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.

London Film School’s third programme features short films focused on childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Directors from around the world explore common themes in culturally specific ways from the Middle East and Israel to London, Serbia and India. All these short films are festival favourites and award winners from the last twelve years of the school’s archive.

Children of God

UK/Iraq Arabic 2013

Director Ahmed Yassin

A young disabled amputee, with a passion for football, bets his valuable football cards in the hope that he can catch the attention of the girl he loves.

Summer Shade  

UK/Israel Hebrew 2019

Festivals: Munich 2021; BSC Short film winner 2020; London Film Festival

Director Shira Haimovichi

On a hot Summer’s day, a mischievous teenager, Gal, takes a dip in her favourite nearby pool and unexpectedly encounters a group of Hasidic boys.

Rickshaw

UK English 2022  

Festivals: Nahemi Eat our Shorts (Best Film and Best Cinematography) 2023

Director Raphael Hernandez

Paul is celebrating his eighth birthday with a night out with his parents. They've taken him to the theatre, and for a special treat, Paul begs to take a ride on a rickshaw instead of taking a cab home. Reluctantly, his parents agree.  A rather disturbing, and magical, journey ensues.

Señor  

UK/Serbia Serbian 2019  

Director Masa Clark  

Eleven-year-old Dunya lives with her parents in a small town in the North of Serbia. When Dunya decides to accompany her father on his wine delivery route, an unexpected encounter with her father’s old love confronts her with the mystery of who her father really is - and more perilously - who he used to be.

Mast Qalandar  

UK/India Punjabi and Hindi 2015  

Festivals: Manchester Film Festival 2016 (Best Student Film and Rising Star Award_

Director Divij Roopchand  

Montek is a Sikh boy about to turn thirteen.  A rap-loving teenager, all he wants for his birthday is a new haircut.  He spends the day hunting down a pair of scissors.

Three Centimetres

UK/Lebanon Arabic  2019  

Festivals: Berlinale 2018 (best short film, Iris Prize winner)

Director Lara Zeidan  

A moment of floating. Living at standstill. Four girlfriends sit chatting in the gondola of a Ferris wheel looking out at the Mediterranean sea on the Lebanese coast. Framed in a single shot as the wheel starts and stops, their conversation takes on life-changing resonance when one of them loses her patience and steps out of her shell.