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 presented by EXHALE: SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN
…And a £1000 prize purse has just been revealed!
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 presented by Exhale is open exclusively to filmmakers from, or based in, Britain and Ireland – from both leading lights and up and coming filmmakers.
Submissions for 15th Edition LS/FF Shorties close 14th October >> HERE <<
Each year we’re stoked to showcase the very best short film entries on the big screen as part of the festival. These shortlisted films are eligible for prestigious awards which for our 15th edition, through our partnership with the good folk at Exhale Coffee, are accompanied by cash prizes. Supporting homegrown filmmaking talents Shortie of the Year is accompanied by a £500 prize with Emerging Talent and People’s Choice Award winners receiving £250 each.
Surfing and surf culture are wide open to interpretation so we welcome 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.
Inspiration from past winners of The Shorties
LS/FF SHORTIE OF THE YEAR 2025 ‘No Place Like Home’ Dir. Gabriella Zagni
LS/FF SHORTIE OF THE YEAR 2024 ‘Keep On Keeping On’ Dir. Tom Bowman
LS/FF SHORTIE OF THE YEAR 2023 ‘So Bonnie Land’ Dir. Thomas Horig
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.