LA1Shorts is an exciting and friendly short film festival based in the historic City of Lancaster in the North West of England. Our festival and screenings are held at the city's own "Dukes Cinema".

We continue to grow our event, learning year on year. We are a small independent teamworking not-for-profit. We accept submissions from all UK based short film makers! We screen two categories; "LA1Shorts Best Film" and a local "Lancashire Audience Choice" category; we don't want to forget our roots!

To submit to LA1Shorts your film should be made in the UK and have a maximum length of 15 minutes.

This festival offers filmmakers the opportunity to screen their film in front of a packed auditorium at Lancaster’s renowned Dukes Cinema. There will also be the chance to network and chat with other filmmakers after the festival screenings in the cinema bar.

Awards & Prizes

2020/21 Covid19
So, what a strange year for us all! We at LA1 Shorts hope you are all keeping well, both physically and mentally. Stay safe!

Thanks to all 2020 and 2021 submissions. We will be in touch with possible 2021 screening plans as soon as we can. Thanks for your understanding.

Our 2020 screenings have been postponed until 2021. We are having to change according to restrictions and we very much appreciate your understanding. We hoped for March but in consultation with our hosts The Dukes Cinema, we know this will no longer be possible. Our aim is to run two consecutive screening events for 2020 and 2021 Submissions. We are having to push this date back to the latter end of the year and are negotiating this now. We want you and our audiences to see your films on a BIG screen, not your computer! Once we get there, and we will, we will endeavour to get Awards to Winners asap.

As usual, we will show all "selected for screening" short films at the Dukes Cinema, Lancaster. This screening event will be open to filmmakers and the general public.
The LA1Shorts Best Film will be decided by a judging panel on the evening. Everyone attending the screening will have the right to vote for their favourite film for the Lancashire Filmmakers Audience Choice Award. Both the “Best Film” and " Audience Choice" winners will be announced and rewarded that evening.

Kindly supported by The Dukes Theatre and J.Atkinson & Co.

Rules & Terms

All films should be 15 minutes or less in length.
Entries must be UK based short film.
Only Lancashire postcodes are eligible for the Audience Choice Award.

Deadline for submissions to the competition is midnight on 31st January 2021.
The entry fee taken when submitting your film on the FilmFreeway website is non-refundable.

All films will be viewed by a selection panel made up of the film festival organisers. All shortlisted entries selected to be screened during the festival will be notified as early as possible prior to the festival date.

All category winners will be notified on the night during the festival once all entries have been screened.

All selection & judging decisions are final.

Please upload your film via the FilmFreeway website.
Films and Digital marketing materials should be made available to be used for our marketing purposes asap.

Any conflicts of interest between filmmakers & the selection panel should be declared to the film festival organisers IMMEDIATELY.

I have read and accept the Rules and Terms of the LA1 Shorts Film Festival.
I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these Rules and Terms.

I authorise LA1Shorts to exhibit my film if selected. I confirm that an exhibition copy will be made available in a required format for screening during the festival.

I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to LA1Shorts and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.

By Agreeing to these Rules and Terms, I transfer to the LA1Shorts Film Festival the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the festival.

7 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Scott Feast

    A great festival with passionate organisers. The festival directors went above and beyond to arrange an entertaining, well programmed and brilliant film festival. I would highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    May 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the review Scott, so glad you and your team enjoyed the evening! Thanks again for entering and good luck with your future films!

  • Nicole Pott

    I didn't get the chance to attend the festival, but our sound recordist attended and said it was a fantastic night. On top of that, we WON Best Film! Thank you so much to Lucie & Steve.

    May 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Congratulations Nicole, well deserved. Thanks so much for submitting to our festival and we are very pleased your "soundie" enjoyed the evening!

  • Kriss Foster

    LA1 Shorts was a lovely evening. Thoroughly enjoyed sharing my short film alongside other filmmakers from Lancashire and further afield.
    The team at LA1 Shorts were fantastic and the Dukes is a really great venue.
    10/10: would heartily recommend!

    May 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the great feedback Kriss, we are so pleased you enjoyed the event and had a good experience. Your film was a firm favourite with our audience! Well done!

  • Eben Skilleter

    Absolutely delighted to win Best Short Film 2018! LA1 really does provide a great opportunity for filmmakers to show their work. Terrific communication, friendly set-up. Thank you!

    May 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Eben, congratulations to you and the team behind "Boxes" on winning the Best Film award. It was fully deserved! Best of luck with your future exploits!

  • Roger Barker

    The greatest thing you can do for anybody is to give them opportunity, and LA1 gives a fantastic opportunity for North West film-makers. The Dukes Playhouse is a great venue and the event had an attendance level that many other festivals would envy. Great fun too!

    June 2017
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for your lovely review Roger. Very good to have met you and thank you for entering our competition! As a fairly new festival, it's great to hear we're doing things right! Best wishes for the future!