Norwich Film Festival - East Anglian Shorts

East Anglian Shorts showcased a wondrous range of cinematic talent from the region.

From tense drama, to edge of your seat ghost stories, to off-kilter animation, the East Anglian Shorts showcased a wondrous range of cinematic talent from the region.

Directed by Oz Arshad, Biology (2025) is a joyous comedy portraying a lesbian couple during a night in a family Air BnB holiday. Liz freaks out when she discovers her partner Jess has asked her brother Simon to be their sperm doner. It touches on the real world anxieties many queer couples go through when deciding to pursue parenthood, whilst still filled with hilarity and wit.

Queer stories are represented elsewhere with the sinister and foreboding Joe (2025) directed by Tom Brittney. Symbolisms of a washed up whale, and murmurings heard from running water portray raw feelings of deep regret and memories from past lovers.

Grisly themes of the pressures of toxic masculinity impacting teenage boys are also shown in Cameron Cut’s Ritual (2025). A brief yet impactful portrait showing dramatised violence that teenagers and young men can be subjected to. Particularly in small town communities, when they’re neglected by local councils.

Lighter moments came with Joe Murray’s Day Release (2025) showing the journey of a Francis Bacon portrait from the Sanisbury Centre granted a day of freedom. The painting chose to visit the creator’s former haunt-a gay bar in Soho. A charming exchange ensues between the painting and the queer barman about how times have evolved since the 1950’s-and aspects that unfortunately have not developed. The film excelled with its unique premise, pairing old with contemporary narratives. The format allows for a great appreciation of art history, and serves as a charming tribute to Bacon himself.

Outrageous unhinged comedy ensued with the delightfully dark humour of Deli Meat (2025) directed by Essex filmmaker BRICK. Two inept criminals are tasked with burying their first body in the woods-but it becomes quickly apparent they aren’t cut out for the task. The detachment from the crime allows the audience to relish in the ridiculous chaos that takes place, and there is a perfect balance of tension and comedic timing.

A similarly off the wall comedy came in the form of AJ Jefferies’ Ducks (2025). A stunning CGI short film about the most preposterous ducks you have ever seen. Including ducks with wildly elongated limbs, and nightmare inducing grins.

Daniella DeVinter’s Unwell Woman (2025) brought wondrously spooky delights. Blending live action scenes with Coraline esq stop motion shadow puppetry portraying a haunting tale of a young student possessed by a haunted painting. Set in 1979, including an immaculate cover of Kate Bushe’s Wuthering Heights, it is a masterpiece in retro horror film making.

The showcase concluded with Ben S. Hyland’s The Man I Wave At (2025), an off-kilter sci-fi comedy that begins with the simple premise of a man trying to work out who the man he waves at everyday is. And what compels him to do so. It’s a fascinating dissection of everyday human interactions-and how there is so much more than meets the eye on how we navigate the world. It’s a hilarious, and at times shocking story, that wouldn’t be out of place in an episode of Black Mirror.

All of the short films depicted truly unique stories, overflowing with creativity and innovation. It seems East Anglia deserves more of a spotlight when it comes to filmmaking.

More information about the selection of this years Norwich Film Festival can be found at Films | Norwich Film Festival.

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