The backbone of the whole LIAF mission. Somehow we’ve emerged from under the pile of 2,350 entries with enough strength and wits intact to put together a series of programmes that showcase the best 100 or so new films. Six ‘general’ International Competition Programmes, our ever popular Abstract Showcase
and Long Shorts programmes, plus the British Showcase. The films come in from every corner, they use every technique, they can be funny, dramatic, eye-popping, subdued, documentary or autobiographical. The one thing they have in common is that we think they’re the pick of the crop.
At Barbican book tickets
At The Horse Hospital Sun 27 Oct book tickets
We May Meet, We May Not (Skirmanta Jakaite, 2011)
A perspective-bending trio meet in the woods and move forwards-backwards-sideways from there.
Lithuania, 5’09
Fear of Flying (Conor Finnegan, 2013)
A small bird with a fear of flying tries to avoid heading south for the winter. Yet when disaster strikes he is left with no choice but to face up to his fear.
Ireland, 9’10
Not About Us (Michael Frei, 2011)
A mysterious twin at arm’s reach, a reflection on the water, a shadow on the wall, an entrance to another dimension at your finger tip.
Switzerland/Estonia, 3’37
TINAMV 1 (Adnan Popovic, 2011)
The cloistered interior of a pure white room is the perfect space to unleash a sustained fiesta of stop-motion.
Austria, 4’15
Kick-Heart (Masaaki Yuasa, 2013)
A love story between two people that each have a secret to hide. One is a pro-wrestler, the other a nun. When the two meet in the ring, something magical happens. Losing never felt so good.
Japan, 12’45
Astigmatismo (Nicolai Troshinsky, 2013)
A boy, having lost his glasses, can only see one thing in focus at a time, thus he explores a blurry world of unknown places and strange characters.
Spain, 4’00
Feral (Daniel Sousa, 2012)
A hunter takes in a feral child he discovers in the woods and quickly realises that creating a new life for him will take more than clothes, kindness and a haircut.
USA/Portugal, 12’41
To This Day (Shane Koyczan/Giant Ant, 2013)
By turn hilarious and haunting, poet Shane Koyczan puts his finger on the pulse of what it’s like to be young and different.
Canada, 7’40
The Triangle Affair (Andres Tenusaar, 2012)
A crazy-wild ballet of the strangest creatures getting a bit of after-hours cleaning done, drawing lines in the sand and making a break for it on the high wire.
Estonia, 10’39
Subconscious Password (Chris Landreth, 2013)
The absurd misadventures of Charles, a friendly kind of guy who meets up with someone whose name completely escapes him.
Canada, 11’00