The highly anticipated London Short Film Festival (LSFF) returns for its 22nd edition, running from 17th to 26th January 2025. Spanning iconic venues and unique community spaces across London, this year’s festival offers a jam-packed programme of over 400 short films, eclectic events, and screenings that push the boundaries of cinema. Tickets are now available, so mark your calendars for what promises to be an inspiring exploration of creativity, diversity, and innovation.
Highlights of LSFF 2025
- 400+ Short Films: The festival will showcase 204 new films from emerging filmmakers across the UK and the globe.
- New Shorts Competition: A platform for rising talent, featuring cutting-edge works competing for top honours.
- Eclectic Events: Dive into unseen 16mm comedy shorts by Harry Hill, explore folk archive films from the Offbeat Film Club, and experience thought-provoking discussions on cinema’s role in community and culture.
- Mobile Cinema Bus: LSFF’s free 1960s Mobile Cinema Bus will travel to Walthamstow, Crystal Palace Park, and Hounslow, bringing short films directly to local neighborhoods.
Celebrating the Theme: “Spaces”
This year’s festival theme, Spaces, delves into the creative, social, and political dynamics of the environments we inhabit and the urgent need to preserve them. From cinemas and cultural hubs to elusive third spaces that foster connection and creativity, LSFF invites audiences to reflect on the cost of their loss.
“As London’s independent cinemas face closures, the need for these third spaces has never been more critical,” said LSFF co-directors Charlotte Ashcroft and Philip Ilson. “This year’s festival celebrates these spaces and their impact on community, creativity, and collective experience.”
Unique Venues and Experiences
In addition to screenings at established venues like BFI Southbank, Curzon Soho, and Rich Mix, LSFF is expanding its footprint to community arts hubs like SET Peckham. The festival will also feature:
- Walking Tours: Explore lost cinemas and underrepresented suburbs in Deptford, New Cross, and Barking & Dagenham.
- Restored 1960s Mobile Cinema Bus: A National Lottery-supported initiative bringing free screenings to neighborhoods without cinemas.
Must-Attend Events
- Opening Night Retrospective: Celebrate LSFF’s alumni at Curzon Soho with a retrospective screening followed by a party at Farsight Collective.
- Pop: Contagion, Infection, Revolution!: Curated by film critic Cici Peng, this event at ICA explores the impact of pop culture on counter-culture.
- Holidays on Mars: Enjoy rare 16mm comedy shorts by Harry Hill and David Leister at BFI Southbank.
- Dark Fantasies: A provocative evening of erotica-themed shorts curated by Helena and Harlan Whittingham at Rio Cinema.
Family-Friendly and Youth-Focused Programming
Young audiences can enjoy Soviet children’s animation and family-friendly screenings curated by the Offbeat Film Club, ensuring there’s something for everyone at LSFF 2025.
Why LSFF Matters
LSFF continues to champion independent filmmaking and provide a platform for unconventional voices, showcasing the work of directors who have gone on to make waves in the industry, such as Andrea Arnold, Peter Strickland, and Alice Lowe. By highlighting critical themes like gentrification and migration, LSFF fosters meaningful conversations while celebrating the art of short films.
- Fri, 17 Jan: Opening Night at Curzon Soho
- Sun, 19 Jan: Harry Hill’s Holidays on Mars at BFI Southbank
- Thurs, 23 Jan: Dark Fantasies at Rio Cinema
- Sun, 26 Jan: LSFF Awards Ceremony at Curzon Soho
Don’t miss the full programme—find all event details and book your tickets at the LSFF website.
Celebrate the art of short filmmaking and the vital spaces that bring us together at LSFF 2025. See you there!