Liverpool John Moores University is proud to announce that the LJMU MA Short Film Festival is returning for its 4th edition, scheduled to take place online from the 15th – 22nd March, and in-person from the 18th – 22nd March 2024.
The festival is FREE to access online and in-person. Online viewers just go to the website https://ljmumashortfilmfestival.org/ and follow the links to the four different strands: Documentary, Animation, Fiction, Experimental. For those who wish to join our screenings, followed by Q&As with the filmmakers, and our Awards Ceremony, please sign up (for FREE) here:
https://ljmumashortfilmfestival.org/live-screening-sign-up/
Established in 2021 and organised by MA Film students as part of their studies, the festival showcases outstanding student films from around the world. The 2024 programme features 36 films from 21 countries, with student filmmakers competing for the Paper Bird Awards in the categories of Documentary, Animation, Fiction, Experimental, as well as the Audience Paper Bird Award. Both online and in-person viewers are able to vote for their favourite films via the website, with the most popular one being crowned on Awards night.
The 4th edition also sees a redesign of the Paper Bird Awards by Ivan Mack (see photo). Inspired by the Liver birds, symbols of city of Liverpool, and the Liverpool John Moores University brand image, our awards are ‘paper birds’ to reflect the fact that the LJMU MA Short Film Festival showcases student films and is also curated by students.
The LJMU MA Short Film Festival is organised in the context of the MA Film, embedded in the taught module ‘Exploring Film Festivals, Distribution and Exhibition’. It represents a pioneering approach to post-graduate study as it enables the students to gain hands-on experience on all aspects of working towards making such an outreaching event happen. In addition to curating and programming the festival, our MA students also assist with theplanning and organisaton of screenings and live events as well as facilitating promotional activities across a variety of social media channels.
Overall festival Trailer: https://youtu.be/aheofP1uPJo
Fiction
Trailer: https://youtu.be/56_BRYYU9Zg
| Film | Director | Country | Film School/University |
| A Cup of Coffee | Magdalena Steiner | Austria | Filmakademie Wien |
| Frequency | Zsófia Bujáki | UK | Solent University |
| Just Another Eva | Daniela Hernández | Chile | Universidad de Chile |
| The Nice Guy Who Went Bad But Who Used to be Nice | Jauffrey Gallé | France | Travelling |
| Two-syllable Name | Giovanna Castellari Peixoto | Brazil | FAAP |
| What’s So Special About a Lemon? | Jonatan Nettréus | Sweden | Skurups folkhögskola |
Documentary
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Avu4p6Ry55Y
| Film | Director | Country | Film School/University |
| A Voice Once Heard | Andy Heath | UK | Edinburgh College of Art |
| Anholt – Island of Quiet | Henri Wolferstetter, Nikolai Kyed Hansen, Philine Klinger | Denmark | Danish School of Media and Journalism |
| Clean/Feed | Andie Madsen | USA | Montana State University |
| Common Ground | Seth Hope Barnard Chodzko | UK | Northern Film School |
| Honey Bunny Duracell | Alcalde Dolakova | Czech Republic | FAMU Prague |
| Nasrin | Betül Benli | Iran | Hana Film School |
| Sundown | Gabriel Alborough | UK | Bournemouth Film School |
| The Most Fragile Part of a Woman is Her Body | Zuzanna Jocek | Poland | National Film School in Łódź |
| Valdo | Emilia Ferrari | Brazil | UNICAMP |
Animation
Trailer: https://youtu.be/wdmfc7InQH8
| Film | Director | Country | Film School/University |
| Dance My Doll | Jasmijn Kooijman | Sweden | HDK-Valand |
| Dead Silent | Miriam Fox | UK | National Film and Television School |
| Deep Seated Hatred | Noah Clement Kraemer | USA | Laguna College of Art & Design |
| Dyslexia | Nataša Glišović | Serbia | Faculty of Applied Arts |
| Expire | Audrey Azemar, Andréa Brimboeuf, Baptiste Brotier, Clément Malbec, Mathis Milla-Diaz | France | ECV Bordeaux |
| Flock | Kristina Haidinger | Austria | Salzburg University of Applied Sciences |
| Infemmes | Nicolas Fodor-Levereaud, Danaé Grimoire, Lise Merlaud, Florian Monchois, Julien Torres, Jade Wong | France | ECV Bordeaux |
| Jelly Baby | Mikhail Lushnikov | UK | Falmouth University |
| Lights | Jitka Nemikinsová | Czech Republic | FAMU Prague |
| Little Hiccups | Fitriani Revanda | Australia | RMIT University |
| Match Book Story | Cinray Lee, Anderson Huang | Taiwan | Taipei National University of the Arts |
| The Delete Machine | Charlotte Ledwidge | UK |
Experimental
Trailer: https://youtu.be/JMKU9tWHvtY
| Film | Director | Country | Film School/University |
| A Symphony | Fabian Krebs | Czech Republic | FAMU International |
| Ab Absurdo | Iris Peil | Estonia | Baltic Film and Media School |
| Are You a Doctor? | José Alejandro Silva Vieira, Hugo Balseiro | Venezuela | UNEARTE |
| Empose Jewels | Tuna Tuna | Turkey | Marmara Universty |
| Foul Fools | Karo De Nijs | Belgium | KASK & Conservatorium |
| Kill Your Darlings | Dong Yutong | Singapore | LEANG REN ONG |
| Obscura | Lucas Kua | Singapore | LASALLE College of the Arts |
| Self Portrait | Juliana Ianniccillo | Argntina | National University of the Arts |
| Temple Run | Enan Roi Pana Ibardaloza, Hui Pak Lun, Lam Yi Ki, Daniel Robert McOmie | Hong Kong | School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong |