David Farnor | On 10, Apr 2021

BAFTA has released the majority of the 2021 short film nominees online this weekend, ahead of the two-part awards ceremony.

Short films are perhaps the most overlooked part of the awards season, and unfairly so, as they frequently offer a new perspective on the world, showcase a rising talent, or innovatively overcome the limitations of their running time in a way that captures that distilled brilliance of cinematic storytelling. Previous nominees include directors Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur) and Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), and Home, by Daniel Mulloy, which provocatively shone a light on the world’s migrant and refugee crisis.

As audiences race to catch up with nominated feature films before the winners are announced, too often in the past the short films have been unable to view until after the ceremony, or only in a handful of cinemas. In recent years, however, BAFTA has been making them available to rent through Curzon Home Cinema before the awards take place. This year, BAFTA has turned straight to YouTube to release them directly online for free.

Not all of the contenders have been made available, presumably due to rights reasons, but all but two can now be streamed.

As for the winners, they will be unveiled on Saturday 10th April at 8pm, when the BAFTA hosts its first of a two-part celebration. Aired on BBC Two, the 2021 Opening Night of the BAFTA Film Awards will announce the winners for eight categories: Casting, Costume, Make Up & Hair, Production Design, Sound, Special Visual Effects, British Short Film and British Short Animation. Noel Clarke will also receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award. The presentation of 17 awards will air on BBC One at 7pm on Sunday 11th April.

For a full guide to where to stream this year’s BAFTA nominees in the UK click here.

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT
Mole Hill, Laura Duncalf

THE SONG OF A LOST BOY
Daniel Quirke, Jamie MacDonald, Brid Arnstein

THE FIRE NEXT TIME
Renaldho Pelle, Yanling Wang, Kerry Jade Kolbe

Currently not available on UK VOD.

BRITISH SHORT FILM

EYELASH
Jesse Lewis Reece, Ike Newman

LIZARD
Akinola Davies, Rachel Dargavel, Wale Davies

LUCKY BREAK
John Addis, Rami Sarras Pantoja

MISS CURVY
Ghada Eldemellawy

THE PRESENT
Farah Nabulsi

Available on Netflix UK

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