The 10th London Short Film Festival has landed. Launched over the weekend and running straight through until Sunday 13th, it is the most ambitious to date, promising a whole host of mini cinematic delights for your post festive blues.
Highlights this year include ‘Fashion Popcorn’ – an evening of films exploring the fusion between fashion and technology and ‘Club Des Femmes The Art of Conscience’ – films that question conscience and activism in the modern world, proceeds of which will go to raise money for Amnesty’s Free Pussy Riot campaign. ‘The New Shorts’ strands, featuring hundreds of films including Music and Video, showcase new music video talent as well as films which have a prominent musical soundtrack. ‘Youth of Today’ selects films about adolescence and growing up in today’s world; keep an eye out for actor Ray Panthaki’s director debut Life Sentence, shot by La Haine cinematographer Pierre Aim. i-D are also excited about filmmaker Ruth Paxton, who was featured in our i-Shorts series as one of the festival’s previous winners, as she presents two visual film installations, Nevada / Rockhaven.
Added into the mix are some essential industry events for young filmmakers and creatives looking to fund their next big projects, lead by the BFI, Film London and Binger Film Lab experts, to name a few. Our pick of the parties this year is definitely ‘At Home With The Ludskis Midnight Mass’, as image makers, artists, musicians and performers take over the Rio cinema, Dalston, for another late night art club, curated by Granny Ludski.
The beauty of a short film is that it is short, so there are bound to be some absolute gems nestled within the programme, even if every short doesn’t float your boat. This is a festival that is not afraid to take creative risks and nurture new talent, something rarely seen in this age of austerity and conformity. The next generation of creative filmmakers is here in the making.
The London Short Film Festival runs until 13th January 2013.
Text: Joe Cohen
