London Short Film Festival 2025 Opens This Weekend
Grab your popcorn and get ready for a cinematic whirlwind! The London Short Film Festival 2025 (LSFF) kicks off this weekend, bringing ten days of bold, boundary-pushing filmmaking to the capital. With an eclectic programme spanning screenings, talks, and parties, LSFF is the place to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of short cinema.
LSFF 2025: A Celebration of Short Film Innovation
Returning for its 22nd edition, LSFF continues to champion radical and innovative filmmaking. This year’s theme, Spaces, examines the creative, social, and political landscapes we navigate daily. Through thought-provoking films, the festival highlights everything from the gentrification of urban areas to the joy of finding community in unexpected places.
Venues like the BFI Southbank, ICA, Curzon Soho, Rich Mix, and Rio Cinema will host screenings, while a vintage 1960s Mobile Cinema Bus roams London, bringing film to the streets.
Programme Highlights You Can’t Miss
LSFF 2025 offers something for every film enthusiast. Here are just a few of the unmissable events:
Opening Night: Halcyon Days
Kick off the festival with Halcyon Days: Radical Short Films of the 1990s, followed by a party at Curzon Soho.
Mobile Cinema Adventures
Catch the free 1960s Mobile Cinema Bus, starting at Bell Square in Hounslow on Saturday, and Crystal Palace Park on Sunday.
Always Been Here
Dive into powerful expressions of Black and queer cultures with the Waywaad Collective at Ritzy, Sunday 19 January.
Alien Extravaganza
Nelly Ben-Hayoun curates a cosmic, queer film event at Rio Cinema on Sunday evening.
Dark Fantasies
Explore taboo-breaking on-screen erotica at Rio Cinema on Thursday, 23 January.
Closing Night: LSFF Awards
Celebrate the best of this year’s films at the LSFF Awards Ceremony at Curzon Soho on Sunday, 26 January.
Screenings with a Social Edge
LSFF has always been a festival for those who think deeply about art and society. This year is no different, with films like Housing Problems addressing London’s housing crisis and Community Spirit: Cinema and Filmmaking in London’s Edgelands exploring stories from the city’s margins.
Family Fun and Pop Culture
For younger audiences, LSFF presents Soviet Children’s Animation and family-friendly shorts from the Offbeat Film Club. Meanwhile, pop culture fans can enjoy Pop: Contagion, Infection, Revolution!, curated by film critic Cici Peng, and a pop-themed party at ICA.
The London Short Film Festival isn’t just another event—it’s a space for dialogue, creativity, and discovery. It shines a light on emerging filmmakers, offers a platform for marginalized voices, and celebrates the art of short storytelling.
Whether you’re here for the social commentary, the laughs, or the chance to discover the next big name in film, LSFF has it all.
Mark your calendar and join the conversation! LSFF 2025 is where creativity, community, and cinema collide.
