Edinburgh Short Film Festival 2024
The Edinburgh Short Film Festival (ESFF) is a prestigious event devoted to showcasing short films from Edinburgh, Scotland, and across the globe. As a BIFA-qualifying festival, it provides a platform for diverse and compelling stories, ranging from the first film made in Somalia in 20 years to Oscar-nominated shorts from Australia, the USA, and Ireland. The festival has also featured films smuggled out of regions with restrictive regimes, like China and Iran.
ESFF has an impressive history of hosting visiting filmmakers from around the world, including those from China, Russia, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, and various parts of the UK. The festival celebrates cinematic diversity and fosters connections across cultures, making it a significant event in the international short film scene.
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The Chromakey Man
Dan always wanted to be an actor, but instead of achieving his dreams, he ends up a chromakey technician on movie sets. Covered in a bright green suit from head to toe, he is stuck in a rut until he gets offered an audition and the possibility to step into the limelight. The opportunity is potent...
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The Nobody
UK Airport Immigration Officer Sarah begins to question her role and institution when an unidentified passenger (whom Sarah believes to be an illegal immigrant) dies on an arrival flight from Egypt. Strong and confidently directed contemporary drama, with some excellent performances.
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To Dance With Drag Queens
A unicorn known as Missy Hortense dances at Pride. Witty and playful animation combining 2D and live action by Edinburgh-based artist and filmmaker, David Hutchison.
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February 16th, 1947
Inuk Elder, Levinia Brown, shares the oral history of how she was born on February 16, 1947 while her family was travelling by dog team across the open tundra. Her story is illustrated by cut-out stop motion animation of hand sewn Inuit wall-hanging designs in the style of her own artwork.
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Donut Hole
A man will need all of his imagination to escape a board game imposed on him by his friends.
Wonderfully inventive satirical comedy that screened at the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival, edgy and imaginative with some well-judged comic performances -
Making Mountains
A vibrant and stylised 2D impressionist animation that captures the tumultuous thoughts and emotions of a person struggling to articulate her anxiety. This chaotic stream of consciousness delves into mental states with depth and empathy, offering a profound exploration of the complexities of the ...
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Ali's Shop
Ali, the owner of a corner shop, is the victim of a robbery that harms his business and disrupts his daily life. Helped by his friend Fabien, he will try to restore the situation, but his moral principles will be put to the test. A taut and excellently paced thriller, that ratchets up the tension...
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To The Brink
A violent stop motion cabaret for the cynical and depraved. Guilt, alcoholic apathy and the inevitable, looming apocalypse threaten to push a young man to the brink. Surreal and creative animation that screened at the Annecy Film Festival and won Best Student Animation at the Bolton Film Festival.
