The Super Shorts Film Festival London is an annual event that highlights independent short film talent.

Talent Circle in London founded the Super Shorts London Film Festival in 2003, to focus explicitly on short films in all its forms and shapes. During its original eleven year run, the festival shown over 2,000 incredible short films, from slick 35mm shorts to weird and wonderful experimental films. Super Shorts held over 120 events, including seminars, panel discussions and workshops. This resulted in rave reviews:
”The best short films from around the world“ Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter series)
“The best in short cinema from around the world“ Timeout London
“The world's best new shorts” Metro newspaper

Unfortunately, in its original incarnation, the festival came to an end in 2014. Inspired by that original movement, the Super Shorts Film Festival London was revived in 2018, and continued to emphasize lesser known, vanguard cinematic works and further its tradition of galvanizing budding talent. The 2018 edition proved that the Super Shorts Film Festival London was still very much relevant, and had the potential to grow. In 2019, the festival moved to the Stephen Street location of the BFI (British Film Institute). The 2022 festival will once again create an intimate atmosphere and space for unique visionaries and voices. True to its history, the festival will screen films of both novices and veterans—with medium and low budgets—from all over the globe. The festival’s goal is to create a warm, open atmosphere in which filmmakers, fans, critics, and producers can watch the films of emerging talents, explore new cinematic techniques and styles, and award cinematic excellence.

The Super Shorts Film Festival London will take place in December, 2023 at Close Up Film Centre in London.

Super Shorts Film Festival London is
- An IMDB qualifying film festival
- Named as one of the Top 50 Emerging Film Festivals worldwide by iFilmFestival.com.
- A 'Climate Neutral Film Event', powered by TreePlan.org.
- An official festival partner of The Producer's Night Los Angeles (producersnight.com).

‘OFF ON’ SELECTION
As of 2023 our festival will enter an exciting new phase in its existence. Next to our physical screenings we’ll also be screening online with the special OFF ON SELECTION. The OFF ON Selection will go online one week prior to the opening of the physical part of the festival and will stay online until the last day of the festival. Viewers will be able to watch, but not download your film. If needed we can geo-block your film to our region.
We’re open to any genre (narrative, web series, made for tv, documentary, experimental …) and especially any duration (which is always an issue for the physical part of the festival). Selected filmmakers will receive all official selection perks (The Tarkovski Grant, The Producer’s Night nomination, …) and are in the running for any of the award titles. When you submit your film for consideration to both a physical section and the Off On Selection it is possible to be selected for both, but this is of course not guaranteed.
Filmmakers that submit their film only to any of the other sections (so any other than the Off On Selection) will not be selected for an online screening.

PROUD PARTNER OF THE BIGGER SCREEN
Super Shorts Film Festival London is supported by The Bigger Screen, an organization that aims to make film as an art form more accessible and more inclusive. A short overview of their projects:

- SUPPORTING FILM FESTIVALS: Film festivals are not only a place to share films, but they are a safe haven for film makers to connect, share, and learn. The Bigger Screens supports and engages with over 25 respected international film festivals from mainstays like the 61st Ann Arbor Film Festival and the Brussels Independent Film Festival to emerging events such as the Venice Film Week and The Producer’s Night Los Angeles. These events bring filmmakers and filmgoers together, providing that place to connect and engage in a comfortable setting, away from Hollywood glitz and glamour.

- CONNECTING CULTURES PROGRAM: Each year, The Bigger Screen selects at least ten countries and grants filmmakers from those areas the ability to submit their work free of charge to partner festivals all over the world. This opens the door of film exposure to those who may not otherwise be able to enter. As we support inclusivity and shareable films, this program exemplifies our mission. Check out https://www.connectingculturesprogram.com to see if your country is included in this year’s program and submit your work for free.

- LOCAL FILMMAKERS PROGRAM: To encourage rising talent, we lowered the festival submission fee to local talent and even made it for free when submitted before the Extreme Early Bird Deadline. This provides a great opportunity for local filmmakers to enter the international film scene. Think global, act local, right?

- INCLUSIVE AUDIENCE PROGRAM: Our screenings are always low or even free of charge to provide opportunity for interested film goers to view up and coming, challenging, and inspiring pieces of art, encouraging students, seniors, and those in underprivileged environments to share the experience of film and cinema. We welcome film goers, regardless of income and financial status.

- THE TARKOVSKI GRANT: All selected filmmakers will receive The Tarkovski Grant, a film festival submission fee waiver package with an average value of about $500. This not only saves you a lot of money, but it also recognizes your work as something to watch for during the selection procedure, making a selection with another partner film festival more likely - but of course, never guaranteed. The Tarkovski Grant supports hundreds of filmmakers each year in their challenging journeys as independent filmmakers, by promoting existing films, no matter the genre, style or length.

Awards & Prizes

All selected filmmakers will receive The Tarkovski Grant, a film festival submission fee waiver package with an average value of about $500. This not only saves you a lot of money, but it also recognizes your work as something to watch for during the selection procedure, making a selection with another partner film festival more likely - but of course, never guaranteed. The Tarkovski Grant supports hundreds of filmmakers each year in their challenging journeys as independent filmmakers, by promoting existing films, no matter the genre, style or length. The Tarkovski Grant is supported by film festivals from all over the world. Find out more here: www.thetarkovskigrant.org

All selected films are also automatically in the running for Producer's Night.
Producer's Night is an opportunity for independent filmmakers to have their work screened to a private group of elite Hollywood producers. For many directors, it could mean their ticket to the mainstream. The exclusive screening will show the best of independent cinema from the past year's film festivals at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in West Hollywood. The only way to be considered for this by being selected at one of the partner film festivals. Super Shorts London Film Festival is a proud partner film festival of Producer's Night. More information: www.producersnight.com

The selected films are viewed by the Festival Jury and winners are picked for the following awards;

Best Narrative Film
Best Documentary Film
Best Experimental Film
Best Animated Film
Best Underground Film
Best Music Video
Best Super Short Film
Best Director
Best Actor (gender neutral)
Best UK Film

Rules & Terms

RULES & TERMS

SUBMISSIONS 
Super Shorts Film Festival accepts all forms and genres. All non-English language films must be subtitled in English. Entry, accept the 'guaranteed selection submissions', does not guarantee acceptance into the festival. Submissions WILL NOT be returned. We also accept submissions that have premiered elsewhere and that may have distribution agreements already in place. Rough cuts and incomplete projects are not accepted. Multiple entries are allowed, however a separate entry form must be submitted for each. The festival has the capability to screen MP4 files.
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EXHIBITION & SCREENING 
Screenings are scheduled during the festival at the discretion of Super Shorts Film Festival. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, Super Shorts Film Festival reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. Super Shorts Film Festival will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in scheduling. No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its selection. If chosen as an official selection, Super Shorts Film Festival is granted the permission to exhibit the film at the Super Shorts Film Festival and all associated screenings. Location and timing of any screenings of the film shall be the sole decision of the organizers of Super Shorts Film Festival. Filmmakers will be solely responsible for all costs resulting from the submission of the film to the Festival including but not limited to postage or insurance of the film, and expenses of your staff or any representatives of the film. Producer will indemnify the organisers of the Festival against all claims, demands, costs, damages, expenses (including legal fees), proceedings and losses resulting from the screening of the film at the Festival or from claims by any third parties.
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LOSS OR DAMAGE 
Although every precaution will be taken to prevent loss or damage to materials while in the possession of the festival, Super Shorts Film Festival is not responsible should any materials be damaged while in transit to or from, or while in the possession of the festival.
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ENTRY LIABILITY 
The filmmaker holds Super Shorts Film Festival, its management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc. harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from entry. The filmmaker certifies to have full rights. Producer will indemnify the organisers of the Festival against all claims, demands, costs, damages, expenses (including legal fees), proceedings and losses resulting from the screening of the film at the Festival or from claims by any third parties.
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SCREENING FEE 
The festival does not offer screening fees for its films. By submitting through FilmFreeway you are agreeing to NOT request a screening fee as a requirement for your film's participation in the festival, should your film get selected for the program.
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WAIVER REQUESTS 
Since the festival only requires a nominal entry fee, we will NOT accept requests for other entry fee waivers.
18 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Maciej Pisarek

    Fests are like fast foods these days. They can make you fat of virtual laurels. It’s easy, matter of money and clicks. But you can always try to get that luck to be invited to a small, fantasic restaurant with unique menu. And you can even meet your relatives there. That what Tarkovski is. Thank you, London.

    January 2023
    Helpful
  • Nils Agdler

    I'm honored to be a part of this festival, even though I couldn't go to London. It's fantastic to receive the Tarkovski Grant, which saves a lot of money for future submissions. Highly recommended!

    January 2023
    Helpful
  • Emily Morus-Jones

    A fantastic Festival that we were absolutely honoured to be awarded Best Experimental film for. Thank you so very much 🙏😊🐭

    December 2022
    Helpful
  • jules jolly

    Was a pleasure to participate to this Festival !
    The team was really kind.

    February 2022
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  • gino evans

    Great seeing our film 'Life Skills' at London Super Shorts. We were proud to be amongst an amazing selection of films. It's a lovely festival and they really look after you. All selected films receive the Tarkovski Grant, which is brilliant - giving you free entry into a host of other festivals. Thank you London Super Shorts!

    January 2022
    Helpful