2024 In Competition Short Film Programme
Our in competition short film line-up for 2024.
A Drowning Heart Part 2
David Lee | 2023 | English | United States | 20 mins
Synopsis:
After losing his wife in a violent street fight, Truong is forced back into a past life he had hope to leave behind in order to save his school and the community he has grown to Love.
Bleak Salvation
Alexandru Siantiu | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 5 mins
Synopsis:
The search for salvation is bleak and hopeless in a world ravaged by aimless and never ending violence. A lone wanderer struggles to find purpose both within and without, whilst fighting for survival.
Buon Appetito
Tanguy Guinchard | 2023 | English | Switzerland | 7 mins
Synopsis:
Liam's romantic dinner takes a dangerous turn when he discovers he's in a mafia restaurant. Caught between a secret agent and the mob, his evening becomes a thrilling fight for survival.
Flaming Assassin
Nathan Geering | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 11 mins
Synopsis:
Over a game of cards three Crime Lords exchange stories about how an unknown assassin is killing gang leaders in their area. The problem is these stories seem too far fetched to be true. Who of the three is telling the truth and who is exaggerating......most importantly who is this mystery assassin and where will he strike next?
Jackal and Hide
Lee Donaldson and Andy Gray | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 12 mins
Synopsis:
Two rival gangs are at war, with one kidnapping & torturing the other’s boss & wife. In a desperate attempt to save them, a rescue group band together to free the boss whilst vastly outnumbered, a fight to the death soon ensues.
Jackie | Winter Edition
Rafał Karnicki | 2024 | English | Poland | 6 mins
Synopsis:
When Jackie's symbol of love - SNOWMAN (the ugliest one you've ever seen 😅) is brutally destroyed, the winter peace turns into a bloody fight for honour.
Midnight Punch
Kim Culetto and Simon Schärmeli | 2024 | German with English subtitles | Switzerland | 7 mins
Synopsis:
Homeless Sam has long since lost his zest for life during the day. At night, he breaks into the warm dojo around the corner to forget his worries while training on the punching bag. But how long will that last?
Office Offence
Natasja Schaafsma | 2023 | English | Ireland | 4 mins
Synopsis:
Addison is gluten intolerant. She makes her own - very lovely - sandwiches to bring to work every day. Matt also thinks Addison's sandwiches are very lovely.
Outlands
Mark Hampton | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 6 mins
Synopsis:
A band of warriors must navigate the uncharted woodlands of Barberia, but find trouble closing in all around..
Rise of Chow
Hymnson Chan | 2023 | English | United States | 16 mins
Synopsis:
A young man new to Las Vegas, with dreams of becoming a headlining magician, gets derailed by mental health battles and tragic events which spiral him down a dark path of vengeance and transforms him into the notorious crime lord we all now know as Leslie Chow
Risky Business
Esa Jussila | 2024 | English | Finland | 5 mins
Synopsis:
A shady trade between a thief and his client turns sour after a double cross. And then even worse when their victim comes looking for his product... armed to the teeth.
Ronin
Jon Fraser | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 4 mins
Synopsis:
A mysterious Ronin has been covertly assigned to retrieve and safeguard the Emperor's sword upon news of its theft. This unbreakable blade holds immense value. However, upon his return, he realizes he's not the sole pursuer of the sword...
RUSTAM - A Muay Thai Story
Laura Pronestì | 2023 | Italian with English Subtitles | Italy | 11 mins
Rustam is simply the baptismal name of the great Italo-Ukrainian Muay Thai champion, Rustam Vyntu, a talented, passionate, and humble fighter who managed to resume the steps of his long journey to success after the difficult forced break due to the 2020 pandemic.
This documentary-interview seeks to paint an intimate and passionate portrait of the man and the athlete, face to face with himself, without rhetoric, without veils, and without excuses. Captured by the cameras of Laura Pronestì and Matteo Concina in the places where he cultivates his passion and in the company of his fellow sportsmen, he reveals himself to the public with his dry and straightforward style in an emotional crescendo that reaches its narrative climax in his most significant experience, the only KO suffered at the beginning of his career.
Rustam involuntarily manages to move the viewer with his delicate reserve and a sweetness that unexpectedly manifests itself only outside the ring, but he also manages to involve those who do not practice combat sports with the fire of his sports passion and the elegance of his technical gestures.
Sakura in the Cage
Gergo Kui | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 30 mins
Synopsis:
In an attempt to rekindle their rebellious spirits, two friends sign up for a charity MMA fight, igniting a tale of resilience and inspiration for all.
Shattered Remedy
Dmitry Kulak | 2023 | English | Ukraine | 16 mins
Synopsis:
A police officer suffers from severe migraine right before his night shift. He decides to fight it with abnormal amount of medication. However, he does not realize that the side effects will soon cause him to lose his ability to understand reality and differentiate between his own experiences and those of others.
The Ultimate Superpower
Jean-Philippe Nadeau-Marcoux | 2024 | French with English subtitles | Canada | 8 mins
Synopsis:
During a karate class, two students start an important debate: What is the best superpower for a superhero? Soon they are not the only ones asking this question.
Welcome to the Party
Jack Downs | 2023 | English | United Kingdom | 2 mins
Synopsis:
Welcome to the party follows a criminal having an encounter with Britain's newest vigilante and facing the consequences
Young Hot Bloods
Jade Ang-Jackman | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 10 mins
Synopsis:
An unassuming seamstress is confronted by an undercover policeman seeking to track down members of the Suffragette movement. An action-packed slice of history delivered with an uppercut to the gut.
Brawler
Bulent Ozdemir-Larusso | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 6 mins
Synopsis:
A focused fighter risks all in a high stakes brawl to save the one he loves.
Crouching Carpet, Heading Home
Aeddan Sussex | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 7 mins
Synopsis:
Everybody hates cleaning up after a long day of training, and it's no exception for the British Wushu team. Take a peek into what a totally 'normal' day of training looks like for them
Deja Vu
Jean Frenette | 2024 | English | Canada | 14 mins
Synopsis:
John is convinced he’s been on this planet for longer than his lifetime. This feeling of knowing more than what meets the eye troubles him deeply. To find some peace of mind, he decides to consult a hypnotherapist to dive into his subconscious and get some clarity. This leads him to find some truth in his beliefs: the one that he has been living through multiple bodies, for centuries
Don’t Bother The Neighbors
Jeff Gorcyca | 2024 | English | United States | 7 mins
Synopsis:
Jay gets more than he bargained for when he goes upstairs to tell off his noisy neighbors. "Don't Bother The Neighbors!" is a love letter to the movies of John Carpenter, Stuart Gordon, and Jackie Chan.
Earth Lion Sudden Thunder
Chester Yang | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 19 mins
Synopsis:
"Earth Lion Sudden Thunder" injects the playfulness of Martial Arts Cinema into London's urban scene. Akira, a former trainee of ancient Lion Guardians, leads a quiet life haunted by past trauma and loss of his past memory. His world takes a thrilling turn when a rebellious teen thief, Dylan, steals his phone during a breakup call. Akira's pursuit unravels a series of events, leading him into the dangerous territory of a ruthless gang led by Johnny Thunder. As Akira fights for survival, memories resurface, igniting his purpose. The film weaves a gripping tale of redemption, resilience, and martial arts prowess against the backdrop of London's gritty streets, as Akira confronts his past and present and battles for his identity and love.
Jump Senior
Won Jin | 2024 | Korean with English Subtitles | Republic of Korea | 14 mins
Synopsis:
One day, an old couple takes a walk, dances on a flower path, and has a happy time. They see a woman being bullied by bad guys. The old man who is angered by the bad guys’ behaviour fights with them.
Latte For Jim
JJ Zink | 2024 | English | United States | 7 mins
Synopsis:
When two men named Jim mistake their coffee orders for one another's, they will stop at nothing to get their daily dose of crucial caffeine.
Sliced
Jay Nagjee | 2024 | English | United States | 6 mins
Synopsis:
Two roommates fight over the last slice of pizza.
The Boss
Mikko Löppönen | 2024 | Finnish with English Subtitles | Finland | 3 mins
Synopsis:
A regular workday turns into an unexpected brawl when a colleague can't stop fiddling with their pen or brag about their relationship with The Boss.
The Chef
Sherice Griffiths | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 3 mins
Synopsis:
A chef gets more than he bargained for when he must defend a package from falling into the wrong hands.
The Hitman and the Assassin
Will Axtell | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 8 mins
Synopsis:
Two trained killers both have different reasons to kill the same gang leader, but which one will get the job done first
The Last Dumpling
Jadey Duffield | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 4 mins
Synopsis:
On a first date, two hungry men are faced with a dilemma when only one dumpling remains on their shared plate. Tensions rise as they both go for it, leading to a playful, hilarious and intense chopstick KungFu fight in the restaurant. Will they manage to share the last morsel gracefully, turning a potentially awkward moment into a delightful memory, or will their antics lead to the dumpling being snatched up by the adorable but opportunistic dog lurking under the table?
The Tragedy of Cain
Augie Lodholz | 2024 | English | United States | 12 mins
Synopsis:
Cain takes matters into his own hands under the threat of losing his starting spot on the team.
The Warrior Poet
Ciaran Joseph Gibbons | 2023 | English | United Kingdom | 30 mins
Synopsis:
A fly on the wall documentary about bare knuckle boxer & poet James Lilley from Swansea in South Wales, UK. As a poet James uses his writing to express himself but in the ring it's his bare fists that do all the talking. Filmmaker Ciaran Gibbons shadows James in the 4 weeks run up to his bare knuckle fight against hard hitting Bobby Taylor away from home in New Orleans, USA. This film breaks down the stereotypes of what and who bare knuckle boxers are, as James tries balances family life, a full time job and his fighting ambitions to pursue his dreams. This is the story of The Warrior Poet !
Wash Your Hands
Yue Qi and Etienne Laurendeau | 2024 | English | Canada | 10 mins
Synopsis:
Two men fight for hygiene
We Are Home
Ramin Sohrab | 2024 | Finnish with English Subtitles | Finland | 5 mins
Synopsis:
In a dystopian future, Henri and Sam are DNA-altered soldiers belonging to a specialized unit of the US army forces. Henri has escaped & is pursued on foot by Sam, eventually taking refuge in a warehouse. Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office, Colonel Jeffrey and Klaudia discuss the situation. Henri refuses to return with Sam, seeking answers about his origins. As they fight, Sam reveals they were created by an organization. Henri manages to activate a portal just as time runs out, and they disappear. They reappear near an old house, where Henri's memories resurface, and they realize they are home.
Shadow Theatre
Théo Auvinet | 2024| Silent | France | 13 mins
Synopsis:
On a calm night in a dojo, a young woman wearing a traditional kimono is meditating. Her tranquility stops with the arrival of a man with a sloppy appearance. After quickly sizing each other up, the two retrieve a katana. Once face to face, Yuno begins a magical meditation, which takes Arthur into a series of hallucinations. He then finds himself facing shadows while reliving his past in the form of a Shadow Theatre