A special season celebrating the 70th anniversary of London Film School (LFS), the UK’s oldest film school and a vital force in independent filmmaking since its founding.

Cannes is the most prestigious film festival in the world. London Film School is proud that many of our alumni have had their features selected for competition there. In this programme we are showing short films, produced by our students whilst still at the school, which were also selected for competition at Cannes.

End of Season

UK/ Kazakhstan Russian and Kazakh

Festivals: Cannes 2018

Director Zhannat Alshanova

At the end of summer, Rosa (50) arrives at her husband’s resort – a small hotel in the vast dry steppe - to check on staff and collect the accounts. An unexpected encounter interrupts the routine of her stay and awakens a long-gone passion for swimming.

Talking to the River  

UK/China Chinese  

Festivals: Cannes Director’s Fortnight 2023  

Director Yue Pan

A young Chinese boy lives with his grandparents in a remote river-side village, where he spends his time playing and dreaming. When he learns that his absent mother is expecting a second child, he begins to sleepwalk. Pulled forward by its magnetic young lead actor, the film is a rite of passage that invokes both water and fire.

In The Hills  

UK English  

Festivals: Cannes 2016; Toronto 2016  

Director Hamid Ahmadi

Shahram is a young immigrant, newly arrived in the idyllic countryside of the Cotswolds in England. To integrate into this new society, he chooses to take a rather radical approach!