Student-led Festival of Short Film returns to MediaCity campus

The event will showcase an array of independent films from across the world and host filmmakers from all backgrounds and disciplines from Wednesday 21 January to Friday 23 January.

For its fifth edition, the festival will be almost entirely run by BA Film Production students who have arranged a packed itinerary for the three days that will consist of guest speakers, discussion panels, workshops and short film screenings.

Each night, audiences can enjoy a plethora of work produced in countries from around the world including the USA, Iran, and Norway.

A total of 99 short film submissions were received from film makers and students, covering every genre and audiences can expect screenings of animations, documentaries, and so much more.

Tom Kirby, Programme Leader for BA Film Production, said: “The festival gets bigger and bigger each year and that's why it’s so exciting. We add a new element every year.”

Amongst the guest speakers is storyboard artist Paul Scarlata, who has worked on animated hits including Family Guy, American Dad, and King of the Hill.

Comedy writer Tim Reid will also be attending, ready to share his vast knowledge of the industry, most prominently as a writer on Peter Kay’s Car Share and Meet the Richardsons

An interactive student exhibition, titled Veganzz, will immerse guests in a post-apocalyptic 1980s Britain and a curated section of films from previous International Network of Experimental Fiction Filmmaking festivals will be screened on Thursday 22 January at Cloudwater Brewing Co.

In total, the festival will comprise of over 25 individual events, providing opportunities for our students to network, collaborate and learn more about the world of film making.

Tom added: “The festival benefits from the fact that Salford is a real hub for film production in the north west. It plays such a key part of independent film making, and that is really valuable for students and the course.”

The event will culminate in an awards evening on the Friday night to celebrate the best short films from the festival.

All of the official screening events and awards events are available to book onto via the Film Production programme's Eventbrite page.