Our short film lineup for 2026:
Bangkok Dragons
Barret Coates | 2026 | English | Canada | 11 mins
Synopsis:
Bangkok Dragons follows two estranged friends, like brothers, are forced to reunite when their childhood friend is abducted by a violent gang.
Being a Fighter
Mark Veremeychik | 2026 | Russian with English subtitles | Belarus | 13 mins
Synopsis:
An aspiring boxer dreams of winning the championship title, but his coach fails to notice his hard work. To prove he’s ready for big wins, he challenges a stranger at the gym to a sparring match. Confident in his superiority, the young man has no idea how this fight will turn out for him.
Beyond the Mat
Manpreet Singh Pabla | 2026 | English | UK | 28 mins
Synopsis:
The Braulio Estima Story follows the extraordinary journey of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Braulio Estima, exploring the man behind the world titles and international acclaim. Through intimate interviews, cinematic storytelling and never-before-seen moments, the film reveals the personal sacrifices, devastating setbacks and unwavering resilience that have shaped one of the sport's most influential figures. More than a film about martial arts, Beyond The Mat is a story of identity, purpose and the strength to keep moving forward when life forces you off the path you thought was yours.
Cantrik
Dinar Safari Abah | 2026 | Indonesian with English subtitles | Indonesia | 16 mins
Synopsis:
In the lands of the Archipelago—a realm rife with the ambitions of kings and warriors—a legendary artifact was forged: the Keris Tirta Amara. Created by the powerful master smith Empu Tirta, the dagger was said to bestow supernatural power and immortality upon its wielder. Yet, this gift turned into a curse, igniting a struggle for power, war, and bloodshed across the entire realm.
Consumed by guilt over the calamity he had unleashed, Empu Tirta determined there was only one way to end the disaster: the dagger had to be destroyed. He dispatched a man named Arya (35) on an impossible mission—to melt down the Keris Tirta Amara in the Crater of Candradimuka, a legendary site believed capable of destroying such a potent artifact.
However, Arya did not know the crater's location. As he journeyed through jungles, kingdoms, and conflict-torn territories, he was hunted by warriors and rulers desperate to seize the dagger. Amidst the relentless pursuit and the seductive lure of eternal power, Arya faced a profound question: could a mortal truly resist a force that promised everlasting life?
Chekhov's Bun
Beau Fowler| 2026 | English | United Kingdom | 7 mins
Synopsis:
Baking for her daughter’s birthday, Marie thought she’d left it all behind - until an uninvited guest forces her to call on a very particular set of kitchen skills. Chekhov’s Bun is a darkly comic riff on the Chekhov’s Gun principle, where everything in the film exists for a reason…or is just daring you to think it does!
Copy Protection - A Supernatural Martial Arts Short
Grace Song and Michael Norris | 2026 | English and Mandarin | USA | 20 mins
Synopsis:
When three friends discover a lost martial arts film, movie night gets out of hand when the ghost of the film's deceased star tries to force his way back to the land of the living.
Dragon Tiger
Ugo Tanty, Arthur Roustin Pinto Rodrigues | 2025 | French with English subtitles | France | 6 mins
Synopsis:
Through the transmission of kung fu, Masters Shasha and Hrod teach, within their guan in La Rochelle, a forgotten and often stereotyped discipline—one that pushes both body and mind to their limits. The training is intense, reflecting the high stakes. Many styles of kung fu are disappearing due to a lack of practitioners. To keep their styles alive and gain recognition, both students and masters must perform in global competitions. At Dragon Tigre, bodies move, sweat, and toughen under the watchful eyes of the masters. Each student grows, confronts their own story, and builds themselves. Like the discipline itself, the film—guided by the journey of Shasha and Hrod—strikes a delicate balance between the beauty of sequences, the harshness of combat, and the calm of meditation.
ElseWars Fragments: Krieg
Jack Gassmann | 2026 | English | Ireland | 5 mins
Synopsis:
In an alternate historical world, a lone Trooper assaults a bunker as a brutal war rages outside.
FLOOR
Jo Bareun | 2025 | Korea with English subtitles | South Korea | 14 mins
Synopsis:
His perfect home has just one flaw—
The unrelenting noise from upstairs.
For neighbors who refuse to listen, maybe fists will have to speak instead.
Happy Cooking
Ayane| 2025 | Japanese with English subtitles | Japan | 15 mins
Synopsis:
Happy Cooking is a dark short film driven by intense, high-level action.
Set in an ordinary domestic space, the film gradually exposes a violent undercurrent beneath apparent normality. Through precise physical performance and controlled brutality, it explores how violence quietly exists—and erupts—within everyday life.
Hunted
Matt Routledge| 2026 | English | UK | 7 mins
Synopsis:
Behind enemy lines, a lone soldier races against time to reach the extraction point while deadly alien drones close in on his every move. Dedicated to Chuck Norris. "Hunted" stars internationally acclaimed action star Mark Strange.
In Celebration of Rochelle Ashana
Nathanael Hopkins-Smith | 2026 | English | Australia and UK | 10 mins
Synopsis:
A brief look at the career of Rochelle Ashana, filipino american actress turned stunt woman.
Lutadora
Fabiana Turelli and Kevin Settee | 2028 | English | Canada | 28 mins
Synopsis:
Every Saturday night, led by Dr. Fabiana Turelli, women at the University of Manitoba gather to learn karate. The goal: challenge internalized misogyny, fight patriarchy and create a space for women to strengthen their voices and bodies. Native from Brazil, Dr. Turelli, a blackbelt in Karate, and U of M assistant professor, has travelled the world fighting and has researched and written on topics such as gendered spaces in karate, toxic masculinity and hierarchy in sports, and inclusivity. Kin to the physical and emotional training of karate, ten students from around the world participate in the pilot project with feminist theory classes where they talk about their personal experiences with gendered violence and harassment, family patriarchal violence, and learn ways to challenge oppression in sport, and society. They aim to create a karate studio, research lab and community centre for sustainable empowerment, where people identifying as women can learn karate, self-protection, and feminist theory in a safe space, overcoming trauma.
Mixed Bag
Azeem Mustafa | 2026 | English | United Kingdom | 5 mins
Synopsis:
Lacey comes across a bag filled with cash. She picks it up and runs, not realising she is now being pursued by one of the East End's most notorious criminals, Malcolm Stones. Can Lacey pull this one out of the bag?
Mutiny
Liam J. M. Wilson| 2025 | English | United Kingdom | 11 mins
Synopsis:
At the end of the War of Spanish Succession in 1713, the captain of a privateering vessel faces a difficult confrontation with his disgruntled crew.
My Hero
Jassica Magaye | 2026 | English | UK | 15 mins
Synopsis:
From zero to hero, we follow the life of Nathen, whose life has been pushed around for too long. He soon encounters his alter ego who transforms into his hero and battles on his behalf in difficult situations. However, Nathen quickly discovers that a hero's journey can lead to complicated consequences.
Nak Muay
Tinge Krishnan | 2025 | English and Thai with English subtitles | Thailand and United Kingdom | 20 mins
Synopsis:
A falling Muay Thai (boxing) star, lost in fame and excess, teeters on the edge of self-destruction - until a brutal defeat offers him the one thing he’s been chasing: peace with his past.
One More Opening Sequence
Vlad Klimchuk | 2025 | English | USA | 5 mins
Synopsis:
A late-night dog walk turns into a fight for survival as a harmless leash transforms into a precision weapon. Blood spills, dignity vanishes, and the dog couldn’t care less.
Reprise
Felix Gray | 2025 | English | Canada | 11 mins
Synopsis:
In this fan-made homage to Street Fighter, Chun-Li is forced to confront Ryu to defend her Grandmaster's honour. Past trauma threatens to K.O. Chun-Li - will she be able to rise above Ryu and finally Finish Him?
Scripted Pain
Barathi Subramaniam | 2026 | English | UK | 5 mins
Synopsis:
Professional wrestling is often dismissed as “fake,” yet the physical toll it takes on performers are anything but. Scripted Pain follows Amir Jordan, a professional wrestler, as he reflects on the injuries, sacrifices, and resilience behind the spectacle. Through intimate interviews, medical imagery, archival footage, and testimonies from other wrestlers, the film challenges public perception and exposes the reality of a profession where storytelling is scripted, but pain is permanent.
Spirit Moves: Me & Gee Gee Willie
Yuriko Lee | 2025 | English | USA | 15 mins
Synopsis:
Sailor grew up with the legacy of her great grandfather, William, to whom she gave the nickname, Gee Gee Willie. She inherited his martial artist’s spirit, yet lives in a materialistic society where she feels accomplished with a corporate job until she is suddenly replaced. She struggles with her sense of presence. Both her kendo buddy, Jake, who recognizes and respects Sailor’s inner strength, and her mom, who tries to keep the family ties together, give her some clues. Sailor slowly begins to connect all dots together to find out who she is. When an unexpected encounter forces her to use her inner and physical strength, she realizes what Gee Gee Willie has taught her through his spirit.
Still Yours
Mikko Löppönen | 2026 | English | Finland | 5 mins
Synopsis:
Two best friends plot one final robbery before escaping their dead-end life in Ivalo. But during the heist, their dream of freedom takes a dark turn when betrayal becomes the dream.
Story of the Dragon
Matt Routledge| 2025 | English | UK | 7 mins
Synopsis:
A man who struggles with the tragic loss of his daughter is rejuvenated by his passion for Bruce Lee.
Stronghold
Reginald Johnson | 2026 | English | USA | 10 mins
Synopsis:
A broken martial artist fights physical manifestations of his inner turmoil.
The Eagle’s Sun
Dayven Kish Papatie | 2025 | English | Canada | 8 mins
Synopsis:
Dayven shares his inspiring journey as Abitibi’s first Anicinabe black belt sensei. Through his introspective narrative, he offers guidance to young people by demonstrating that, even when times are hard, solutions and hope still exist. This film embodies the Anicinabe heart of fire, a symbol to never give up on your dreams.
The Turning Point
Rishi Raj | 2026 | English | USA | 23 mins
Synopsis:
In a near-future Seattle torn by civil war, a man and his niece race to escape the city when they become targets of a violent militia.
This Is Our Legacy
Alexandre Guterres and Jaycob McCormick | 2025 | English | Australia | 26 mins
Synopsis:
This Is Our Legacy is a feature documentary that follows fourth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Thiago Braga as he reflects on a lifetime dedicated to martial arts. From a childhood in southern Brazil to building one of Australia's most respected academies, Thiago's story is one of perseverance, sacrifice and unwavering purpose. Blending intimate interviews with immersive cinematography, the film captures a man who has faced devastating setbacks, embraced competition and found meaning beyond victory. Through his journey, This Is Our Legacy reveals that the greatest achievements aren't the titles we win, but the lives we help shape.
Till Theft Do Us Part
Aeddan Sussex | 2026 | English | UK | 9 mins
Synopsis:
What was meant to be the happiest day of Sam and Ai Ru's lives is threatened when thieves crash the celebrations and steal the rings, throwing the wedding into chaos. Will the wushu groom fight for his love and make it back to his bride?
TIME
Bulent Ozlarusso | 2026 | English | United Kingdom | 3 mins
Synopsis:
An outcast believer crosses paths with a skilled enforcer.
Way of War
Tyla Barnes and Joshaun Anderson | 2025 | English | USA | 13 mins
Synopsis:
Two aspiring professional MMA fighters relentlessly chase their dreams of success, while battling their demons in and out of the cage
What Remains
Limina Stefano | 2026 | French with English Subtitles| Belgium | 3 mins
Synopsis:
A father enters a quiet laundromat carrying a blood-soaked teddy bear—the last connection to his daughter. As memories resurface, grief turns into rage, and an ordinary place becomes the stage for a brutal confrontation. Blending intimate drama with grounded action, What Remains explores the scars that violence leaves behind and the traces that can never truly be washed away.