London Lift-Off Film Festival 2025
Network Round Shorts

1. When You Left Me
Director/Writer: Jevan Chowdhury
Producer: Michael Roe
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis: When You Left Me is a tense short film exploring the breaking point of a father pushed to his limit. After a morning of escalating frustration, he does the unthinkable—leaving his young son behind on a London Underground platform. As the train doors close, the weight of his actions crashes down. A gripping exploration of loss of control and the thread that holds us together. How far can frustration push us before we snap?

2.A Memory Owed
Director/Writer/Producer: Martin Hemingway-Moseley
Producer: Zoe Lewin
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis: Bound by unspoken grief, reclusive 91-year-old Stan and his young carer find unexpected solace on the windswept plains of a once-bustling WWII airfield, where memory still lingers.

3. BAZA
Director/Writer: Lewis Frederick Andrews
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis:  British filmmaker Lewis Andrews, inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, crafts a burnt-orange cinematic world of speckled planets and a monolith-like spaceship slicing through a hazy desert skyline. The video opens on drill artist Richard Akam, walking with purpose in a rusty-grey, floor-length hooded coat from cult label Demobaza, blending rugged, nomadic styling with futuristic design, evoking a tribal warrior from Blade Runner—perhaps a nod to another project Lewis was working on at the time.

4. Growing Pains
Director/Writer: Ellie Wildman, Conor Toner
Producer: Meghan Mc Ardle
Country of Origin: Ireland, United Kingdom

Synopsis:  It’s time to grow up! Bernie, a grumpy widower stuck in his solitary routine, finds unexpected companionship when he orders a bizarre "Grow Your Own Girlfriend" kit from a mysterious infomercial. Set against the backdrop of grief, aging, and late-in-life connection, Growing Pains is a darkly whimsical exploration of love, loss, and the absurd beauty of finding friendship in a lonely world.

5. Monsters
Director/Writer/Producer: Volodymyr Kudriachenko
Writer/Producer: Dmytro Kosyhin
Country of Origin: Ukraine

Synopsis:  The beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, due to constant attacks and the sound of missiles, causes panic attacks in little boy Ostap, which prevent him from sleeping. He associates rockets and drones with monsters that come at night. Every minute, every new alarm worsens the boy's health.
This film will let you feel what every Ukrainian family is feeling during this war.

6. Generational
Director/Writer/Producer: Joseph Galyean
Writer: Chris Grady
Producers: Alexandr Vozniuc,Zadok Pearlstein, Chris Grady
Country of Origin: United States

Synopsis:  A single father wrestles with his responsibilities, past trauma, and being a present figure in his son's life.

7. The Boy and the Goldfish
Director/Producer: Erin LEUNG
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis:  A little boy is resting by his window when he hears his mother arriving home. He springs to his desk to begin studying. His mother arrives at the table and pushes his head down to keep him studying. Saddened by the mum’s actions, the boy noticed how the mum’s attention has fallen on a goldfish ornament. He then decides to get a little goldfish.

8. A Great Love
Director/Producer: Aisha Schliessler
Producers: Carlos Crooks, Sy Turnbull,Jeremy Goold,Hannah Malpas
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis: Acclaimed equine sculptor Charlie Langton delves into his lifelong fascination—a muse that has captivated him for decades with its powerful form and graceful presence. In his creative journey, from intense observation to the meticulous shaping of wax, clay, and bronze, Langton endeavors to capture the spirit of the majestic horse. Revealing a profound connection to his subject, he invites us to reflect on the role of beauty and awe in everyday life and the infinite pursuit of artistic expression.

9. Grilled Cheese
Director/Writer/Producer: Jonathan Reid-Edwards
Producers: Samantha Gruskin,Kate Tuck
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis:  Desperate to start rebuilding her life, Audrey must contend with a world that seems to be in on all the answers she can't get.

10. Watering Hole
Director/Writer: Eva Blackwell-Rogelj
Producer: Ellie Lomas
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis:  Two girls go out to get free drinks from men in a local pub. As their night and sobriety descends they realise just how different their morals are, and just how dangerous UK nightlife can be.

11. Slut Club
Director/Producer: Zoey Black
Country of Origin: South Africa

Synopsis:  SLUT CLUB is a deliciously daring documentary short film chronicling
Ms T’s Slut Club, a pole dancing show for women and the LGBTQIA+ community, celebrating the divine feminine and sacred sexuality in all of us.

SLUT CLUB exemplifies the vital role that radical safe spaces play in today's society. These spaces offer a sense of belonging, community, and safety, allowing individuals to explore their identities authentically without fear of judgment or discrimination.

12. Bowl
Director: John Kelbie
Writer: Saoirse Gillepsie
Producer: Francis MacKenzie
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis:  Arthur is an elderly, quick-witted, gay man who has recently been diagnosed with arthritis. Upon finding out that his old foe and competitor Norma is is playing in the upcoming lawn bowls charity match, Arthur seeks the chance to prove himself. He faces many challenges along the way as he bickers with Norma and comes to terms with his illness and the losses he has faced, but with a little help from Norma's granddaughter Jenn, he is able to confront his past and learn what is truly important to him.

13. The Ladder
Director/Writer/Producer:Albin Nilsson
Country of Origin: Sweden

Synopsis:  A man ascends the corporate ladder, only to realize he’s becoming just another cog in the machine—selling and promoting the same things as everyone else. This stop-motion short explores the crushing monotony of corporate life, likening it to a slow, existential demise.

14. Fighting Demons
Director/Writer: Simon Stock
Producers: Mehmet Kurtulus,Kirk Newmann
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis:  In one of the world’s most brutal and unforgiving sports, four fighters step into the ring—not just to battle their opponents, but to confront their own inner struggles. Fighting Demons is an in-depth exploration of the motivations that drive professional athletes to compete in Bare Knuckle Boxing, a sport where every punch carries the risk of severe injury, and only the toughest survive.

13. Apple Juice with No Ice
Director/Writer/Producer: Jillian Caforio
Producers: Sophia Costanzo,Rylee Rosenquist,Michelle Cullen
Country of Origin: United States

Synopsis:  Inspired by the special needs community, "Apple Juice with No Ice" follows Joey as he reluctantly accepts a new job taking Miles (with special needs) out for dinner each week. He discovers what true friendship is and that life is better with no ice.

14. Ransack
Director/Writer/Producer: Alexander Kirkham, Dan Millen
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis:  Cain, a seasoned house robber, along with his new protégé, Jez scan the obituary page for potential targets. Upon finding a seemingly wealthy mark, the hapless duo ransack the house as mourners attend the funeral. But when they find a door leading to a secluded bedroom and Lily, a mysterious hostess, Cain and Jez discover that crime really does pay in the most unexpected way.

13. Livvie Grace's Bad B*tch Bucket List
Director/Producer: Alex Smithline
Writer: Lexi Godfrey
Producers: Wesley Diaz,Will DeVito,Upasna Barath
Country of Origin: United States

Synopsis:  A woman stuck in the monotony of adulthood finds her teenage bucket list and, guided by a manifestation of her rebellious younger self, embarks on a wild journey to complete it—risking everything she knows along the way.

14. Decode Me
Director/Writer/Producer: Sharon Sibyl Gatt
Producers: Yorgo Glynatsis,Arnaldo Stafa
Country of Origin: Malta, United Kingdom

Synopsis:  We're autistic, and we're here. It's time to stop the fear mongering and show people what autism really is, especially from unrepresented women. We'd like you to help us spread the word with this movie. Decode Me is a psychological drama written and directed by Autistic Maltese/British BAFTA Connect member Sharon Sibyl Gatt. The film, written and directed by an Autistic/ADHD woman, offers an authentic, stereotype-breaking look at neurodiversity among women; a topic more relevant than ever, with recent reports showing nearly 50% of Gen Z identify as neurodivergent, and with current discourse in America./em>