THe SHORTEST NIGHTS
british short film festival
As a BIFA-qualifying festival, we pride ourselves on curating exciting, entertaining, high-quality programmes celebrating the best in BRITISH SHORT FILM.
Now in our 11th year, we’ve grown our reputation for programming brilliant events for filmmakers and film-fans alike. We are a boutique festival, but our standards for selection are extremely high. Every strand we programme is designed to showcase your films alongside other works that compliment and amplify their themes and narratives.
Selected shorts are created exclusively by filmmakers living, working or studying in the UK, inclusive of British Filmmakers working overseas.
Our 2025 festival will take place 6-9th September is is currently accepting submissions.
2024
Our second year as a two-day festival with more sell out screenings and jam-packed networking events at Rich Mix and Sidcup Storyteller.
2023
Our first year as a two-day festival was a momentous one with sell-out events across the board. We were delighted to be back at Rich Mix and excited to finally be able to screen in our home borough of Bexley at the new Sidcup Storyteller.
2022
We were thrilled to be back in person and to find a new home at the wonderful Rich Mix. The 2023 edition saw 5 programmes screen over an entire day.
2021
Our second year online. We really enjoyed being able to reach so many new audiences from around the UK and our live intros continued to be a success!
2020
We were thrilled to achieve BIFA-qualifying status this year despite the challenges faced following the pandemic. Our online edition was jam-packed with brilliant films across 8 programmes, and were thrilled to see so many filmmakers and film fans take part. Through live intros and online networking sessions, we still found a way to celebrate short film.
2019
2019 saw our busiest year at the lovely Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick. We celebrated a huge variety of short films across 5 programmes in one single day.
2018
5 programmes of short films across a wonderful day at The Yard.
2017
There was something for everyone during the full day of films at The Yard in Hackney Wick.
2016
5 programmes of short films across a wonderful day at The Yard, our new festival home in Hackney Wick.
2015
The inaugural Shortest nights festival took place at Electrowerks, Angel. With an entire day of short film programmes, filmmaker networking and foosball.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!