FILM REVIEWS AND NEWS

The short film format is the crucible of cinematic genius. It demands not only a singular vision but a ruthless efficiency of storytelling. For a film to earn a five-star rating from UK Film Review is to declare it a masterpiece—a work of art that is as flawless as it is unforgettable. This year, the quality of submissions has been staggering, yielding a definitive list of 20 short films that represent the absolute pinnacle of global and independent filmmaking.

★★★★★ Starring: #IonaChampain, #FrankieWilson, #EleanorGrace Directed by: #JamesArden Short Film Review by: Alexandra James James Arden director of short film Sitter  presents the audience with a chaotic and messy protagonist, one with which you cannot trust to do the simplest of tasks such as taking care of a cat. This short is a very realistic portrayal of what it’s like when you start to question yourself, whether this be life choices or just your character in general. Am

★★★ Starring: #AshtonPulis, #LolaCooley, #JoshuaMiles Directed by: #GriffinPeters Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Boil  is a short film directed by Griffin Peters; it follows a frustrated character and his strong passion for cooking. He has a dream to open a restaurant with his friend and show case their wonderful and unique skills, experimenting with flavours but the bond between them is really what makes them a strong pair. However, his partner is offered an amazing

★★★★ Starring: # JadenWolfe , #AliceLowery, #LukeCampanella Directed by: #AshtonPulis Short Film Review by: Alexandra James City of Lights  is a crime fuelled short film that hits the audience hard with action, danger and passion. The short begins by introducing the first two characters amid a fight and a brutal one at that. Main protagonist Jaden is being punched and hit repeatedly due to an unpaid debt outside a bar; however, he is spotted by a lady inside who is intereste

Directed by: Kiarash Dadgar Written by: Kiarash Dadgar - Ali Narimani 'Every frame a painting’ is a maxim that many film-makers have adhered to over the decades, and this director is no exception. Steak is a very painterly piece, rich in symbolism. The narrative is clear and simple: a child’s birthday party is interrupted in the most horrific way imaginable. The context, only ever seen from inside the house- a brilliant narrative choice- is war and political violence. From th

A short World War II drama written and directed by Jacob Stockton and starring Michael Tait and Alexander Clark.

Cut Short is noted as telling a "true story." What was the process of researching and adapting Jayden's real-life experiences, and how did you balance the need for factual accuracy with the demands of dramatic storytelling?

Magid / Zafar (2025) is a 19-minute short film depicting rising tensions, set inside a Pakistani-British takeaway restaurant. There are many tensions at play here, such as the juxtaposition between modernity and traditionalism and between a Pakistani and a more Western way of life. These conflicts are presented through music, costume, and a heart-wrenching narrative, as the protagonist, Magid, must face his future and what it entails.

Animal (2023) strikes home like a blade to the heart. Cody Farren’s dramatic short deals with heavy topics surrounding adolescent teens, such as abuse and mental health; therefore, viewer discretion is advised. Like Netflix’s Adolescence (2025), this film contains an important message about youth violence and bullying and the way these issues are often linked to external factors as children grow up.

Black Sea (2021) is an ode to the art of stillness and quiet. Through imaginative cinematic depictions and the use of silence, the film conveys a strong sense of grief and despair without ever directly addressing its subject matter. By being vague and short, capturing small moments of these characters’ lives, this brief procession of scenes creates a voiceless sense of death which permeates its entire runtime.

It was a pleasure, as always, to join my co-host Brian and cover some of the best movies out right now. As always, Brian gives his coveted "Film of the Month" award to one of the cinema releases, and this month it was for the new Stephen King adaptation, The Life of Chuck.

★★★★★ Starring: #MiaMcKenna-Bruce, #LouisaConnolly-Burnham, #MichaelFox Directed by: #LouisaConnolly-Burnham Short Film Review by:...

★★★★★ Starring: #GenevieveChenneour, #AdamFrith, #AlfieNoble, #MiaRodgers Directed by: #CarolineHajny Short Film Review by: Alexandra...

★★★★ Starring: #AndrewHodgson Directed by: #GuyPearson Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Extension , a short film directed by Guy...

★★★★ Starring: #HannsGal and #StuartNixon Directed by: #MohamedMussa Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Black Screen , a short film...

★★★★★ Starring: #ColtonCaulfield, #TiffaniGrace, #AlexanderThomas Directed by: #ColtonCaulfield Short Film Review by: Alexandra James...

★★★★ Starring: #AbbieMayWilson, #JoshVinten, #JackPayton, #HannahJarrett, Directed by: #JacobTMcClean Short Film Review by: Alexandra...

★★★ Directed by: #DianaGalimzyanova Short Film Review by: Alexandra James   The music video for Hunger  is a rock song by Bitter Cherry...

★★★★ Starring: #EllaMaisyPurvis and #BaxterWestby Directed by: #LadaKopytova Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Blueprint  follows...

★★★★ Starring: #LauMeiTak and #WongWaiMan Directed by: #LauMeiTak Short Film Review by: Alexandra James The Gift  explores the...