Short Com is a one of the leading comedy specific film festivals around the world. Both BAFTA and BIFA qualifying.

Short Com prides itself on the quality of its programme and the range of comedy stylings it has screened. The most emphatic thing we look for in a film is its ability to make an audience laugh or smile, thus we consider ourselves the most competitive comedy short film festival in Europe. Short Com has screened films from amateur made films to multi-award films that have screened at major film festivals and gone on to being Oscar shortlisted.

Short Com has screened during the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, in London, Manchester, Bristol and Berlin. For two years it was a guest programme at the Glasgow Short Film Festival. And has also co-programmed for the BBC for their Comedy Festival in Newcastle 2022.

Why submit to Short Com? If you want your film programmed alongside the best films that recognises and respects the beauty of comedy. Then we're the festival for you. Comedy aside, filmmakers and audiences often claim that we have the best film programmes they've ever seen.

2023 Programme - https://www.shortcom.org/2023-programme
2022 Programme - https://www.shortcom.org/2022-programme
2021 Programme -https://www.shortcom.org/2021-programme
2020 Programme - https://www.shortcom.org/2020-programme
2019 Programme - https://www.shortcom.org/2019-programme

Judges for 2025 TBA festival

Previous judges have included ; Eva OFlynn - Development Exec for Channel 4 Comedy,
Jim Archer - Director of Brian and Charles and Big Boys, Tom Kiesecoms - Programmer at Slash Film Festival, Steven Hendry - Festival Director of Manchester Animation Festival and Editor of Skwigly Magazine Amy O’Hara - Development Exec at Film 4, Rob Munday Directors Notes, Gregor Sharp BBC Comedy and more.

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Short Com & SI-FAN Feature Screenplay Contest

Along with our sister festival SI-FAN, we have launched a feature screenplay competition seeking comedy and genre scripts for us to put to the industry to help get new writers and filmmakers get their project off the ground.

We're delighted to have judges from Blumhouse Productions, Utopia and Blue Finch Releasing.

To find out more and how to enter visit https://www.shortcom.org/featurescreenplaycomp

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For Short Com TV Sitcom Writing Competition, please visit https://www.shortcom.org/script-competition for further details. The competition will return for 2025.

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Grand Jury Prize
Recognising the best overall film from the festival by our special select jury.

Best Animation
Recognising the best comedy animation short film.

Best British Film
Recognising the best film from domestic filmmaking talent.

Funniest Film
The reason what separates Short Com from any other film festival. Celebrating the film that makes audiences laugh no end.

Best Performance
Recognising the best on screen performance by acting talent.

Best Script
Recognising the best script by writing talent.

Prizes TBA

Laurels for selected filmmakers and physical awards handed or delivered to award winners.

There are no set lengths for films but shorter is always considered better and easier to programme.

Films must be released after February 2024. Try to be honest please.

Foreign language entries must contain English subtitles.

The filmmaker gives permission for Short Com to use images and footage of their film for the purposes of promoting Short Com events and marketing materials.

Submitting your film to Short Com does not mean your film will be selected for screening at Short Com events. Only selected films are screened in the Short Com programme.

A final disclaimer. Filmmakers are responsible for any copyrighted material and licensing rights of music within their film. Short Com cannot be held responsible for the promotion and distribution of materials that contain footage or music that does not have the required legal permissions. Films will be deemed disqualified at submission stage if the submitted film does not hold all clearances.

Short Com is under no obligation to screen films that do not satisfy the criteria set above.

We do not offer screener fees. Our screenings are operated as not for profit out of respect to not profiteer from selected filmmakers.

We do not require premier status.

Please do not leave a cover letter or email the festival after submitting. We judge films purely on the film and not what might be mentioned in a cover letter.

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For TV Sitcom Writing Competition please visit

https://www.shortcom.org/script-competition

For Feature Screenplay Competition please visit

https://www.shortcom.org/featurescreenplaycomp

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sergiy Kulybyshev

    Oh, I'm incredibly inspired by your festival, the level of competition is great, the films in the programme are brilliant, I got an incomparable pleasure from watching the participating films and the result. I laughed and rejoiced. Excellent communication and hospitality from the organisers. There are not enough stars in the world to give Short Com a rating. Thank you so much!

    October 2024
  • Ben Sutton

    Short Com is a great time! really enjoyed the exceptionally curated films and everyone involved was super friendly! Quite rare to have festivals that take comedy seriously! Go! You'll love it!

    October 2024
  • Great communication and a fun venue.
    The curation of shorts was very strong, it felt great being amongst such talent. Had a great time and would submit again.

    October 2024
  • Alun Morgan

    I loved screening at Short Com at the swanky Rich Mix cinema in Shoreditch. The films were all so good! There are fun Q+A's with the filmmakers at the end of each block too.
    Chris, the festival director, puts so much work into the festival, excellently promoted leading up to the event and his communication is first class. Short com is a must for any comedy filmmaker - BAFTA and BIFA qualifying too!

    October 2024
  • Jill Worsley

    Great communication, fab venue, lovely people. A really eclectic and high quality mix of comedies, we felt really proud to be selected and in such great company, and it was really fun to be involved in the Q&A after the screening. Thanks Short Com!

    March 2024