Fanomenon Short Film Competition 1

The very popular fantastic genre shorts selection at LIFF is now a competition, with three programmes of fantasy, horror, comedy, sci-fi and more.   Juni is a cannibal who lures men in as meal planning, but when her new neighbour comes by, she might have just met her match. Who doesn’t like a good cannibal romance? Especially when they come with a fantastic central performance.Fae Al-Kalamchi | UK | 2025 | 13 mins | British Sign Language Two women take part in an experiment where they must determine which one of them is human, and which is a humanoid robot. A gripping exploration of consciousness, what makes us human, and the ethics of the future of technology.UK Premiere | Celia Galan | Spain | 2025 | 20 mins | Catalan Wade and Sanger’s getaway turns into a hostage situation when the result of their spicy carefree night together appears to go against state laws. Terrifying in its closeness to reality, this is a thought-provoking, witty and smart film by Lizz Marshall.World Premiere | Lizz Marshall | USA | 2025 | 10 mins | English A young boy’s pimple leads to bloody consequences and an empowering life lesson when he is confronted by bullies in the school corridor. Silly, funny and positively gross, this is a strangely life-affirming little film.Yorkshire Premiere | Fernando Alle | Portugal | 2025 | 4 mins | Portuguese Thrust into an escape room, four misfits must find their way out. But what seemed like a friendly game soon becomes a fight for survival. Told entirely in sign language, this is a classic tale of how repressed secrets will always come back to haunt you.Ruaridh Lever-Hogg | UK | 2025 | 14 mins | British Sign Language Attempting to avoid the local army after capturing voters on election day to punish them, two armed men find themselves at the mercy of a mythical djinn. This supernatural folk story shines a light on the resilience of the Afghan people.World Premiere | Amir Masoud Soheili | Iran, Afghanistan | 2025 | 14 mins | Persian Dari, Pashto Michael is enjoying a nice day at the beach with his parents, but his mother has a strange, and rather invasive question to ask. This gorgeous film explores corrupt systems in the age of overpowering tech systems.International Premiere | Jeff Osborne | USA | 2025 | 13 mins | English