The dates are already in the diary for LSFF to return for its 17th edition, parking up for our traditional ten days across the capital with an eclectic offering of short cinema's finest.

In 2019, we lit up the big screens of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, BFI Southbank, Curzon Soho, Regent St Cinema, Rich Mix and Dalston’s historic Rio, adding the famously underground Horse Hospital to our roster for an overhauled industry week of panels and workshops.

As always, we’re proud to welcome both UK and international submissions. In 2019, we screened 500+ films carefully curated from over 3200 submissions, and our industry esteemed In Competition programmes featured 50 exceptional UK and international short films awarded prizes by a British Council-sponsored international jury.

Awards & Prizes

Each year, the festival appoints an international jury who deliberate on the following categories and award prizes of more than a cumulative £20,0000 value.

In 2019 the international jury consisted of producer Jacqui Davis (Ray & Liz), Dokufest Kosovo’s shorts programmer Samir Karahoda and film critic Wendy Ide (The Observer).

BEST BRITISH SHORT FILM
The British Council is pleased to continue its support of the LSFF 2019 Best British Short Award. The winning filmmaker received a bespoke travel opportunity to a Key International Festival, paid for and supported by the British Council (cash value circa £1500). A member of the film team is working with the winning filmmaker to help select the festival and plan their trip. The winner was also eligible to claim two days of finishing post-production services kindly provided by Envy post production (cash value circa £5000).

A Special Mention was also awarded a British Council support package with a cash value of circa £500.

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
NOWNESS sponsored the 2019 Best International award which included an opportunity to pitch for a commission, have their work spotlighted on NOWNESS and one-on-one development and mentoring sessions with members of the NOWNESS team.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
2019’s Best Documentary award was supported by Sheffield Doc/Fest and The Guardian Documentaries and consisted of a full pass to Sheffield Doc/Fest and a consultation with The Guardian’s Head of Documentaries, Charlie Phillips.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
The Best Animated award in 2019 was sponsored by London International Animation Festival with the winner nabbing a full festival pass for their 2019 festival and a consultation with Animate Projects’ Abigail Addison.

In addition, LSFF awards from two other categories by separate juries:

RANDOM ACTS AWARD
Random Acts is Channel 4’s short film strand dedicated to the arts. The winner had the opportunity to have their film screened on Random Acts platforms in addition of an award of £1000.

BEST LO-BUDGET SHORT FILM
Chosen specifically from our UK and international lo-budget entries, this award was sponsored by Fat Llama and came with £500 to spend on their peer-to-peer rental marketplace.

Rules & Terms

PLEASE NOTE: LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL DOES NOT ACCEPT SPEC SUBMISSIONS. ONLY ENTRIES RECEIVED VIA FILMFREEWAY WILL BE CONSIDERED.

We are a BAFTA affiliated festival, enabling accepted UK filmmakers to apply for the 2020 BAFTAs.

Submissions are open to short films from every genre - we accept drama, comedy, horror & sci-fi, documentary, experimental, animation, music, viral and low-budget work (see info on lo-budget submissions in side bar). All submissions are fully considered and curated by our programming team.

Entries are open to both the UK and international filmmakers based outside the UK, with two separate tiers of submission, broken down in the side-bar.

All entries must be in English or contain English subtitles. Non-English entries without subtitles, or supplementary printed translations, will unfortunately be disqualified.

Films must have been completed after 1st January 2018, though LSFF does not require any premiere status.

Films must be no longer than 45 minutes.

Only completed entries with paid submission fees will be processed and considered for screening.

Entry fees are not refundable.

Only completed films may be submitted and will be considered.

Should your film be selected, you will be required to provide a Quicktime ProRes file and a DCP of your film.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of entries received, LSFF cannot give individual feedback on submissions.
18 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Festival Formula Ltd

    We love London Short Film Festival. We had 12 clients screen this year and it's always so thrilling to see our clients be an addition to such a brilliant programme. It's a real filmmakers film festival. We cannot recommend enough.

    March 2019
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  • Robert Hackett

    I can't recommend this festival enough. I was very humbled to see our film in the company of such stunning and unusual films in our selection. Always an unpredictable programme of quality films - and although a big festival it never loses it's unique aesthetic and voice. London needs this festival - and so do filmmakers.

    February 2019
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  • Hamza Bangash

    Brilliant festival, wonderful communication, great programming. Thank you for selecting Dia! We loved being a part of LSFF

    February 2019
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  • Adam de la Cour

    An incredible programme, I was really honoured to be part of the festival.

    February 2019
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  • Alix Austin

    Fantastic line-up and especially enjoyed the Prano-Bailey Bond Retrospective as well as the fab atmosphere at the Midnight Movies screening that our film screened at.

    Felt really well looked after, which is a real feat with SO many shorts screening, so huge props to the whole team. Keep up the great work!

    January 2019
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