The best of the London Short Film Festival 2018

In 2003, the London Short Film festival wasn’t what it is now.

Held in the ICA, it started as the Halloween Short Film festival. Five years later, too popular to keep going and outgrowing the ‘Halloween’ theme, it took on its present name, stretched out and spread across the city. Now in its 15th year, and with original founder Philip Ilson still as artistic director, the festival has become a cornerstone of London’s cultural calendar.

Running from January 12 until the 21 at venues across town, this year there are hundreds of shorts on; go, absorb, indulge. Here’s our pick of what to see.

Festival co-founders Philip Ilson and Kate Taylor host a special screening of Great British shorts, including What The by BAFTA winner Simon Ellis, and Who Killed Brown Owl, by The Desperate Optimists (Joe Lawlor & Christine Molloy), who've also got themselves a BAFTA. If that wasn’t enough award-winning goodness, there’ll also be Bradford-Halifax-London from Francis Lee, who’s just picked up a nomination at this year’s BAFTAs. The best part, though, is that plenty of the filmmakers will be there in person.

Jan 12, the ICA, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH, More info

Dawn Shadforth isn’t a household name, but her work is: she’s the award-winning director behind videos from the likes of Björk, Charli XCX, Primal Scream, Tinie Tempah, Metronomy, The Streets, Hurts, Florence and the Machine and, as the title tips its hat to, Kylie Minogue. Following a screening of some of her best pieces, she’ll sit down for a chat through her career, her approach to film making and more.

Jan 14, Regent Street Cinema, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW, More info

It’s no surprise a political screw-up as spectacularly awful as Brexit makes for interesting film festival fodder. The nine short films come from a collaboration between the Headlong Theatre and the Guardian, which had screenwriters including Abi Morgan and Maxine Peake write short scripts which were then performed by a stellar cast including Kristin Scott Thomas and Nasser Memarzia. All nine films are being shown, followed up by a reading of Permanent Sunshine from author A.L. Kennedy and a panel discussion with Amy Hodge from the Headlong Theatre and Guardian journos Jess Gormley and Noah Payne-Frank.

Jan 14, the ICA, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH, More info

The Moth Club in Hackney is showing Omar Majeed’s groundbreaking documentary Taqwacore: The Birth Of Punk Islam on a night which also includes a discussion with filmmaker Hammad Khan, Ms. Mohammed (who made her name as Dada Jade), Nabihah Iqbal (formerly Throwing Shade), the BBC’s Nerm, critic Kaleem Aftab and lead singer of pop-punk trio the Tuts, Nadia Javed. They’ll be weighing in on “What happened to Taqwacore, and how is class, race, and gender tied in with Muslim resistance to Trump and Brexit?”. Not exactly a snappy proposal, but bound to be an interesting one. The Tuts perform afterwards.

Jan 16, The Moth Club, Old Trades Hall, Valette St, E9 6NU, More info

Closing night of the festival sees them continue their celebration of female hip hop MCs who, in their words, are “raising the bar in a scene too long dominated by men”. Head over for live performances from the likes of Hackney’s Paigey Cakey and Lady Lykez.

Jan 20, the ICA, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH, More info

​ London Short Film Fesival, January 12 - 21, shortfilms.org.uk