London Short Film Festival award winners:

UK FILM COUNCIL AWARD FOR BEST UK SHORT at the 8th London Short Film Festival went to:
PARIS / SEXY (Ruth Paxton)
Judges statement: "The film that had the biggest impact on us mixed a creepy surrealism with a believably rendered world as seen through the eyes of Greer, a complex and intriguing lead character that had us talking long after the film had finished. From it's production design, to the tone shifts leading to its dramatic climax this film is stylish, distinctive, sexy and horrific."

UK FILM COUNCIL BEST UK SHORT FILM 'SPECIAL MENTION' went to:
UNTIL THE RIVER RUNS RED (Paul Wright)
The judges said: "A film that offered a patchwork of film stocks and visual styles, with a highly imaginative approach to storytelling, carrying a weighty tale of trauma with confident deftness as it unraveled layers of memory, religion and loss."

UK FILM COUNCIL BEST UK SHORT FILM 'SPECIAL MENTION' went to:
NATIVE SON (Scott Graham)
The judges said: "Our second choice is a more straightforward narrative that combined an intense performance by Sean Harris as a touched and marginalized man, with subtle sound design and some stunning lighting that add up to a palpable sense of dread for the audience and mark Scott Graham as a strong directing talent."

Judges overall statement:
"The selection of nominated films were put forward from across the festival programme by Philip and Chloe, and the jury viewed them all together in an afternoon. It was an eclectic bunch of films that displayed an energy and ambition that confirms the fires are still burning for short film as a space for filmmakers to stretch themselves, and all of these film's deserve wide audiences and critical discussion. While not intentional that all three should be Scottish, this points to a strong belief in shorts currently emanating from Scotland, with a talentpool to match."

Our esteemed judges were:
ROSE CUPIT
Rose manages the Film London Artists' Moving Image Network, FLAMIN.
JAMES MULLIGHAN
James Mullighan will, from February, be Edinburgh International Film Festival director. Until February, James is Creative Director, Shooting People, the world's largest network of independent filmmakers, and responsible for the company’s day-to-day running, business development and future expansion.
KATE TAYLOR
Kate Taylor is a freelance programmer, writer and festivalist based in Manchester, UK. Previous roles include six years as Co-Director of the London Short Film Festival, and Festival Director of Abandon Normal Devices in Liverpool in 2009. Currently Kate curates the art programme for FutureEverything festival and works as Audience Development Manager at Northern Film & Media.

THE OTHER FESTIVAL AWARDS:

Shooting People Comedy Award went to YOU MUST BE JOKING by Michael Cash
Little White Lies Lo-Budget Award went to THE FURRED MAN by Paul Williams
Sheffield Doc/Fest Award for Best Documentary went to ROBIN HOOD GARDENS, OR EVERY BRUTALIST STRUCTURE FOR ITSELF by Martin Ginestie
Radar Award for Best Music Video went to BAD PENNY by Alex Sufit
Animate Projects Award for Best Experimental Film went to SLICK HORSING by Kiron Hussain

We'd also like to congratulate Paul Wright for UNTIL THE RIVER RUNS RED being nominated for Short Film BAFTA, alongside the other filmmakers who have been BAFTA nominated who screened at this year's LSFF: Micheal Pearce for RITE and Samuel Abrahams for CONNECT, and also previous LSFF winner Piers Thompson for LIN. Good luck to you all!!