughts of Sierra Leone natives with buoyant playfulness, listening as they debate their opinions on everything from Western love to the roles of men and women in society. There’s not an ounce of pretence here, instead, the creativity on display is fully committed to capturing these people and their thoughts in the most spirited way possible.
Rhoda – Alex Lawther
A proper slow-burning thriller. Actor-turned-filmmaker Alex Lawther’s short is a sly, edge-of-your-seat watch that’s shot in a boxed-in 4:3 aspect ratio to really amp up the tightly wound nature of its protagonist’s perspective. It’s also just generally shot and edited in a really interesting way, never fully settling into a relaxed rhythm to consistently keep you on your toes.
COO-RAGE – Alina Milkina
Alina Milkina’s brief animation is a total delight. Its narrative follows a group of unwanted pigeons who join forces in order to combat a mayor with housing plans that would result in the destruction of their habitat. The rough, sketched style is a perfect match for the comical elements of the story and the way the animation bends and folds throughout, as the pigeons get up to pure mischief, is a pleasure to behold.
