London Short Film Festival 2016

There's little more exciting than witnessing up-and-coming artists experiment and develop their craft. For fans of independent cinema the London Short Film Festival provides the rare opportunity to catch these diamonds in the rough whilst there ideas are, arguably, at their most vital. Running from Friday 8 to Sunday 17 January, the festival returns for its 13th year with a promise to 'be as confrontational as ever and prove that the UK is truly a hotbed of film creativity'.
With categories ranging from F***ed Up Love to Lo-Budget Mayhem, there's certainly a fuss-free attitude to how the festival presents its material. There is also a competitive element, with the British Council's prize for Best UK Short film up for grabs, and the opportunity to direct a film starring none other than Maggie Gyllenhaal. The nominees' submissions will be screened this Friday at the ICA, kicking off the festival with a burst of emerging new talent.

Highlights include showcase screenings of works by Jarman collaborator Richard Heslop, groundbreaking nature cinematographer Mary Field and pioneer Harmony Korine. A retrospective film and music night sees Mark Webber's experimental Little Stabs of Happiness revived. Events focusing on space travel and near death experiences also take the floor.
The year's offerings also promise to promote a number of female-led projects. Two collections, entitled Femmes Fantastiques, and Teen Girl Heroes will be shown at the Hackney Picturehouse.
Whatever your tastes, the variety and unbridled energy of this annual film festival is a special event, and can be just as inspiring for the casual viewer as to the future generation of filmmakers it fosters. For details on all the events, and to purchase tickets, click here to go to the LSFF website.