Festival Dates

The 2025 festival will run 3-6 April 2025.

Want to attend?

Tickets are now available.
Spaces are limited so we would advise you to get in early if you would like to attend.

Submissions

Are you a filmmaker thinking of submitting? Submissions are handled via our Film Freeway page here.

Want to get in contact?

Want to say hello or ask any questions? Please get in contact or
sign up to our newsletter!


Oxford Shorts

Oxford Shorts celebrates the diversity and creativity of short films. We are located in the heart of the historic university city.

We believe short films are an art form, ideally one which should be experienced in unique and beautiful surroundings, on a large screen with an enthusiastic audience. The live festival is held in the beautiful grounds of St John's College at The University of Oxford.

We would like to encourage short films from all filmmakers in any genre both fictional and documentary. We're looking for great stories which stir the emotions, have strong characters, and unique voices or evocative worlds. The awards will be judged by a panel of industry filmmakers prior to the event across a range of categories.

Our very first festival ran in March 2019, since then we have played over 500 short films from countries all over the world and organised talks with industry professionals.
 

2025 Festival Trailer

2025 Festival Screenings

Joan Graves

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60mins

Saloon A

Expert

About Joan Graves

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themecube.net

Tracey Curtis

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60mins

Saloon A

Beginner

About Tracey Curtis

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themecube.net

Jane Richards

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60mins

Saloon A

Beinner

About Jane Richards

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themecube.net

Tracey Curtis

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Sed facilisis justo vitae risus viverra vulputate. Mauris vel ipsum dignissim diam viverra condimentum. Donec sodales, diam eget mattis condimentum, quam neque tempus purus, dictum viverra risus nisl quis metus.

60mins

Saloon A

Beginner

About Tracey Curtis

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themecube.net
Festival Programme

Download the 2025 Programme

download pdf


 (Please note the programme may be periodically updated.
Last updated: 22 Feb 2025)

volunteer

We are looking for volunteers to help with our screenings on 29-30 August. Do you want to help? Volunteers will be fed and watered, plus get free access to the festival (when not on duty) and a free festival T-shirt. You will also be invited to the Awards Party on the evening of Saturday 31st August!

Apply to volunteer here

2025 Award Nominees

Best Film:

Nominees:
Elsewhere, Francie, Hamdardi, LUKi & The Lights, Wander To Wonder

Best Director:

Nominees:
Anne Thorens (Elsewhere), Ashley Tabatabai and Stefan Fairlamb (Hamdardi), Carter M. Stewart (Lyrical), Rebecca Rose (The Removed), Zoë Ellender (Francie)

Best Actor:

Nominees:
Aaron Carnahan (Ever There), AJ Dyer (Lyrical), Edwin Flay (The Carrot), James Doran (Music To Die For), Tom Glenister (Foxhole)

Best Actress:

Nominees:
Aimée Cassettari (Francie), Estelle Bridet (Elsewhere), Georgie Glen (The Removed), Name Önal (Chicken Broth Soup), Suzanna Hamilton (175)

Best Young Performer:

Nominees:
Alejandro Carrillo (The Black Dune), Cassandre Helfer (Elsewhere), Chloe Dong (The Silent Canary), Diya Bisht (Ballad Of The Mountain), Rory Galvin (Tanner’s Field)

Best Early Career Filmmaker:

Nominees:
Barbara Wiltshire (Book Club), Dominika Tarinová (Darkness All Around), Magda Adamowicz (All I Want Today), Martha Crow (Badger), Megan Lyons (Until Today)

Best Cinematography:

Nominees:
Elsewhere, Francie, Hamdardi, The Black Dune, Winter Song

Best Editing:

Nominees:
Badger, Foxhole, Nervous Ellie, OCD & Chips, Skelter

Best Music or Score:

Nominees:
Ever There, Hamdardi, Lay Me Down (HMLTD), LUKi & The Lights, Winter Song

Best Script:

Nominees:
All I Want Today, Lyrical, OCD & Chips, Roger, The Overlook

Best Sound:

Nominees:
Elsewhere, Foxhole, Francie, Hamdardi, The Car That Came Back From The Sea

Best Animation:

Nominees:
Beautiful Men, Hot Mess, LUKi & the Lights, Wander to Wonder, Yuck!

Best Comedy:

Nominees:
Book Club, STI: Sexually Transmitted Introductions, Studs, The Carrot, The Stroll

Best Documentary:

Nominees:
Amu Darya: River To A Missing Sea, Darkness All Around, Milking The Dog, Nostos, Running Away To The Circus

Best Drama:

Nominees:
Ballad Of The Mountain, Chicken Broth Soup, Foxhole, The Silent Canary, Until Today

Best Experimental/Microshort Film:

Nominees:
Cry Like A Guy, Dear Child II, Finding Hope, OCD & Chips, Uh Oh

Best Horror/Thriller:

Nominees:
Badger, Ever There, Grotto, Nibbling Of The Night, Pretty Bonnets

Best Local Film:

Nominees:
Amu Darya: River to a Missing Sea, Can You Fight Fires and Diabetes At The Same Time?, Rock-a-Bye, Skelter, Wall Cries

Best Science Fiction/Fantasy:

Nominees:
EXIMO, I Made The Time Machine, Lapso, The End Was Just The Beginning, While Some Must Sleep


festival organisers

See below for a list of festival organisers:

  • Andrew Carslaw

    Festival Director

  • Laura Jones

    Festival Business Director

  • Olivia Chappell

    Director of Awards

  • Emma Faraone

    Event Coordinator

friends and sponsors

A huge shout-out to our partners, sponsors and supporters:

venue

The live festival will take place in the beautiful surroundings of St John's College in the auditorium.

Please Note:

The Festival Entrance will be venue via the St John's College Front Lodge (Postcode: OX1 3JP). This is located on St Giles on the opposite side to the Ashmolean Museum.

Registration opens at 9:30am, and will be open throughout the day. Tickets can be bought at the Registration Desk, subject to availability. If you have bought Festival Passes or tickets online, please make sure you bring along a copy of your ticket.

address

St John's College (Front Lodge)
Parks Road,
Oxford
OX1 3JP

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