A TOP North East film festival is returning for its 11th edition this week.
Sunderland Shorts Film Festival is returning from 11 – 17 May at venues across the city centre, including The Fire Station, Omniplex Cinema and Pop Recs.
Taking place annually, the festival is the biggest of its kind in the North East, dedicated to showcasing the best new British and international short films and music videos.
This year, more than 250 films will be screened, featuring stars including Hugh Bonneville and Jodie Whittaker, as well as a short written and directed by comedian Joe Lycett.
Chris Allan, Festival Director at Sunderland Shorts, said: “The festival has been an inclusive community for filmmakers and film lovers since its launch in 2015, growing to become the largest short film festival in the North East of England.
“We are proud to be recognised as a British Independent Film Awards qualifying festival, a Grierson British Documentary Awards qualifying festival and to be rated in the Top 100 festivals worldwide on leading industry site Filmfreeway, from over 13,000 festivals.
“Sunderland Shorts provides unmissable film experiences for our guests including a wide variety of screenings featuring a diverse range of films and genres, from BAFTA and Oscar nominees to quality student and grassroot shorts.”
Most screenings are programmed by genre with audiences able to enjoy everything from drama to comedy, horror and documentaries.
The festival also aims to shine a spotlight on the next generation of filmmaking talent with young, emerging and student screenings and a showcase of local talent at the North East showcase screening.
The week’s activity comes to a close on the red carpet with an award ceremony at The Fire Station.
Those with a passion for filmmaking also have the opportunity to get involved with workshops and events running throughout the week, including model making workshops from the animators at Aardman who will show attendees how to make their own Gromit or Feathers McGraw. There will also be insights into the film writing process with BBC Writers and a music video workshop.
The films being screened at this year’s event include BAFTA short animation winner Two Black Boys In Paradise; comedy in Joe Lycett's Dating Mark Silcox; thrilling horror in Flock; and star turns including Jodie Whittaker in Truckload and Hugh Bonneville in A Sisyphean Task.
There will also be examples of what makes the region such an exciting place for new filmmaking talent with local productions including the striking Giants, the BBC production Doppelgänger and the RTS award winning Gan Canny.
As well as the extensive selection of screenings the festival offers networking and industry events, masterclasses, Q&As, live music, comedy, exhibitions and workshops.
Sunderland Shorts Film Festival is now being delivered by Culture House Sunderland, the new multi-purpose cultural venue opening in Keel Square in 2026.
You can view the programme and get tickets and passes for all of the screenings, workshops and events at: https://events.sunderlandshorts.co.uk/