The Smalls Film Festival is proudly back for its fifteenth annual edition, heading to London’s Curzon Hoxton for a monumental weekend of short film screenings on September 24 and 25. With seven feature-length programmes spanning Documentary to Animation, Drama to Music Video, audiences can discover the very best of everything the short film world has to offer.
As the roots of The Smalls, an international community of over 20,000 creatives, this trend-setting film festival promises a showcase of contemporary filmmaking from around the world. This year, the festival welcomes a one-off theme, Action and Activism, an outstanding showcase of films that champion the remarkable causes and voices moving to make vital change in the world today. Elsewhere, expect an array of unbelievable vision across imaginative new dimensions, exquisite scriptwriting and cutting-edge graphics – all from the comfort of the Curzon screen.
Tickets are on sale now via Eventbrite, including a limited number of Day and Weekend passes: eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-smalls-
Film Programme
Student Film – Saturday 24th September, 1pm
Presenting their vision for the future of cinema, the student programme is dedicated to young international talent as they enter the professional sphere. This dynamic and gutsy array of work is a testament to their fresh voices, inventively tackling themes of loneliness, identity, injustice, love and seduction. It’s clear where their future is headed.
Comedy – Saturday 24th September, 3pm
The impeccable suburban street, the fatigued workplace, the innocent comfort of lying in bed. Wildly imaginative and surprisingly thoughtful, these seven comedy shorts are a testament to the ever-changing landscape of humour, with laughter proving plausible in the most bizarre and unassuming places.
Music Video – Saturday 24th September, 4.45pm
From the gritty low-budget to the decadent masterpiece, music videos continue to innovate, captivate and inspire, thriving in the era of YouTube and TikTok. Here is where cinematic trend-makers can experiment with heartfelt moods and groundbreaking visuals; where genre mash-ups and psychedelic rhythm combine to make you watch – and move. The possibilities are endless.
Drama – Saturday 24th September, 6.20pm
Underground worlds, enigmatic strangers and commanding performances star in a compelling programme of six determined dramas. Taking us on a journey through the emotional intricacies of love, grief, desire, fear and freedom – this is an unforgettable deep dive into what it truly means to be human.
Action and Activism – Sunday 25th September, 2pm
The Smalls Film Festival 2022 presents this year’s theme; Action and Activism, a one-off programme dedicated to the exceptional films, causes and changemakers fighting for the future. These six films present a remarkable insight into the might of community, representation, power and protest – and what it means to take action in the world today.
Animation – Sunday 25th September, 4.20pm
Animation paves the way for us to step boldly into other worlds, broadening our imagination with endlessly creative visions and exquisite skill. The ten films in this programme are masterful, mind-bending interpretations of the human experience – just watch out for the secrets, tantrums, taps, and geese.
Documentary – Sunday 25th September, 6.20pm
One of films most vibrant and complex artforms, documentary holds great power in bringing true stories to life on screen. In 2022, the genre is stronger than ever, most noticeably as the Covid-19 pandemic compels filmmakers to break new ground in the creative, beautiful ways they film the changing world around them.
