2025 In Competition Short Film Programme
Our in competition short film line-up for 2025.
Saskia: The Hong Kong Action Years
Pau Han Kho | 2025 | Dutch (with English subtitles) | The Netherlands | 16 mins
Synopsis:
Saskia van Rijswijk, the first queen of kickboxing, shares her story from the golden era of Hong Kong action cinema.
Dakota Stone
Sherice Griffiths | 2025 | English | United Kingdom | 10 mins
Synopsis:
A relentless agent infiltrates a seedy bar to dismantle a dangerous criminal enterprise. Dakota Stone, a tough and athletic operative, faces a night of betrayal, brawls, and high-stakes negotiations as she manoeuvres through the volatile dynamics of two criminal brothers and their empire, proving that she is more than ready for the task.
Fight Camp: Love, Sweat, and Hunger
Sally Lomidze | 2025 | English | USA | 26 mins
Synopsis:
Three Brooklyn-based amateur Muay Thai fighters push their limits through a grueling 6-week fight camp, preparing to step into the ring and face their toughest opponents.
Someone Lied on the Roommate Form
Najee Werners| 2024 | English | USA | 8 mins
Synopsis:
Roommates ShaClean O'Neil and Lionel Messy have a catastrophic clash concerning cleanliness.
Flora
Zac Sultzer | 2025 | English | USA | 12 mins
Synopsis:
An artist hunts an industrialist serial killer to reap vengeance for the young women he's killed in her small town
The Scarlet Ghost
Matthew Thomas-Robinson | 2025 | English | United Kingdom | 10 mins
Synopsis:
In a decayed world where society has fallen apart, the weak suffer and the mad roam. The Scarlet Ghost, a legendary warrior of The Deadlands, is challenged to a duel by Wrath, a deadly mercenary who is fueled by the power of his namesake. With a price on her head, and a foe eager to test her legend, The Scarlet Ghost must clash with one her toughest advisories yet.
KIZUNA: The Samurai's Legacy
Narimitsu Hisamichi | 2024 | Japanese with English subtitles | Japan | 15 mins
Synopsis:
This is a story of a sword master and his daughter avenging their loved one’s death… They lost their loved one in a cruel fate. Yet they carry on their souls and will. They fight for justice with an unbreakable bond of family and the unyielding spirit of samurai. Where will the battle for their love and honour lead them...?
MAX SIERRA
Nacho Martin | 2024 | English and Spanish | Spain | 23 mins
Synopsis:
MAX SIERRA is a young man who gives up a life fighting crime in Spain and moves to London for a fresh start (and to learn English of course!). However, his past catches up with him when hired assassins suddenly try to kill him while he looks for flats, interviews for jobs, and tries to meet new people. Can Max shake his past and his accent to find a new path in the city?
TALK TALK - PAINTING TALK
Mooyoung Oh | 2025 | Korean and English | South Korea | 19 mins
Synopsis:
Jinhyeok and Molly go to Ho Chi Minh City to perform at a festival. Jinhyeok, who does not know English, communicates with Molly using the translation function on his phone. One day, with the sudden martial law in South Korea, the Babel virus spreads and the translation function of mobile phones around the world is stopped. How will two people who speak different languages communicate?
Sheathed
Nan Xu | 2023 | Cantonese with English Subtitles| China | 30 mins
Synopsis:
In the tumultuous year of 1937, marked by internal strife and external threats, master thief He Mengshan attempts to kidnap the bandit leader Huo Jie. After the failed kidnapping, Mengshan is advised by his former Wing Chun master, He Ying, who persuades Huo Jie to form a self-defense militia. In response, Huo Jie demands a martial arts duel with Mengshan. Through the clash of skills, He Mengshan gradually comes to understand the true essence of Wing Chun’s principle of "guarding the centerline".
Dangerous Delivery
Etienne Laurendeau | 2024 | French with English Subtitles | Canada | 5 mins
Synopsis:
A delivery turns into chaos when Grégoire and Vincent, both convinced that the delivery driver is actually their ride, unexpectedly jump into her car. This leads to a showdown involving Kung Fu, seat belts, and honking horns.
Playin' Around
Bryan Uvaldo | 2025 | English | USA | 14 mins
Synopsis:
In order to save her brother’s birthday, Anna begrudgingly enters a crowded toy store with a singular objective: to secure a coveted, seemingly sold out “hot ticket” toy as a last-minute gift. When a customer catches Anna attempting to swipe the display-only toy, however, she garners the attention of the rest of the riled-up shoppers. Caught in a ridiculous tug of war, her actions have created a violent domino effect that grows into store-wide mayhem. Determined to do whatever it takes, Anna employs her playful surroundings to escape and get the gift her brother deserves.
Ocean Whisperer
Bulent Ozdemir-Larusso | 2025 | English | Italy | 6 mins
Synopsis:
Ocean Whisperer follows Private Officer Alexa Ramirez, a former Special Ops: Lioness, as she embarks on a mission to redeem herself after leaving her military career in the wake of her mentor Grayson Moore’s tragic death. Haunted by flashbacks of their bond and guided by his inner voice, Alexa must confront her past while navigating the challenges of her mission. This gripping short film is a story of resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of a mentor’s legacy.
My Violin - My Serenity
Tatiana Skorlupkina | 2025 | English | Germany, Russia, Spain, USA| 14 mins
Synopsis:
The young man experiences a persistent aversion to music at the level of hallucinations associated with childhood memories. The rumbling sounds of the metalworking machines become his melody. To boost his self-esteem, he goes to a wrestling club run by a wise, experienced teacher. One smart trick from the Master changes a lot in a young person's life.
Beyond Reality
Tony Christian | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 11 mins
Synopsis:
A stranger breaches a secure building, working his way through the structured levels trying to figure out where reality ends and the beyond begins.
Beyond the Line
Adrien Jeannot | 2025 | French with English subtitles | France | 22 mins
Synopsis:
There is a place, offshore, where fighters meet. They fight without boundaries, for money and to entertain social media.
Aggrieved
Milan Swagers | 2024 | English | The Netherlands | 26 mins
Synopsis:
When Kevin's wife is kidnapped right in front of his eyes by a sinister corporation, he sets out to get her back. Will he find her in time before the cruel experiments performed on her take a toll?
Our Last Scar
Justin Wang Powell | 2024 | English | USA | 12 mins
Synopsis:
A jaded acupuncturist confronts lingering regrets as she helps a patient with a traumatic brain injury uncover fragmented memories of his lost love, leading them both on a journey toward healing and redemption
Black Rose
Merridith Allen | 2025 | English | USA | 6 mins
Synopsis:
Black Rose is a martial arts drama set against the background of present-day New York City, that explores one woman's difficult choice between her family and her destiny as a budding MMA star.
The Saviour
Liam Forrest | 2024 | English | USA | 12 mins
Synopsis:
Faced with unknown fears of his daughter's disappearance, a father takes charge fighting through levels of crime while battling inner demons within himself. An action teaser created by martial artist and action actor Victor William Chen in homage to Bruce Lee's Game of Death mixed with the vibes of Jackie Chan's Police Story, The Raid and KATE. This teaser initiates the concepts of revenge, taking control and the consequences that come from one's actions - right or wrong.
NEXT NEXT NEXT TBD
Jean Frenette | 2024 | English | Canada | 14 mins
Synopsis:
John is convinced he’s been on this planet for longer than his lifetime. This feeling of knowing more than what meets the eye troubles him deeply. To find some peace of mind, he decides to consult a hypnotherapist to dive into his subconscious and get some clarity. This leads him to find some truth in his beliefs: the one that he has been living through multiple bodies, for centuries
Don’t Bother The Neighbors
Jeff Gorcyca | 2024 | English | United States | 7 mins
Synopsis:
Jay gets more than he bargained for when he goes upstairs to tell off his noisy neighbors. "Don't Bother The Neighbors!" is a love letter to the movies of John Carpenter, Stuart Gordon, and Jackie Chan.
Earth Lion Sudden Thunder
Chester Yang | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 19 mins
Synopsis:
"Earth Lion Sudden Thunder" injects the playfulness of Martial Arts Cinema into London's urban scene. Akira, a former trainee of ancient Lion Guardians, leads a quiet life haunted by past trauma and loss of his past memory. His world takes a thrilling turn when a rebellious teen thief, Dylan, steals his phone during a breakup call. Akira's pursuit unravels a series of events, leading him into the dangerous territory of a ruthless gang led by Johnny Thunder. As Akira fights for survival, memories resurface, igniting his purpose. The film weaves a gripping tale of redemption, resilience, and martial arts prowess against the backdrop of London's gritty streets, as Akira confronts his past and present and battles for his identity and love.
Jump Senior
Won Jin | 2024 | Korean with English Subtitles | Republic of Korea | 14 mins
Synopsis:
One day, an old couple takes a walk, dances on a flower path, and has a happy time. They see a woman being bullied by bad guys. The old man who is angered by the bad guys’ behaviour fights with them.
Latte For Jim
JJ Zink | 2024 | English | United States | 7 mins
Synopsis:
When two men named Jim mistake their coffee orders for one another's, they will stop at nothing to get their daily dose of crucial caffeine.
Sliced
Jay Nagjee | 2024 | English | United States | 6 mins
Synopsis:
Two roommates fight over the last slice of pizza.
The Boss
Mikko Löppönen | 2024 | Finnish with English Subtitles | Finland | 3 mins
Synopsis:
A regular workday turns into an unexpected brawl when a colleague can't stop fiddling with their pen or brag about their relationship with The Boss.
The Chef
Sherice Griffiths | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 3 mins
Synopsis:
A chef gets more than he bargained for when he must defend a package from falling into the wrong hands.
The Hitman and the Assassin
Will Axtell | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 8 mins
Synopsis:
Two trained killers both have different reasons to kill the same gang leader, but which one will get the job done first
The Last Dumpling
Jadey Duffield | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 4 mins
Synopsis:
On a first date, two hungry men are faced with a dilemma when only one dumpling remains on their shared plate. Tensions rise as they both go for it, leading to a playful, hilarious and intense chopstick KungFu fight in the restaurant. Will they manage to share the last morsel gracefully, turning a potentially awkward moment into a delightful memory, or will their antics lead to the dumpling being snatched up by the adorable but opportunistic dog lurking under the table?
The Tragedy of Cain
Augie Lodholz | 2024 | English | United States | 12 mins
Synopsis:
Cain takes matters into his own hands under the threat of losing his starting spot on the team.
The Warrior Poet
Ciaran Joseph Gibbons | 2023 | English | United Kingdom | 30 mins
Synopsis:
A fly on the wall documentary about bare knuckle boxer & poet James Lilley from Swansea in South Wales, UK. As a poet James uses his writing to express himself but in the ring it's his bare fists that do all the talking. Filmmaker Ciaran Gibbons shadows James in the 4 weeks run up to his bare knuckle fight against hard hitting Bobby Taylor away from home in New Orleans, USA. This film breaks down the stereotypes of what and who bare knuckle boxers are, as James tries balances family life, a full time job and his fighting ambitions to pursue his dreams. This is the story of The Warrior Poet !
Wash Your Hands
Yue Qi and Etienne Laurendeau | 2024 | English | Canada | 10 mins
Synopsis:
Two men fight for hygiene
We Are Home
Ramin Sohrab | 2024 | Finnish with English Subtitles | Finland | 5 mins
Synopsis:
In a dystopian future, Henri and Sam are DNA-altered soldiers belonging to a specialized unit of the US army forces. Henri has escaped & is pursued on foot by Sam, eventually taking refuge in a warehouse. Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office, Colonel Jeffrey and Klaudia discuss the situation. Henri refuses to return with Sam, seeking answers about his origins. As they fight, Sam reveals they were created by an organization. Henri manages to activate a portal just as time runs out, and they disappear. They reappear near an old house, where Henri's memories resurface, and they realize they are home.
Shadow Theatre
Théo Auvinet | 2024| Silent | France | 13 mins
Synopsis:
On a calm night in a dojo, a young woman wearing a traditional kimono is meditating. Her tranquility stops with the arrival of a man with a sloppy appearance. After quickly sizing each other up, the two retrieve a katana. Once face to face, Yuno begins a magical meditation, which takes Arthur into a series of hallucinations. He then finds himself facing shadows while reliving his past in the form of a Shadow Theatre