Embrace the Shine

SHORTIES is our rebellion - a creative uprising built for women and non-binary filmmakers who are done waiting for permission to take up space. The film and TV industry can be brutal - a place that demands everything from you while offering so little in return. It’s chaotic, it’s competitive, and in this financially fearful climate, it’s getting harder than ever to break through. Studios and commissioners keep playing it safe; remakes, reboots, and the same tired stories - while fresh ideas from new creatives struggle to get a look in. That’s where SHORTIES comes in. We’re here to be the glue, the grounding force that brings creatives together instead of tearing them apart.

Short films are where it all begins - they’re the calling cards, the proof of voice and vision, the spark that can ignite a whole career. They’re often made on scraps, fuelled by passion, late nights, and borrowed kit, but they’re powerful. And at SHORTIES, we celebrate that power. Through our hubs in London and West Yorkshire, our monthly screenings, and our buzzing online members community, we’re creating a space where people can show their work, meet collaborators, and find the support they need to keep going when things feel impossible.

We’ve watched filmmakers walk through our doors with their very first short and go on to be BAFTA and BIFA nominated - that’s the magic of community. Our writers’ labs and workshops give people that rare sense of belonging in an industry that can feel so isolating. Our new RomCom Writers Lab is already changing lives - our last winner was signed by a major agent and had her idea commissioned! We run all of this because we believe in it - not because it’s easy or funded or guaranteed. We do it because nurturing creativity matters.

SHORTIES is our answer to the boys’ club. It’s our own club - fierce, supportive, full of joy and originality - where there’s room for everyone and every story. We’re here to remind the industry: we’re not asking for a seat at your table anymore. We’re building our own - and it’s a much better party.