Programmes
Three programmes of international prize-winners and audience favourites from the UK's leading short film festival:
Tall Orders
These shorts stand tall. An international sampler of our favourite short films on glorious 35mm.
The Best of British
From no-budget mini-masterpieces to BAFTA winners, these are the home-grown films that have been clocking up awards and thrilling audiences around the globe.
In the Company of Men
Macho-men, mid-life mania, dorks and dreamers, including Richard Linklater's Live From Shiva's Dance Floor.
Tall Orders
These shorts stand tall. An international sampler of our favourite short films on glorious 35mm.
All in All (Alt I alt)
Torbjørn Skårild | Norway | 2003 | 4 mins
Caught in a world of rhythm, repetition and CCTV, a diver prepares to take the plunge.
Winner – Prix Canal+,
Nordisk Panorama Malmö;
Special Mention - Brief Encounters
The Birthday (Syntymäpäivä)
Kari Juusonen | Finland | 2004 | 15 mins
A technical malfunction at the abattoir results in a battle of wills between a man and a cow. A dark and hilarious claymation treat.
Little Man
Martin Brierley | South Africa/UK | 2004 | 10 mins
Simeon is 13, a silent loner growing up in poverty in redneck South Africa. Marianna, a sexually experienced girl of 19, entrances him. He begins to follow her everywhere. When he's caught peeping, all hell breaks loose.
Peptalk
Andrea Östberg | Sweden | 2004 | 3 mins
A life-affirming peptalk.
Shortage of Space (Plassmangel)
Geir Henning Hopland | Norway | 2003 | 6 mins
Can you imagine an episode of The Green Wing, directed by Jacques Tati and scripted by Kafka? Well...
Winner - Grand Prix, International Documentary, Shorts and Animation Film Festival, St Petersburg
Floating
Mark Walker | UK | 2004 |
18 mins
Jonathan's marriage to Grace is easy. One night, working late in his office, he meets Mitsy, a cleaning woman. Intriguing though she is, the woman confronts Jonathan with a truth he would rather not acknowledge. The encounter threatens to propel Jonathan to a new and frightening place.
Cut
Royston Tan | Singapore | 2004 | 13 mins
The latest film from enfant terrible Royston Tan is a musical extravaganza about Singapore's repressive censorship system. En route we learn that Lost in Translation, The Hours and Titanic have all been victims of the censor's scissors. But to ensure that things don't get too glum, there are chorus lines, an homage to Abba and Tan makes an appearance dressed as a large white rabbit...
First Prize – Asian Panasonic Digital Filmmaker Awards 2004; Canal+ Award – Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival 2005
The Best of British
From no-budget mini-masterpieces to BAFTA winners, these are the home-grown films that have been clocking up awards and thrilling audiences around the globe.
Dog Years
Richard Penfold and Sam Hearn | 2004 | 4 mins
Ben, 39, castrated mongrel, needs love. GSOH essential.
Winner – UK Film Council Audience Award, Brief Encounters
London Fields Are Blue
Brendan Grant | 2004 |
14 mins
A mugger and his victim have a strangely companionable afternoon.
Nominated – Best British Short, 2004 British Independent Film Awards
Who Do You Love?
Jim McRoberts | 2004 |
10 mins
Heather's mother tests her 10-year-old daughter's love to the limit - shoplifting and car theft are only the start of it.
Winner – Special Jury Prize, Tehran Film Festival;
Runner-Up - 2004 BBC New Filmmaker Award
Knitting a Love Song
Annie Watson | 2004 |
14 mins
Pearl, 15, loves Jack, 18, but he doesn't know she exists. So she decides to knit her passion for him into a scarf and hides it in his locker.
Nominated - Best Short Film, BAFTA 2005
The Curse of Jeff
James Harris | 2004 | 4 mins
Jeff, a practicing wiccan, explains how he has brought the art of cursing into the 21st century.
Finalist - 2004 BBC New Filmmaker Award
77 Beds
Alnoor Dewshi | 2003 |
10 mins
One sleepless night, Ishmael (Ben Whishaw), a young spacey urban nomad, starts counting back through all the beds he has ever slept in.
Jo Jo in the Stars
Marc Craste | 2003 | 12 mins
The heart-wrenching tale of two unlikely lovers: Jo Jo, a silver-plated trapeze artist, and the nameless hero who worships her.
Winner – Best Short Animated Film, BAFTA 2004; Winner - Momentum Best of British Award, Brief Encounters
Northern Soul
Shane Meadows | 2004 |
26 mins
Mike Sherbert is a lonely young man who dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. There's only one problem: he weighs nine stone and has the pain threshold of a two-year-old child.
In the Company of Men
Macho-men, mid-life mania, dorks and dreamers. Including Richard Linklater's Live From Shiva's Dance Floor.
Tom Hits His Head
Tom Putnam | US | 2003 |
11 mins
Ever since Tom hit his head he's been getting dizzy spells, indulging in eBay and having conversations with the devil.
Winner - Best Comedy, Aspen Shortfest; Spirit of Slamdance Award – Slamdance Film Festival
Classmates (Föräldramötet)
Björn Carlström and Stefan Thunberg | Sweden | 2003 | 26 mins
Ulf and Krister's sons have been in a schoolyard fight. As the fathers indulge in an increasingly dark power game, the boys attempt to work out their own solutions.
Winner – Sony D-Cinema Award Award for Best Picture, D-Cinema Film Festival, Japan (2004)
Live From Shiva's Dance Floor
Richard Linklater | US | 2003 |
21 mins
The legendary tour guide Timothy 'Speed' Levitch winds through lower Manhattan and suggests how best to truly commemorate 9/11 and what should be done with Ground Zero. An idiosyncratic gem from the director of Before Sunset and The School of Rock.
Winner – Special Jury Award, Tribeca Film Festival
Soar
Tristan Bancks | Australia | 2003 | 20 mins
A favourite with audiences at film festivals across the world, Soar is about everyone's worst travel nightmare – being stuck next to an obnoxious dork on a plane where there are no spare seats.
Winner – Best Screenplay and Most Popular Film, Flickerfest 2004
