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 | United Kingdom and 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.
JANET
Felicia Jia Ren Chu | 2025 | English | United Kingdom | 8 mins
Synopsis:
You wake up in a foreign place, with one goal, to get the hell out of there and save your brother. It has been years since your parents left without a trace, and now their past is back to haunt you. Will you have what it takes to break free?
JANET is a high-octane first-person point-of-view action film that takes you into the world of deception and survival. Get ready to fight.
The Protector
Bruce Chong | 2025 | English | United Kingdom | 7 mins
Synopsis:
Set in the mean streets of London, an unassuming couple coming home from date night have the ultimate throwdown with roadmen. But, not everything seems like what it is. Enter a world of secret organisations and assassins.
NYX
Bulent Ozlarusso | 2025 | English | United Kingdom | 4 mins
Synopsis:
An underworld sorcerer consumed by dark magic is confronted by NYX, a fierce warrior sworn to end his forbidden rituals.
A Tribute to Richard Norton
Nathanael Hopkins-Smith | 2025 | English | Australia | 10 mins
Synopsis:
An intimate chat with the late Richard Norton, his life, disciplines & his career.
Fathers Day ]
Mikko Löppönen | 2025 | English and Finnish | Finland | 18 mins
Synopsis:
After reluctantly visiting her adoptive father for Father's Day, Luzy faces demons, both literal and emotional, that will redefine what family truly means.
Killer 11
Aeddan Sussex | 2025 | English | United States | 11 mins
Synopsis:
In ''Killer 11'', we follow Bret Infinity, attempting to improve his rank as a hitman, so he is challenging Jinrei Long, an actor and swordsman, to a duel. The challenger not only has to pay for the location of his opponents choosing, but also fight using their weapon of choice, in this case the katana. Organising proceedings is Christian Foo, an enigmatic representative. Given their main profession, only one of them will make it out alive.
Penance
Ross Syner | 2024 | English | United Kingdom | 9 mins
Synopsis:
Crushed by the poverty of austerity Britain, a young father attempts an ill fated highest in a last ditch effort to provide for his young family.
What It Takes
Shaun Francis Davis | 2025 | English | United Kingdom | 12 mins
Synopsis:
It’s 6.30 am and you are the first in. You open the door to an old, grimy, repurposed garage in some distant industrial estate.The smell of dried sweat and asbestos burns your nose hair as dizzying fluorescent lights slowly reveal a dingy, worn-out gym. Mats that cling to your feet and peel off with every step cover the floor. You are a fighter, and this is where your day will begin and end for the rest of your life. What does it take to pursue this life of black eyes, broken noses, self-imposed suffering, and discipline?
Bande Originale
Vincent Khai and Tiphaine Le Gall | 2025 | English and French | Canada | 6 mins
Synopsis:
Léa and Vincent, a duo of lovers and thieves, steal a mysterious cassette from the mafia in a daring heist. But their victory is short-lived—now hunted relentlessly by their ruthless enemies, they must run while deciding what to do with their precious loot. As tensions rise between them, torn between greed and survival, will their relationship withstand this deadly chase?
Way to World Shaolin Games Finals 2024
Kai Jansen | 2024 | English | Germany | 16 mins
Synopsis:
The documentary "The Way to World Shaolin Games Finals 2024," directed by German filmmaker Kai Jansen, follows Czech martial artist Karel Korenc on his journey to the prestigious World Shaolin Games 2024 in China. Karel, a multiple world champion and one of Europe’s most successful Shaolin Kung-Fu athletes, stars in the film. In 2024, he was honored at the World Shaolin Games as the "Shaolin Kung Fu Star of the World", which is shown in this impressive documentary that artfully combine cultural and sporting themes. With this film, Karel and Kai have already achieved success at several film festivals, highlighting its quality and relevance. The documentary offers an engaging glimpse into the world of Shaolin Kung-Fu and portraits a young exceptional talent who has gained worldwide recognition within the Shaolin community. Through the blend of Kai’s cinematic sensitivity and Karel’s authentic martial arts skills, the film vividly conveys the passion, discipline, and cultural significance of Shaolin Kung-Fu. It showcases the close connection between filmmaking and martial arts and reflects the global enthusiasm for this traditional art form.
Chakravyuh - Prologue
Ramesh Menon | 2024 | Malayalam | India | 5 mins
Synopsis:
A Japanese chef in Kochi is attacked while chasing a job, leading him to a fortified colony where his father’s killer hides while a determined cop pursues a fugitive inside the same colony without official sanction.
Wukong Couriers
Peter Gabriel Gagnon | 2025 | English | USA | 15 mins
Synopsis:
An unwitting bicycle messenger is chosen as the mystical hero to save the city from an ancient horror.