

NINE
YARDS
FILMS
Official Short Film Selections 2025

Directors | Gus Flind-Henry & George Malcher | UK
A Sisyphean Task
'A Sisyphean Task' which follows Lucy, a 23 year old newly qualified teacher, through her first year of teaching. A bright yet unflinching glimpse into the British school system, all set within the walls of Lucy’s classroom.
16:53 minutes

Directors | Dog & Rabbit & Will Anderson | UK
Baby on Board. The Dark Web Catbot
Say Aye to AI. Unhinged Catbot, Kevin, supplies the deepest darkest fakes on the deep dark web. And Professor Robert wants a deep dark 'deepie' to promote his latest invention. This is a job for Fake Bob.
6:24 minutes

Director | Thomas Crilly | UK
Craggy Confidant
When Jim's car is stolen, he reaches out to his insurance agent Pete. But a late night chat in a dingy wine bar gets tense, as Jim’s stolen car is revealed to be a part of an eccentric and fraudulent plan that he seems to have no say in.
11:54 minutes

Director | Ali Cook | UK
The Pearl Comb
In 1893, a fisherman’s wife becomes the first person to cure someone of tuberculosis. A doctor, intent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine, investigates - only to discover the source of her unearthly power.
20:00 minutes

Director | Ben S Hyland | UK
The Man That I Wave At
A man has an existential crisis trying to work out who the mysterious man is that he waves at.
10:38 minutes

Director | Will Wright | UK
National Treasures
When a European art collector is given a private viewing of the British Museum's 'special collections', suspicions are raised when he takes a special interest in one particular object.
But after hearing a re-telling of the infamous object's discovery the collector forces the curator into internal conflict when he tries to acquire it for himself.
10:00 minutes

Director | Kenny McCracken | USA
Strolling Down Brighton Pier
A young Edwardian gentleman, working as a photographer, falls madly in love with a captivating woman as she takes her daily stroll down Brighton Pier. Finally mustering the courage to approach her, he is devastated to discover that there's someone else in the picture.
4:58 minutes

Director | Jonny Durgan | UK
G.S.W.
A man is dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when the paramedic treating him discovers he's the perpetrator of a school shooting at her child's primary school, which puts her in an impossible situation.
6:57 minutes

Director | Simon Haines | UK
Senior Consultant
A group of optimistic British Millennials compete for a bullshit corporate job title. What could possibly go wrong?
13:54 minutes

Director | Alex Deitsch | UK
Symbols
After the arrival of a mysterious car, a friendship is put under pressure as paranoia starts to set in.
9:17 minutes

Director | Govind Chandran| Isle of Man
Safe
When a compassionate helpline counsellor begins to grow concerned for the safety of one of her clients, she's forced to decide whether to trust her instincts or follow protocol. Safe is a tense, quietly powerful drama about the weight of responsibility and the courage it takes to listen.
20:23 minutes

Director | Nilram Ranjbar | Iran
Cat and Fish
A goldfish in a small container goes to a bigger pond with the help of a cat and the sun
2:00 minutes

Director | Brenden Hubbard | USA
Hide
From the Academy Award winning team behind "Curfew." Still reeling from an incredible loss, a father (Shakey Graves) and daughter cling to a bedtime routine keeping them safe in a town where an unfathomable horror visits its inhabitants night after night.
16:04 minutes
Short Film Award Winners,
Runners-Up & Nominees
Best Male Lead
Spike White - Symbols (Runner up)
Alejandro Rose-Garcia - Hide
Brian Gleeson - Craggy Confidant (Winner)
Tommy Oldroyd - Senior Consultant
Best Female Lead
Beatie Edney - The Pearl Comb
Kelsey Cooke - Safe (Runner up)
Leah Balmforth - A Sisyphean Task (Winner)
Genevieve O’Reilly - GSW
Ionie Nieves - Hide (Honorable Mention)
Best Supporting Actor
Aaron Douglas - Senior Consultant
Kya Brame - GSW (Winner)
Hugh Bonneville - A Sisyphean Task (Runner up)
Best Editor
Simon Lex - Senior Consultant (Runner up)
Paco Sweetman - A Sisyphean Task (Winner)
Govind Chandran - Safe
Alex Deitsch - Symbols
Best Writer
Will Wright - National Treasures (Runner up)
Alex Deitsch - Symbols
Govind Chandran & Kelsey Cooke - Safe
Simon Haines - Senior Consultant (Winner)
Thomas Crilly - Craggy Confidant
Best Cinematographer
Dave Miller - The Pearl Comb (Runner up)
Jonathan Nicol - Brighton Pier
Matt Gillan - Craggy Confidant (Winner)
David Bird - A Sisyphean Task
Best Director
Ali Cook - The Pearl Comb
Alex Deitsch - Symbols (Winner)
Simon Haines - Senior Consultant
Ben Hyland - The Man that I Wave At (Runner up)
Best Animation
Dog & Rabbit and Will Anderson - Baby on Board. The Dark Web Catbot (Winner)
Cat & Fish - Nilram Ranjbar (Runner up)
Best Horror
Ali Cook - Pearl Comb (Winner)
Ben Hyland - The Man that I Wave At
Brenden Hubbard - Hide (Runner up)
Best Drama
George Malcher and Gus Flind-Henry - A Sisyphean Task
Jonny Durgan - GSW (Runner up)
Thomas Crilly - Craggy Confident (Winner)
Govind Chandran - Safe
Minerva Wellness Heartbeat Award
Govind Chandran & Kelsey Cooke - Safe
Best in Festival
Gus Flind-Henry & George Malcher - A Sisyphean Task