The London Short Film Festival will take place on 11–20 January and feature a range of music events as well as showcasing new and existing shorts from UK and international directors. 

The festival is particularly focussed this year on works by LGBTQ+ and BAME creators, as well as exploring music, politics and culture. A featured strand will be an exploration of the cultural ‘subversions’ of the 80s, inluding short films from that decade as well as a ‘scratch video’ showcase.

Opening Night: All That Scratching is Making Me Itch
Fri 11 Jan, 8pm, ICA Theatre

The festival will open with a revival of the scratch video (videos that draw on a range of found footage, with fast cutting) in a live event in multi-screen projection, with live music from Wrangler and Elsa Hewitt.

EMO Video Jukebox 
Sat 12 Jan, 8.30pm, Grow, Hackney

On the festival’s second day, a showcase takes place of music videos from 90s emo and punk rock, including Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday, and the iconic work of directors Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze. 

New Shorts: Music & Video
Sun  13 Jan, 6.15pm, Regent Street Cinema

This event on 13 January at Regent Street Cinema features thirteen new works that explore sound and vision both through music videos, experimental works and short films with innovative soundtracks. 

Panel Discussion: The Currency of the Music Video
Tues 15 Jan, 4pm, The Horse Hospital

On 15 January, a panel will discuss the ‘worth’ of the music video in the digital age, and how artists walk the line between corporate and experimental work. Speakers include filmmaker Tash Tung; Daniella Manca, Head of Music and Content at Caviar entertainment company, film curator and creative director of 4:3; and Elizabeth Doonan, Senior Creative Commissioner at Sony Music. 

Derek Jarman: The Music Videos
Weds 16 Jan, 8.30pm, BFI Southbank

At BFI Southbank, there will be a showcase of British filmmaker Derek Jarman’s music videos of the 1980s, featuring music by The Smiths, Pet Shop Boys and more. 

History of Hyperdub
Fri 18 Jan, 7pm, Rich Mix

This event explores the distinctive visuals – music videos, documentaries and more – that accompanies releases by UK dubstep label Hyperdub, with live DJ sets from Hyperdub artists Cooly G and Okzharp.

Cosey Fanni Tutti: On Film and In Conversation
Fri 18 Jan, 6.30pm, ICA 

This film and talk event with performance artist and musician Cosey Fanni Tutti will feature two of the artist’s own films, from 1977 and 2017, a film of a live performance at Tate Modern in 2010, and the artist in conversation with author Jack Sargeant. It will be followed by a DJ set by Sophie Coletta. 

Closing Night: No Woman is an Island
Sat 19 Jan, 8pm, Rich Mix 

The festival will close with performances from three London Afrofuturist musicians, Nkisi (who will preview her upcoming album 7 Directions), Shannen SP and Xana, with women-led music videos by artists such as Janelle Monae and Missy Elliot. 

For full listings and tickets, visit www.shortfilms.org.uk.