FILM REVIEWS AND NEWS

Forcefield of Love is a short documentary about the eternal ability of love to transform, surprise and inspire.

Written, directed, and edited by transgender filmmaker, Jamie Kiernan O’Brien, Gender Studies becomes a semi-autobiographical tale for her, showcasing a lot of the thoughts and ideas that surround feminism and femininity in the modern age.

Looking ahead to the South by Southwest programme, there is a distinct sense of electricity surrounding the short film selection. By synthesising our own existing critiques with the growing speculative chatter from across the pond, I have compiled a list of the short films that should be at the very top of your "must-watch" list this year.

The 2026 program of Oscar-nominated animated shorts is characteristically brilliant. Artistic styles range from brushstrokes to stop motion to simple, hand-drawn animation and the tales told run an even wider gamut. Gorgeous, heartwarming, clever and endlessly watchable, the shorts celebrate the boundless talent and creativity in human artistry.

Souvenir is a tense portrayal of young, same-sex female love.

The 98th Oscars shortlist for Best Live Action Short Film is a testament to the global nature of modern filmmaking. From the visceral and gritty to the whimsical and satirical, these films challenge the viewer to engage with complex themes in a condensed timeframe.

In the landscape of contemporary short-form cinema, few films have carried as much weight or resonated as deeply as Rock, Paper, Scissors. Following its triumphant BAFTA victory, the announcement that Franz Böhm’s powerful drama has been shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2026 Academy Awards feels less like a surprise and more like a necessary recognition of a vital piece of art.

★★★ Starring: #LilyFawn, #PaulKannuspuro, #SethMacdonald, #AdamZonnis, #AndreaZonnis Short Film Review by: Alexandra James This review is based on a music video for the song Black, played by the band Zonnis. This rock roll band includes couple Adam and Andrea Zonnis, and their message is to share songs of friendship and happiness, exploring the highs and lows of life and their passion for music. This is a great song, with beautiful harmonies and coupled with a fantastic guit

★★★★★ Starring: #AishaHemissiLiu, #LucyMynard, #LyudHristov, #MichaelJames, #JoannaNsianguana Directed by: #PatrickSheard Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Roundabout is a short film directed by Patrick Sheard that focuses on modern day relationships, whether this be friendship or romantic. The audience are introduced to David and Stella, who wake up together after a heavy night out and are left awkward and uncomfortable after their encounter. After their night together,

★★★ Starring: #MichaelBurtch Directed by: #ChristopherShoust Short Film Review by: Alexandra James This short film explores art in its purest form, directed by Christopher Shoust, the audience are exposed to the wonderful world of music and art combined. A Tear in the Fabric of Time focuses on a sound sculpture created by Michael Burtch on its 40th anniversary. The sculpture itself is located on the shores of St. Marys River and is made from ‘boat horns’ with a drum containi

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.