As the awards season heats up, British short films are once again emerging as serious contenders on the international stage, with several BAFTA-qualified and a BAFTA winning title drawing attention for their powerful storytelling and cinematic ambition.
Among them is A Friend of Dorothy, the writing and directorial debut from actor-turned-filmmaker Knight. The short tells a tender, intergenerational story centred on Dorothy (Dame Miriam Margolyes), an elderly woman living alone whose life is quietly transformed after she forms an unlikely friendship with her young neighbour JJ (Alistair Nwachukwu, Shadow and Bone), following a football landing in her garden. Oscar Lloyd (Stranger Things: The First Shadow) also stars. Inspired by Knight’s real-life friendship with his husband and their late neighbour Shirley Woodham, the BAFTA-qualified film is rich with warmth, humour and emotional authenticity.
Also generating strong buzz is Rock, Paper, Scissors, written and directed by Franz Böhm. Based on a true story from the ongoing Ukraine, Russia conflict, the short explores themes of resilience, courage and sacrifice amid the brutal randomness of war. The film follows Ivan, a 17-year-old Ukrainian boy, and his father as they become trapped in a makeshift bunker while fighting rages around them. Through an intimate and harrowing lens, Böhm captures the devastating human cost of conflict, particularly on the young, grounding global events in deeply personal stakes.
Rounding out the trio is The Pearl Comb, written and directed by Ali Cook, a historical drama inspired by the Edinburgh Seven, the first women to study medicine in the UK. Set in 1893, the film follows a fisherman’s wife who becomes the first person to cure tuberculosis. When a dismissive doctor investigates, intent on proving that a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine, he instead uncovers the source of her extraordinary power.
Starring Beatie Edney (Highlander), Clara Paget (Too Much for Netflix), Simon Armstrong (Game of Thrones), and Ali Cook (Ragdoll for AMC, BBC One), the film is a poignant exploration of female resilience, suppressed knowledge and the quiet defiance of women written out of history.
Together, these shorts reflect the strength and diversity of British filmmaking, tackling themes of community, conflict and resistance with emotional precision. With BAFTA recognition and growing international attention, they stand as compelling examples of British short films with a genuine shot at OSCAR recognition.
