Super Shorts Hackney is a regular short film night normally held bi-monthly in the heart of Hackney, London’s vibrant cultural quarter, celebrating the short film form in a lively, welcoming setting.

We are a film festival run by filmmakers, for filmmakers and audiences who love distinctive, well-crafted shorts.

For over three years, we’ve been presenting incredible programmes of short films to a live audience, and we particularly welcome work that aims to inspire, surprise, uplift or move you, while remaining open to a wide range of styles and approaches.

We welcome films across genres, including narrative dramas, comedy, horror, thrillers, sci-fi / fantasy, experimental and animation.

We are especially interested in films that make the most of the short form through engaging momentum, strong ideas, and confident storytelling.

The event also offers informal opportunities to chat and connect with other filmmakers during breaks and after the screening.

Filmmakers whose films are selected will be invited to attend the event in person, although this is not a requirement.

This is an in-person event at the wonderful ‘The Others’ venue in Stoke Newington, Hackney, in London.

Awards & Prizes

Best Film (audience award - bi-monthly)
Best Film (annual award)

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. Super Shorts Hackney 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 Super Shorts Hackney 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.

- We may from time to time choose to screen your film at one of our sister events if we think the film is appropriate for that venue and audience. Filmmakers will always be informed and have the right to decline permission.

- 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 Super Shorts Hackney programme after its selection/participation has been confirmed.

- The film must be available to screen in an electronic HD format (H.264 encoding).

- Super Shorts Hackney 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.

20 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Paper Horse Pictures

    Honestly, just based on the submission process and communication, Super Shorts Hackney already had us. Couldn't make it out in person, but the vibe was clear. These are people who actually care about the work they program. Everything felt thoughtful and personal, never like you were just another entry in a pile. The kind of festival you root for. We'll definitely be back, and we're glad to stay in their orbit.

    June 2026
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  • Mike Bennion

    Awesome festival, thanks for letting me part of it!

    April 2026
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  • Madeleine Jullian

    Lovely bi-monthly short film screening with great curation and genuinely warm, supportive vibes. The audience was engaged and the atmosphere relaxed without being casual about the films. Really enjoyed it and would happily return.

    December 2025
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  • Kyle Robertson

    We were very proud to have our animated short film 'Gurgle, He Wrote' selected to be part of the Super Shorts Hackney Film event.

    October 2025
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  • Jonathan Fink

    I had an absolute blast at Super Shorts Hackney. It is a great place to go and get your film screened with like-minded professionals.

    October 2025
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