London Surf / Film Festival is stoked to announce that submissions to the 4th Annual Shorties short film competition are now open. While entry to the main festival is open to all, The Shorties is open exclusively to filmmakers from or based in Britain and Ireland.

“The Shorties is about showcasing the wealth of homegrown filmmaking talent on our shores and celebrating the art of story telling – a tradition embedded deep within surf culture,” says Festival Director Chris Nelson.

Until 31st August filmmakers from or based in Britain and Ireland are invited to submit their short films of up to 5 minutes in length that explore any aspect or angle of surfing and surf culture through documentary, narrative, animation or anything in between. In this competition, it’s not about whether your waves are big or small, it’s about the way you chose to shoot them. Or don’t. After all there’s more than one way to tell a surf story.

Shortlisted entries will be showcased on the big screen as part of the 2014 London Surf / Film Festival programme and considered by the screening panel, comprised of some of the most influential names in surfing, for awards including LS/FF Shortie of the Year, Emerging Talent and new for 2014 Serial Killers – an accolade which celebrates those filmmakers who provide us with a regular online, saline hit.

“It’s about acknowledging the changing face of filmmaking and giving emerging and established homegrown talents the chance to flex their creative muscles on the world stage,” says Chris Nelson. “Previous winning Shorties include ‘Sea Fever’ by Tim Davies, ‘The Shaper‘ by Crayfish Films ‘Uncommon Ideals’ by Chris McClean and Mark Waters, fantastic films and filmmakers which have gone on to make an impact globally. Ornella Hawthorn Gardez won the inaugural Emerging Talent award in 2013 and we look forward to charting her progress.”