Julia Schonstadt on Poppy: “At the Heart of the Story, It Is a Love Story”

There are some stories that stay with you long after you first encounter them. For Julia Schonstadt, Claudia’s story has remained with her for more than a decade. Around 11 years ago, while working on a documentary photography project inside German prisons, Schonstadt met Claudia, whose experiences with addiction, incarceration and domestic violence would eventually […]

Finding Light in the Dark: Dan Audritt and Kat Butterfield on Life Goes On

There are few places you would expect to find a comedy than a hospice, but that is exactly where Daniel Audritt and Kat Butterfield have chosen to set Life Goes On. The 19-minute short follows 83-year-old Bill (David Bradley), who, while receiving end-of-life care, finds himself trapped in an infinite time loop that forces him […]

Black Cab: James Arden on AI, Automation and the Human Cost of Convenience

There was a time when getting into a black cab meant more than simply getting from A to B. It could mean a conversation with a stranger, a recommendation from a local, or simply the small comfort of another human being behind the wheel. But as autonomous vehicles begin to appear on London’s streets, that […]

When Love Becomes an Act of Defiance: Mar Sudac and Sayali Upadhye on Zero, Infinity

As governments increasingly seek to regulate, categorise and define the most intimate aspects of our identities, Mar Sudac’s (Zero, Infinity) feels less like a work of speculative fiction and more like an unsettling glimpse into a possible near future. Following married couple Gus and Clark as they are forced to undergo an invasive government procedure […]

Johnny Russell on A Scent, Parkinson’s and the Power of the Unseen

A Scent is a film about something we cannot see, but can nonetheless profoundly feel. Inspired by the true story of Joy Milne, the short drama follows Nancy, a nurse who discovers she can detect Parkinson’s disease through scent, turning an extraordinary ability into something that begins to reshape her understanding of the world around […]

“I Want Audiences to Remember My Island”: Hayden McLean on Bringing an Authentic Jamaica to FarEye

Hayden McLean’s FarEye is a film deeply rooted in place. Set against the landscapes of rural Jamaica, the short follows young Khalil as he navigates a world shaped by spirituality, community and adversity. But for McLean, the film is about more than telling one story. It is an opportunity to present Jamaica beyond the familiar […]

An Interview with Rosa Brooke About Her Directorial Debut, Birthday Boy

As I watched Rosa’s directorial debut, I couldn’t help the swirling sense of dread and pressure that comes from this tight, intense short film. Following Rae’s birthday celebration with their father Jeff, the film slow boils you into one of the most tense dinner’s featuring a mariachi band you’ve ever seen in your life and […]

The Horror of Looking Away: Maya Gray Discusses Her New Short Film Animals.

Psychological thrillers often thrive on what remains unsaid, and Animals. is no exception. Writer-director Maya Gray’s unsettling short, which makes its international premiere at the 2026 Raindance Film Festival, blends psychological horror with sharp social commentary to examine grief, coercive control, colonisation and the bystander effect. Centred on a young woman whose mourning is exploited […]

Remembering the Pre-Internet World: Michael Cusumano and Charity Schubert Discuss Last Minute

In an age where information is available within seconds and human interaction is increasingly filtered through screens, Last Minute looks back at a time when solving even the simplest problem required patience, creativity, and genuine connection. Written and directed by Michael Cusumano, the charming short film transforms a familiar childhood experience into a heartfelt reflection […]

Benny Chen on his New Film- HAND: Isolation, Immigrant Life and Invisible Struggles

Set against the relentless backdrop of everyday survival, HAND is the kind of short film that lingers long after its final frame. Written and directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Benny Chen, the film offers an intimate, unflinching portrait of immigrant life in contemporary America, following Lin, a middle-aged undocumented cook grappling with isolation, invisibility, and the […]