Shorts on a Ship is a brand new film festival in the private cinema of a refurbished ship!

Situated in the heart of London’s Docklands, the converted cargo ship is a hidden treasure and offers a red-seated 100 seat cinema, and an eclectic lounge bar for socialising before and after the event.

We also adore this restored 100-year-old former cargo ship, now a beautiful arts venue moored next to South Quay near Canary Wharf, London.

We are a film festival run by filmmakers for filmmakers and lovers of short films.

We're seeking short films in any genre to give short filmmakers the exposure they deserve. We're also interested in films with a water/sea theme or content - literal or metaphorical.

Selected filmmakers will be invited to attend the event in person although this is not a requirement.

This is an in person event aboard a moored former cargo ship - a really unique venue!

Rules & Terms

RULES AND TERMS
1) Submission Eligibility:
- Films should be no longer than 25 minutes in duration
- Foreign language films should be subtitled in English (the costs of which are to be covered by the applicant)
- All rights, permissions and clearances must be obtained prior to submission and applicants must ensure that they have the right to submit the work with regard to third parties connected with the production of the film in question. By entering your work, you agree to the submission rules. Shorts on a Ship assumes no responsibility for violation of copyright law and submission fees will not be refunded.
2) Fees and waivers
- Your fee covers some of the administrative costs associated with managing submissions.
- Please note that submission fees will not be refunded.
3) Submission
- All films must be submitted via a secure online screener through FilmFreeway
4) Selection
- Selection will be carried out by the Shorts on a Ship programming team. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection process and the decision of the Festival Director is final. We do not to offer individual feedback or enter into any discussion about your work.
- All successful submissions will be notified by the notification date. We will need to reach you around that date so that we can confirm your film's inclusion in the Festival programme.
- All successful submissions will be listed on our website when the full programme is announced.
- We may from time to time delay the screening of a film to the following month's programme due to time limitations. Filmmakers will always be informed where this happens.
- Please do send press materials with your submission.
- Please note that only successful applicants will be notified.
5) Festival Screenings and Scheduling
- All screenings during the Festival period will take place at the discretion of the Festival. We reserve the right to make changes to the advertised schedule at any time for any reason and will not accept liability for any costs incurred as a result of such changes.
- You must not withdraw your film from the Shorts on a Ship programme after its selection/participation has been confirmed.
- The film must be available to screen in an electronic HD format (H.264 encoding).
- Shorts on a Ship is not able to cover the costs of any format transfers or subtitling.
- The HD electronic file of selected films must be received by the Festival at least 1 week before the start of the Festival.

3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mike West

    I was so excited to get selected for this :) The location is brilliant and all the other films shown were really high quality, it was a total honour and thank you so much again! Good luck to those submitting, its a brilliant location to show your film!

    June 2024
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  • Silvie Wolff

    Very sorry I couldn't make it to the screening, but my film was warmly received by the organisers and in great company, so I was very honoured to be included! Location is amazing. Online promotion was wonderful. Only tip I have is a slightly earlier notification date, so it is a bit easier to make travel plans, otherwise only praise. Thanks again for including my little film.

    May 2024
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  • Mark A. C. Brown

    A great event in a brilliant venue. We were very happy to have our film Corinthian be a part of it. I hope this is not just a one off.

    May 2024
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