The London Short Film Festival returns to the capital for a 10-day run, starting this Friday (10 January) at the ICA on The Mall.
Last year's event saw over 7,000 attendees and more than 300 films screened, and this year the organisers hope to top that with screenings across a bunch of independent venues. There are screenings of new short films taking place at Curzon Soho, the Rio Cinema in Dalston, the Roxy Bar & Screen in Borough and the Hackney Picturehouse.
Opening proceedings at the ICA on Friday is The Punk Singer, about Bikini Kill frontwoman, feminist and Riot Grrrl icon Kathleen Hanna, and Funny Shit, director Clare Macdonald's attempt to make light of the death of a pet. Also recommended is Global Stories, about British-based filmmakers journeying the globe (in parts one and two).
Perhaps one of the most innovative events at the festival is a 'live remix' of the acclaimed Ben Wheatley film A Field In England. London band Teeth Of The Sea will perform an aural and visual re-imagining of the original film which should prove one of the highlights of the whole 10 days.
The festival is also hosting a number of networking and industry opportunities for filmmakers, on topics such as the best strategy for releasing a short film, how to get the most out of the actor/director relationship and how to go about securing funding. There's even a discussion on how behind every film critic there's almost certainly a frustrated filmmaker.
For anyone looking to get involved in a more hands-on fashion the LSFF includes a 'Straight 8 Challenge'. This is intended to be a road-test for a new Super-8-style iPhone app, which could provide a shot in the arm for short film-making by allowing entry to virtually anyone with a compatible smartphone. The 'challenge' is simply to make a good short film with the app, the best eight of which will be screened on the closing night of the festival.
Tickets are available from each venue involved so you can pick and choose between the various events. Head over to the LSFF homepage or check out the festival's Twitter feed for the latest information and listings.
