BLOOD & CHIPS (2006)

Blood and Chips was made by Ryan Phillips in 2006 and runs at only 3 minutes. This charming, and very brief, short is set in that most English of locations – the Fish and Chip shop – as the country swelters under a heatwave. The film focuses on a surly bigot bemoaning the state of the country while waiting for his takeaway, but his presumptions may well be his undoing. Blood and Chips effortlessly captures the simmering menace of violence that bigotry foments, as well as the sense of kinship and community that exists between people for good or ill. Witty, realistic and uplifting, the film is a wonderful celebration of multicultural Britain that gets its message across without being in the least bit preachy.

CATERPILLAR (2012)

This gorgeously shot short film manages to pull you in lots of different directions, move you, scare you yet also be delicate all in 15 minutes. Made by photographer David Field in 2013 in it is a mix of drama, fantasy and a little bit of horror thrown in too. It's good looks are due to David Field having a great contacts book and being able to call in favours from some acclaimed Hollywood visual effects and editing personnel. It has picked up nominations and awards for the team behind it worldwide.

THE CRUSH (2010)

The Crush is a short film by Michael Creagh that was nominated for the best short film oscar catagory in 2011 and won the Tibeca best short film catagory in 2010. It is a charming little film that explores what happens when an 8 year old boys crush on his teacher and a love of western films collide. Delightfully played and well shot it is a great live action short film.

TWO MEN AND A CAR PARK (2010)

Two Men And A Car Park (2010) is the second short film listed here by Federico Forcolini. It is a very slick and well put together action, fantasy, comedy and was winner of the Newcomer Award Rushes Soho Shorts film festival of that year. To quote the publicity blurb it is "Just Another day staffing an underground car park. Two ordinary men share an extraordinary responsibility. it's a tough job but someone's got to do it".

http://vimeo.com/14234153

Two Men & A Car Park from Federico Forcolini on Vimeo.

COASTING (2011)

Coasting (2011) is a cosy little comedy by the director Frederico Forcilini and was an award winner in the Virgin Media Shorts competition. It is a good example of how very short films can have a naturalistic style, do not have to be dialogue free and can create interesting characters doing the unexpected. It all adds up to make for a charming short film that makes you smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX2OzvixVp4

DOODLEBUG (1997)

Doodlebug (1997) is an early short by the director Chris Nolan of Inception and Batman fame. It is an intriguing story that keeps you guessing to the very end and is genuinely odd and creepy. The film is a good example of what can be achieved in under 3 minutes, in one location, with one actor a bit of special effects and no dialogue but a very effective soundtrack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtDGJI32k2k

SIX SHOOTER (2005)

Six Shooter (2005) is an award winning short film by Martin McDonagh and starring the famous actor Brendan Gleeson. It is a good example of a longer short (it is 27 minutes) and demonstrates how a longer film does allow more narrative, characters to be involved and character development. It is an interesting and quirky film with elements of drama, thriller and some dark comedy too.

http://vimeo.com/2298743

Six Shooter from Chris on Vimeo.