In 2024 our Kino Short of the Week series featured shorts of all genres ranging from horror to drama, from animation to experimental, comedy and more.
As always, to help maximise viewership for filmmakers, we featured films on a non-exclusive basis helping to support releases from Omeleto, Alter, Directors Notes, and Vimeo Staff Pick as well as supporting those filmmakers who chose to self-distribute on their own channels.
We of course think every film we selected is worth a watch, but here’s 10 that stood out.
10. SCRUTINY
Written & Directed by James Quinn
Produced by Maria Ogunyale
On a bus journey across south London, a young man’s anxiety spirals into a vortex of self-doubt and torment - causing him to question: can he trust his memories?
An illustration of the process and impact of anxiety, and the demands of city life that intensify it.
9. LONDON’S FORGOTTEN
Written & Directed by Liam Pinheiro-Rogers
PRODUCED BY Cyrus Mirzashafa & Levon Gharibian
In the urban streets of London, the stories of would-be knife crime victims are connected by a wandering drifter who has loose ends to tie.
8. VOICES
Directed by Abbie Lucas
Written by Omar Khan | Produced by Håkan Carlsson
A couple overhears a violent fight next door and must decide whether or not to get involved.
7. DEAD WHISTLE STOP
Written & Directed by Sean Mckenna
Produced by Jamie Macdonald
Daniel’s not going to the office today. A dying man asked him to deliver a letter. Though he’s not sure who the dying man was or where the person he’s delivering it to is. Or what, if anything, it has to do with his new neighbours, The Illuminated Brotherhood of the All Seeing Eye.
6. SNAKE DICK
Written, directed & Produced by David Mahmoudieh
PRODUCED by George Lako & Annalea Fiachi
Jill's got the snake. Julia's got the flute. Alone, they have nothing. But together, they have a secret weapon to fight the darkness...
5. STONES
Written, produced, & Directed by Matthew Hopper
On a trip to his old family home in the Scottish Highlands, a troubled man argues on the phone with his stoic father, forcing him to confront a dark issue in their relationship.
4. CRY LIKE A GUY
Directed by Ant Rubinstein
Written by Catherine Willoughby
Why do we cry? What’s the deal with those little droplets of emotion? Kieran Bew (HBO's 'House of the Dragon', Netflix's 'Warrior') leads us on a gruff, goofy, educational and emotional adventure through the senses into the fascinating world of tears. A feast for the feels.
3. WAVING
Written, Produced & Directed by Rolfin Nyhus & Steven Brumwell
His worst fears seemingly realised; a distraught father takes one last walk through his ruined world. For most people, being at the centre of their own world and having a loving family is a wonderful thing. For Charlie, it's literally a nightmare. A short film about OCD.
2. EVERYBODY DIES SOMETIMES
Written & Directed by Charlotte Hamblin
Produced by Leonora Darby, Charlotte Hamblin, James Harris, & Mark Lane
A dark comedy about death anxiety that follows Mara as she grapples with the belief that she has killed everybody she's gotten close to.
1. BOY IN THE BACK SEAT
Written & Directed by Scott Pickup
Produced by Jonny Ross, James Owen & Simon Marriott
1986. A young boy is left unattended in the car while his volatile dad takes care of some ‘business’ in a dodgy local pub. What could possibly go wrong?
Honourable Mentions
Even though these films didn’t make our Top 10 we still think they’re pretty great and well worth a watch.
Hold my hand
gHanimah
