Short Films Competition 2020
Each year Abertoir invites filmmakers from across the globe to submit short films for the Abertoir Short Film Competition. As always, the response has been phenomenal and it’s not possible to show all of the amazing entries. Here we present our shortlist.
There are two prizes on offer. The first being the Abertoir Short Film prize, and the second is the Méliès d'Argent awarded to the best European film.
As part of Abertor's role in the Méliès International Festivals Federation, our short film competition will award a Short Film Méliès d'Argent. This is an internationally recognised prize specific to the Federation and is a testimony to the talented filmmakers in Europe. The winner of our Short Film Méliès d'Argent will go forward to the final lineup at one of the major European festivals for the prestigious Méliès d'Or Award for the Best European Fantastic Short Film. All our European short films are eligible.
4X6
(Jamie Gyngell, United Kingdom 2019, 6 minutes)
When collage artist TESSA collects some photos from the lab, she finds a mysterious image mistakenly mixed into her batch. Back at her studio, she discovers that the photo, impossibly, is there amongst her negatives. She soon realises there is much more to it than meets the eye…
La Última Navidad Del Universo
(David Muñoz, Spain 2020, 15 minutes)
December 25th of next year. Humanity has gone to hell and only a few survive by eating each other. Santa Claus comes to hand out toys, but in a world without good children, he’ll have to use them as deadly weapons.
Live Forever
(Gustav Egerstedt, Sweden 2020, 3 minutes)
A musical love letter and tribute to the poor victims in horror films that didn’t make it to the sequel. In an anthemic song the dead unite across genres and time.
Routine: The Prohibition
(Sam Orit, Spain 2020, 8 minutes)
In a dark world, devastated by lies and dominated by fear, we continue with our self-destructive routines towards extinction.
Verdict 30.001: The Cookies
(Henna Välkky & Samuel Häkkinen, Finland 2020, 9 minutes)
The average adult makes around 35 000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Each decision carries certain consequences - both good and bad. Even if it’s just about a box of cookies.
Brothers Again
(Vanja Tognola, Switzerland 2019, 11 minutes)
Franco, an elderly man, lives his life in serenity with his wife Margherita. The arrival of his brother Vittorio breaks the calm.
The Glamorgan Strangler: A Case Study
(Lewis Carter & Kristian Kane, United Kingdom 2019, 9 minutes)
In 2019, a local video production company gained unprecedented access to an active serial killer while filming a brand film. The following footage has since surfaced. The crew has now…
Abracitos
(Tony Morales, Spain 2020, 11 minutes)
A terrible phone call in the middle of the night shakes Laura’s world. Meanwhile, little Ainara plays in her room. The appearance of an unknown being will test the mental and emotional stability of the two sisters.
Bird Lady
(Susie Jones, United Kingdom 2020, 12 minutes)
A girl wanders for miles, shoeless and confused - until she stumbles on a house full of birds and the old lady who cares for them.
Smiles
(Javier Chavanel, Spain 2019, 13 minutes)
Borja is about to meet his girlfriend´s parents. This is meant to be a tricky moment and even awkward. However, he hasn´t even imagined what he´s going to suffer next. The best way to overcome the situation: to give smile and wait.
You Will Never be Back
(Mónica Mateo, Spain 2020, 13 minutes 35 seconds)
Ana and David say goodbye like any other day. The young lady has plans, but she won't be late. However, something extraordinary happens; something that alters her reality and changes everything completely.
It's Nothing
(Anna Maguire, Canada/UK 2019, 16 minutes)
Recent graduate, Robin, returns to her parents’ house and obsessively starts to dig a hole, encouraged by an impossibly perfect girl; but as she digs, she heads further down a path of self-destruction.
Luz, A Witch Story
(Julie Roy, Canada 2019, 15 minutes)
Luz is an ambulance driver. Her work brings her to discover the inert body of Dorothée. That’s when her dreams reveal the identity of the murderer: a malevolent woman who pursues her. There follows a duel between the two women, where the supernatural mixes with lightning.
