Lancaster's own premiere, and longest running short film festival is an exciting and friendly event in the historic City of Lancaster in the North West of England. Our festival, and screenings are held at the city's very special "Dukes Cinema", along with other venues specific to Documentary and Music screenings.

Our small independent team continues to champion UK short film, and shine a spotlight on supporting Lancashire Filmmakers. We accept submissions from all UK based short film makers with the following categories; "LA1Shorts Best Film" for UK wide submissions, a locally focused "Lancashire Audience Choice Award" for Lancashire Filmmakers only, our "LA1Docs" for short documentary films with a Health and Wellbeing theme in connection with Lancaster University, and NEW for 2025, LA1Music, working with The Gregson Arts and Community Centre to screen Music Videos for Lancaster Music Festival in October 2025.

Everyone has to start somewhere, with basic kit and skill, so we like to support grass roots filmmakers where we can, and offer advice where necessary. If you are a new or first time filmmaker, feel free to message us if you think your film suits our event but would like advice.

To submit to LA1Shorts your film should be "MADE IN THE UK" and have a maximum length of 16 minutes. If you enter the "Lancashire Audience Choice" category you or someone on your production team must have a Lancashire postal address, or your film must be made in Lancashire. We prefer films in DCP format but don't let this put you off, we will offer support here where we can. (Documentary and Music videos are not required in DCP)

This festival offers selected "LA1 Shorts UK" and "Lancashire Audience Choice" films a screening opportunity in front of a packed auditorium at Lancaster’s renowned Dukes Cinema. We aim to allow networking and chat with other filmmakers "pre-screenings in our Gallery" - but time is always tight and there isn't always time for Q&A. We hand out awards for these categories at the end of the evening.
We look forward to seeing your film, and meeting you!

Awards & Prizes

We show all "selected for screening LA1 Shorts UK and "Lancashire Audience Choice" 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. Everyone attending the screening will have the right to vote for their favourite film for the "Lancashire Audience Choice Award". Both the “LA1Shorts Best Film” and "Lancashire Audience Choice" winners will be announced and rewarded that evening. We wish we could screen everything, but we do our best with a varied and quality selection.
LA1Docs and LA1Music selections will be screened at a later date and screened at Lancaster Health Innovation Campus and The Gregson Arts & Community Centre.

Kindly supported by The Dukes Theatre, Film Hub North, Lancaster University Health Innovation Campus, The Gregson Arts & Community Centre.

Rules & Terms

All films should be 16 minutes or less in length.
Entries must be UK based short film.
Only Lancashire postcodes or Filmed in Lancashire, are eligible for the Audience Choice Award.

The entry fee taken when submitting your film on the FilmFreeway website is non-refundable.

If possible please provide your film in DCP format.

All films will be viewed by a selection panel made up of industry professionals. 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, and on FilmFreeway.

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.

22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Simon Preston

    A well run festival with with good selection of films on interesting and important subjects. Good Q&A sessions after films and expertly hosted.

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much for your review Simon. It was great to see and hear about the film at our Health and Wellbeing screenings. Good luck with the future of the project and you know where we are if you need any further support from our end. Best wishes.

  • Antoni Konieczny

    I'm thrilled to have had my student film, 'In the Bedroom', screened at the LA1 Shorts Film Festival, especially given that it rarely showcases student work. A special thank you has to go out to Festival Director, Steve, who generously took the time to share some thoughtful, personalised feedback with me.

    The festival itself was a blast! The energy in the packed auditorium was electric. Thank you, LA1 Shorts, for this magical experience. I’m already looking forward to next year!

    August 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Antoni, it was a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations on your screening at our event, and thanks for your review here. Very much look forward to seeing what you create next! See you next year.

  • Charlie Brown

    Another great LA1 Shorts Film Festival!
    As a 'community film' submission, the team made us feel at ease and gave us all the information we needed, and made the participants feel welcome and included in the event.
    The standard of the films chosen is always high and the event is a regular in my diary!

    June 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the review Charlie, glad you enjoyed the event and we hope your community group will explore more film opportunities in future.

  • Grace Alwyn Ashworth

    What an awesome film festival! We loved every minute :) Thanks for having us and for screening our short film 'GRIM'.

    I would definitely recommend attending LA1 Shorts if you haven't already. Seeing our film on such a huge cinema screen with epic sound was really lovely.

    We were over the moon to received the Audience Award on the night!
    Thanks to Steve and team for looking after us.

    June 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for your kind words Grace. It's always a pleasure to receive films from you, your storytelling and high quality work clearly hit the mark with our audience, as they loved this one. Easily winning our Audience Choice Lancashire Award. Well done!

  • Signal Film & Media

    What a great event. The range and standard of films was excellent and everyone was friendly and welcoming. The venue was great too - a relaxed environment in which to network and socialise.

    June 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the review guys, a pleasure to screen your film and so pleased you were able to attend the event. Hope to see you next time!