The Shorties

Director Chris McClean won the very first Shorties in 2011, he returned to the LS/FF in 2019 to premiere his first independent feature film // Image: Surf Sistas

THE SHORTIES 2024

Short films are a central pillar of modern surf culture, a creative outlet for sharing stories and inspiring stoke. Here at the LS/FF we wanted to celebrate the short and give homegrown filmmaking talent a platform to bring their visions to the surf world so in 2011, we established THE SHORTIES which has fast become one of the most prestigious short film competitions for surf filmmakers in the world.

While the main festival is a showcase for international filmmaking, The Shorties short film contest is open exclusively to filmmakers from, or based in, Britain and Ireland – from both leading lights and up and coming filmmakers.

Submissions are now open for 13th Edition LS/FF Shorties >> ENTER HERE

Each year we’re stoked to showcase the very best short film entries on the big screen as part of the festival and these shortlisted films are eligible for prestigious awards including: Shortie of the Year and Emerging Talent.

Surfing and surf culture are wide open to interpretation so we welcome film entries of up to 5 minutes in length that explore all aspects and angles through documentary to animation and anything in between.

In this competition, it’s not about whether your waves are big or small, it’s about the way you chose to shoot them. Or don’t. After all there’s more than one way to tell a surf story…

If you’re looking to spark some inspiration, check out some of our past winners below:

LS/FF  SHORTIE OF THE YEAR 2022 ‘Amble’ Dir. Seth Hughes

LS/FF SHORTIE EMERGING TALENT 2022 ‘First Light Stillness’ Dir. Bella Bunce

First Light Stillness. from Bella Bunce on Vimeo.

LS/FF  SHORTIE OF THE YEAR 2021 ‘Window’ Dir. Seth Hughes

LS/FF SHORTIE EMERGING TALENT 2021 ‘Grateful’ Dir. Rory Sutherland

LS/FF SHORTIE OF THE YEAR 2019 ‘Turning Tides’ Dir. Jo Guthrie & Lucy Hawes

LS/FF SHORTIE OF THE YEAR 2018 ‘TODD’ Dir. Jimmy Pinfield.

LS/FF SHORTIE OF THE YEAR 2017 Shaka Status Dir. Chris Case / Fish Farm TV

Irish based filmmaker Chris Case showcases waveriding with a maximum stoke factor, as a small, clean day offers epic bodysurfing and finless gliding conditions. Starring: Barry Mottershead and Dylan Stott

Call Me Peg Leg Directed by Josh Hine // Winner London Surf / Film Festival Shortie of the Year 2016

LS/FF Shortie of the Year 2016: ‘Call Me Peg Leg’ Dir. Josh Hine

LS/FF Shortie of the Year 2015: ‘Winter Glow’ Dir. Kev L Smith

LS/FF Shortie of the Year 2014: ‘Out of the Black and Into the Blue’ Dir. Luke Pilbeam

LS/FF Shortie of the Year 2013: ‘Sea Fever’ from Tim Davies.

LS/FF Shortie of the Year 2012: ‘The Shaper’ from Crayfish Films (Rob Lockyear, Richard Pearn, Jeremy Joyce). In 2011 their short ‘Wreckers‘ was runner up in the LS/FF Shorties Contest.

LS/FF Shortie of the Year 2011: ‘Uncommon Ideals’ from Chris McClean and Mark Waters. ‘Uncommon Ideals has gone on to win countless accolades as well as being nominated for the Surfer Poll and the international Vimeo Awards in 2011.