Saturday, May 24th, 2025
From Laugh-Out-Loud to Family-Friendly: Why Variety Matters in a Short Film Festival
When most people think of film festivals, they picture serious dramas, Oscar hopefuls, or moody slow-burns that leave you thinking (or crying) for days. And yes, there’s a place for those films – plenty of them, in fact. But there’s something else that matters just as much: variety.
At Norwich Film Festival, we pride ourselves on programming a diverse and unpredictable lineup. That means championing heartfelt dramas and weighty documentaries, yes – but also laugh-out-loud comedies, imaginative animations, playful sci-fi, and thoughtful films that families can enjoy together. Because a festival isn’t just about prestige. It’s about connection.
So here’s why variety matters – and why we’re actively looking for more great comedy shorts and family-friendly films in our 2025 line-up.
Not Just Drama and Trauma
We love a powerful story about grief, identity, or injustice as much as anyone. But even in a block of brilliant films, if everything is bleak, heavy, or abstract, audiences start to check out. That’s not because they don’t care – it’s because balance matters.
A successful short film programme often feels like a mixtape. We aim to take audiences on a journey – one that makes them laugh, reflect, feel seen, or discover something new. Mixing genres and tones allows for surprise, contrast, and deeper engagement.
This isn’t just our opinion. In our audience feedback, year after year, words like “variety,” “balance,” and “laugh-out-loud” appear frequently. As one respondent put it: “The selection of films was very diverse, which I loved.” Another described how their 8-year-old grandson loved being introduced to films “other than what he might be used to.”
Audiences want more than solemn. They want a full experience.
Why Comedy Matters
Short comedy is one of the hardest genres to pull off – and one of the most rewarding.
A great comedy short does something extraordinary: it makes strangers laugh together in the dark. That shared reaction creates a sense of community and sets a tone that carries across the rest of the screening. Comedy breaks tension. It invites joy. It offers relief between heavier stories and gives audiences a breather without compromising depth.
Over the years, some of our most talked-about shorts have been comedies:
- One Minute Time Machine (2014, Devon Avery) – A hilarious time-loop romance with impeccable pacing and a killer punchline.
One Minute Time Machine
- A Six and Two Threes (2015, Andy Berriman) – A tender and funny story of unlikely friendship.
A Six and Two Threes
- An Irish Goodbye (2022, Tom Berkeley & Ross White) – An Oscar-winning gem that balances humour and heart with masterful confidence.
An Irish Goodbye (2022)
- Jellyfish & Lobster (2023, Yasmin Afifi) – A unique blend of absurdism and warmth that had audiences buzzing.
Jellyfish and Lobster
We love seeing comedies that are bold, weird, charming, awkward, or character-driven. It doesn’t have to be loud or slapstick. Just sharp, intentional, and committed to its tone.
So if you’ve made a funny short film – especially if it’s struggled to find a home at other fests – we want to see it.
Read more about how our submission process works here: Submit to NFF.
Programming for Families and Young People
There’s a common misconception that film festivals are just for adults. We work hard to challenge that.
Our Family Friendly Shorts strand is all about creating a space where under-18s can enjoy cinema with their parents, guardians, or teachers – without compromising on creativity, craft, or storytelling. These films aren’t watered-down. They’re often animated, adventurous, or emotionally resonant in a way that transcends age.
We’ve previously screened:
- She Dreams at Sunrise (2021, Camrus Johnson) – A dreamlike animation exploring imagination and memory.
She Dreams at Sunrise
- Laika and Nemo (2022, Jan Gadermann & Sebastian Gadow) – A visually rich story about otherness and belonging.
Laika and Nemo
- Luce and the Rock (2022, Britt Raes) – A gentle, quirky tale with a big heart.
Luce and the Rock
- Earthy Encounters (2017, Sam Johnson) – A Spielbergian adventure short that thrilled older kids and teenagers.
Earthy Encounters
When we get enough submissions, we split the programme into sessions aimed at younger children (8–13) and older teens (13–17). We want to grow the next generation of cinephiles – and to do that, we need filmmakers to send us stories that can inspire, challenge and entertain them.
If your film is appropriate for under-18s (no heavy violence, swearing, drugs, etc.) and it has emotional depth, a sense of adventure, or visual flair – it could be a great fit.
The Programming Process: How These Films Get In
At NFF, our programming team reviews thousands of submissions each year. Decisions aren’t made in isolation. We rely on a collective process that brings together programmers of different ages, backgrounds, and tastes.
When it comes to genre films – especially comedies and family films – we actively seek outside input. What makes one person laugh might miss for another. That’s why we value films that can connect across demographics, or those that lean into a specific niche with real commitment.
We often programme blocks around themes (e.g. “Comedy Night,” “Environmental Shorts,” or “Late Night WTF?”), but we also love sprinkling genre shorts into general blocks to provide contrast and pacing. It’s all about crafting an experience.
If your comedy is niche, surreal, or quiet, don’t be afraid to submit. We’re not just looking for crowd-pleasers – we’re looking for originality and voice.
Why This Matters for Filmmakers
There’s a persistent myth that “serious films” are the ones that do best at festivals. And while it’s true that heavy dramas often dominate awards conversations, it doesn’t mean other genres aren’t welcome – or needed.
In fact, as Raindance puts it: “A successful comedy short can open more doors than a forgettable drama.” Making someone laugh, genuinely laugh, in a festival context? That’s gold.
Similarly, if you’ve made a film for kids or teens, it deserves an audience too. Too often, family-friendly content is boxed into commercial spaces, but there’s a real hunger for smart, visually inventive, emotionally engaging shorts that younger viewers (and their adults) can enjoy.
So this is your nudge. If you’ve made something that doesn’t fit the typical festival mould – something bright, strange, hopeful, or laugh-out-loud funny – it might be exactly what we need.
Why This Matters for Audiences
A diverse programme benefits everyone. For general audiences, variety means discovery. One minute you’re watching a poetic short about grief; the next, a 3-minute silent comedy about an awkward Tinder date. That shift in tone isn’t jarring – it’s refreshing.
One audience member told us: “It was so refreshing to have some genuinely funny films in the mix – it gave the whole screening a lift and made it feel more inclusive.” Another mentioned how nice it was that their child could come to a screening and be “introduced to different types of film.”
This is why we design each block with care. Audiences trust us to curate something engaging, and we take that seriously. Genre diversity helps make festivals welcoming, surprising, and joyful.
A Final Word on Variety
We believe that a great film festival should reflect the full spectrum of stories that people are telling – not just the darkest or most dramatic ones. We want laughter, imagination, wonder, tenderness, and yes, even weirdness. Because that’s what makes a screening sing.
So if you’re a filmmaker sitting on a film that doesn’t quite fit the usual festival categories, or if you’re a first-time visitor wondering what kind of films you’ll see at NFF — know this: we’re here for all of it.
Submissions for Norwich Film Festival 2025 are open now via FilmFreeway.
Submissions Are Open
If you found this helpful, share it with another filmmaker. The better informed we all are, the stronger the work gets.
See you on the circuit.
You can submit now via FilmFreeway. Full details on categories, eligibility, and deadlines are also available on our submissions page.