London Short Film Festival 2025

The London Short Film Festival (LSFF) takes place for ten days in January in the UK capital's best cinema venues like the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Hackney’s MOTH Club, BFI Southbank, Curzon Soho, and Regent St Cinema. The festival serves as a platform for emerging talent alongside the established cinema-makers.

About 2500 films are submitted annually, both from the UK and international filmmakers. 500 films get to curated screenings, while 36 exceptional short films get awarded prizes by an international jury.

Awards and Prizes

The Best UK Short Film Award celebrates the diversity of British creators and their impactful, challenging work. The winner receives a £1000 cash prize courtesy of the British Council, and a £500 Special Mention runner-up award.

The Best International Short Film Award champions bold, exploratory filmmaking that interprets cultural, political and social concerns from around the world. The winner receives a £1000 grant towards their next project, and a £500 Special Mention runner-up award.

LSFF's Lo-Budget Mayhem programme recognizes imaginative, resourceful short films made with limited resources and wit. The qualifying films can be found in this programme, and the award is deliberated on by a youth jury. The Best Lo-Budget Short winner receives £500.

History

London Short Film Festival has been held since the early 2000s. It draws about 10,000 people to London's historic cinematic centres, making a considerable impact on British cinema and its legacy. The festival is praised for nurturing new talent and taking creative risks supporting aspiring directors, DoPs, editors, and actors.