Saturday, May 10th, 2025
Five Things We Love Seeing in Short Films
Each year, we watch hundreds (sometimes thousands) of short films as part of the Norwich Film Festival selection process. They come from all over the world, and from filmmakers at every stage of their careers. Some are funny, some are devastating, some feel like lightning in a bottle – and every so often, one stops us in our tracks.
While there’s no one formula for a great short film, there are certain qualities we consistently admire. If you’re planning to submit a film – or simply looking to hone your storytelling – here are five things we love to see on screen.
1. A Distinctive Point of View
We’re not looking for perfect polish – we’re looking for perspective. Whether it’s the way you approach a familiar subject or the lens through which your story is told, we’re drawn to films that feel purposeful. That doesn’t mean every film needs to be radical or wildly experimental. But we do want to sense that only you could have made it.
Filmmakers often underestimate the power of tone and style when it comes to short form. A strong, intentional voice – even in a quiet film – can be the thing that separates a good short from a great one.
Delivery, by Ben Lankester
In Delivery, which won Best British Film in 2024, newly-qualified midwife Mary experiences the most physically and psychologically challenging night shift of her career as she oversees two life-or-death pregnancy cases.
2. Confidence in the Craft
Short films don’t need to be expensive, but they do need clarity. When we talk about “craft,” we mean the decisions that help your story land with its audience – everything from editing rhythm and camera movement to sound design and score.
Technical perfection isn’t the goal, especially for first-time directors or microbudget projects. But we look for films that demonstrate care, control, and a good sense of when to show restraint.
It’s not about having the fanciest gear – it’s about using what you have with intention.
An Irish Goodbye, by Tom Berkeley and Ross White
On a farm in rural Northern Ireland, estranged brothers Turlough and Lorcan are forced to reunite following the untimely death of their mother. But when the pair discover an unfulfilled bucket list belonging to their late mum, their pained reunion takes an altogether different course. This is the second short film from filmmaking duo Berkeley and White, and as well as winning the top award at NFF2022, it also went on to win the Academy Award in 2023.
3. Emotional Honesty
We’re always struck by shorts that linger long after the credits. Often, it’s not because of a twist or visual effect, but because the filmmaker has created something emotionally resonant – sometimes painfully so.
You don’t have to be autobiographical to make something honest. What matters is emotional truth: believable characters, real stakes, and moments that feel grounded in human experience.
That could be a laugh-out-loud moment of awkwardness. It could be heartbreak. It could be joy. The common thread is that we feel something – because you did too.
Jellyfish and Lobster, by Yasmin Afifi
When two old and terminally ill patients discover a magical pool that restores them back to their younger selves beneath the water, they are forced to reconcile with the inescapable truth of their mortality, or drown in the illusion of their past. This magical realist dark comedy, nominated at NFF2023 is utterly charming and sincere, staying with you long after the end credits.
4. Surprises in Small Packages
One of the best things about programming a short film festival is the sense of discovery. We never know what might come next – and that’s a thrill.
Short films have the power to take big risks. In fact, the format often rewards them. So whether it’s a bold creative choice, an unexpected narrative turn, or a genre mash-up we didn’t see coming, we love films that keep us engaged and challenge our expectations.
It doesn’t have to be dramatic. Subtle surprises – a shift in perspective, a quiet twist – can be just as powerful.
Fishmonger, by Neil Ferron
In the 2024 Best Student Film winner, Fishmonger, a pathetic Irish fishmonger must survive a sex pact with an ancient fish creature in order to save his monther’s soul from burning in hell. That’s not a scenario you get to see very often.
5. Films That Say Something (Without Yelling)
We often receive powerful political or social shorts, and we’re glad to. Film has always had the power to confront, critique, and provoke. But the ones that stay with us the longest tend to balance their message with strong storytelling.
Whether your film explores identity, justice, belonging, or something deeply personal, we encourage you to speak from experience – and to do it through character, place, and story rather than through exposition.
The Archive: Queer Nigerians, by Simi Akande
Following five queer Nigerians living in the UK as they document their lives through audio diaries. From childhood to the present, participants share stories that explore how universal ideas of family, love, and finding oneself are obfuscated within the intersection of Blackness, African-ness, and Queerness. This film won Best Documentary at NFF2023.
While we’re super excited to see loads more films before submissions close this year, we’re also particularly keen to receive submissions that reflect underrepresented communities and voices. We’re actively seeking more:
- LGBTQ+ films
- Short documentaries
- Regional work from East Anglia, Northern England, and beyond
If that’s you – we’d love to hear from you.
Submissions Are Open
If you’re working on a short film and wondering if it’s ready for festivals, here’s our advice: if you’ve said something you believe in, and told it the best way you know how, send it. We’re here to discover the bold, the intimate, the offbeat, and the unclassifiable. That’s what makes programming this festival so exciting. Every submission has the potential to surprise us – and we hope yours does too.
You can submit now via FilmFreeway. Full details on categories, eligibility, and deadlines are also available on our submissions page.
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