The Rushes Soho Shorts Festival has returned for another year of cool and quirky films. One of the most well known festivals for short films in the UK hits the capital with even more screenings of shorts from well known actors and directors along with new independent offerings.

Why you should go
Are you listening, film buffs? The Rushes Soho Shorts Festival is pretty much the be all and end all when it comes to short film festivals in London. And the best part – for filmmakers, anyway – is that there’s no snobbery involved, just loads of fun and constructive criticism.

Don’t miss
The categories for the 2009 Rushes Soho Shorts Festival include awards for the best short film, long form, international, newcomer, documentary, animation, music video and broadcast design. Plus, in 2007 the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival created a category for best documentary, so now for the third year all the film journalists and truth tellers have the chance to show their stuff.

2009 films
The 2009 festival features films including the directorial debut of Sadie Frost and the end credit sequence from Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, plus films featuring actors including reality TV star Connie Fisher from The Sound of Music and actor Nick Nolte. Other actors making appearances in the films include Michael Byrne from Gangs of New York, Juliet Stevenson from Bend it Like Beckham, Russel Tovey from Being Human, Chris Hehir from Green Street, Danny Cunningham from 24 Hour Party People and Jack O’Connell from This is England. Comedians Adam Buxton, Lulu McClatchy and Alexei Sale will also be featured in the films, and music videos from McFly, Royskopp, Will Young, Goldfrapp, Coldplay and U2 are scheduled for the line-up.

Special events
Besides film screenings, special events for the 2009 festival include parties, a barbecue, panels and seminars, with speakers well versed in the ways of the film world, perfect if you’re looking to make your mark on the scene and would like to hear some professional advice. A networking night held on 28th of July is a great chance for people working in the industry to meet each other and make contacts. Classes during the festival include everything from a cosmetics masterclass to classes on how to pitch and fund your films. This year’s opening night premiere will be The Calling, from celebrated writing, directing and producing team Jan Dunn and Elaine Wickham.

Star spots
And of course, there’s always the possibility of spotting a celeb, whether in a film (David Tennant, Dita Von Teese, David Thewlis, Mackenzie Crook, Jack Dee and Phil Jupitus have all made appearances) or at the awards, which has boasted some celebrity hosts like Nick Moran, Graham Norton, Sean Pertwee and Damian Lewis. The spokesperson for the 2009 festival is Paul Andrew Williams, a British writer and director of films including The Cottage and London to Brighton.

The Rushes Soho Shorts Festival takes place from 22nd – 31st July 2009 at the Curzon Soho, the ICA and other venues in London. For more information and a full schedule of events, click on the link below. Other London events