Will these short films make the BAFTA longlist?

The BAFTAs reveal the longlists for this year’s film awards on Friday, January 5. Ten short films will number among those still in contention. Look for this trio of top-notch tales to make the cut and remain in the running to be in the final five when the BAFTA nominations are announced on January 18.

Tom Berkeley and Ross White won at both the BAFTAs and Oscars last year for their short film “The Irish Goodbye.” Their follow-up, “The Golden West,” is set in Ireland in 1849 and follows two sisters (Eileen Walsh and Aoife Duffin) who try to strike it rich in the gold rush. Their lack of success reignites their sibling rivalry. The Irish vistas deliver a feeling of pure cinema while the dialogue and performances are reminiscent of the best of the Coen brothers movies.

Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 2018 for “The Silent Child” and they return here with another searing short, “In Too Deep.” This new film follows a father who turns to AI in order to help him through the grief of losing his daughter. What first feels like a somber tragedy soon turns into something darker and much more sinister as the film deftly combines multiple genres. There are heart-wrenching performances (including one from Overton’s partner Rachel Shenton) and killer effects. AI is at the forefront of conversation in the film industry. “In Too Deep” provides a key insight into this controversial topic that should appeal to BAFTA voters.

Phil Dunn‘s “The Stupid Boy” is a feel-good film with hope and redemption as its central messages. The story is about a neuro-diverse boy who tries to make sense of the world around while while terrorist bombers launch attacks across London. The two storylines merge in a powerful ending in a short film that packs a punch — and plenty of heart. While the Oscars overlooked it, BAFTA may well be drawn in by it. It is very British in its sensibilities and is a perfect example of grassroots filmmaking — Dunn was financed by the initiative Made in Brixton. The film and the filmmaking story behind it feel very communal — a special screening at the Ritzy Cinema saw Dunn introduce local Brixton talent including spoken word artists and musicians. BAFTA voters should appreciate both this wholehearted dedication to homegrown filmmaking and its uplifting message.

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