Future Shorts Festival at the British Library

The nights are drawing in, and with the temptation to stay indoors comes the latest of our Future Shorts Festival screenings. Following on the success of our summer screening, this time we have five hand-picked films from Egypt, India, Germany, the UK and USA.

With over 60 awards won between them, each one is no longer than 30 minutes each. This programme’s selection spans such themes as estrangement, voyeurism, coveted love, hope and despair.

Films include:

A Brief History of John Baldessari

Director: Ariel Schulman & Henry Joost

2012 USA | 6 min

A Brief History of John Baldessari tells us everything we do and don't need to know about this American conceptual artist. Many know Baldessari as “the guy who puts dots on people’s faces.” But did you know that he is 6’7″ and that his wifi password is 123456789B? An epic career is crammed into five and a half frenzied minutes. Narrated by Tom Waits

Cafe Regular, Cairo

Director: Ritesh Batra

2011 Egypt & India | 11 min

A young couple find themselves speaking about things they have never spoken about before. In a city where the old and new meet, with the potential for anything to happen, they try to find their own place in a changing and uncertain world. Winner of Special Jury Mention at Tribeca Film Festival

Rite

Director: Michael Pearce

2010 UK | 14 min

Drama

Mike visits his estranged son on his birthday, wanting to take him out and rebuild a damaged relationship. But drink and the simmering violence from match day in London taints the occasion, resulting in a strained afternoon for both father and son. Pearce has been named one of the 'Stars of Tomorrow' by Screen International, and Rite was nominated for Best Short Film at BAFTA Scotland.

The Black Balloon

Directors: Ben Safdie & Joshua Safdie

2012 USA | 18 min

Winner of Sundance's Short Filmmaking Award, the Safdie brothers bring a film intended for children, morphed into a sci-fi urban fable. Black Balloon explores New York and the complicated lives of individuals and their daily experiences from the heights of a stray balloon.  

Auf Der Strecke (On the Line)

Director: Reto Caffi

2007 Germany | 30 min

Drama

A story about love, voyeurism and guilt. A department store security guard watches a clerk in the store's bookshop on CCTV and falls for her. After he witnesses, and ignores, a supposed love rival being attacked on a train, guilt begins to destroy his once ordered life. On the Line has won over 50 International awards. 

The Conference Centre bar will be open from 18.30 and the films will start at 19.00.

View the full line-up on the Future Shorts Festival website