Bedford Film Festival knows there are some very talented film makers right on our doorstep and when we opened up expressions of interest for short films this year the quality of submissions did not disappoint us.

We’re delighted to bring to you four excellent short films of varying genres that prove exactly how promising the film making talent is in the local area.

We’ve also got together with Bedford Film Making Co-Operative to show what we felt was the best of the entries into their 48 Film Making challenge.

Our Shorts Session is free, however in the spirit of Bedford being named the most generous town in the country, we hope audience members will offer a small donation to support Oxjam and Bedford Daycare Hospice, the chosen charity of Facebook group You’re from Bedford UK if…

Bedford Film Festival supports film ratings to ensure appropriate audiences attend our screenings. At the request of some of the short film makers, these screenings will only be open to people who are 15 years and older.

Hitman - BFMC 48 Hour Challenge: The film makers were given a challenge to script, shoot and edit a film in just 48 hours. They also had specific lines and props they had to use, and the films were limited to no longer than five minutes long. The creativity of story lines bubbling up from the challenge really impressed us and we felt Hitman showed that there was a strong idea that could certainly be developed further given more time. What was Hitman’s background and his relationship with the other characters? We hope the team will take their challenge idea forward and develop it further.

(Pre) Mature: Breakout films clever, almost voyeuristic , look at a relationship breakdown has you switching side as you try to work out who’s to blame. Filmed at Sharnbrook Hotel, with a cast of two, the husband and wife struggle to deal with whatever has led to the define of their marriage. Strong performances leave you with a lump in your throat as the truth slowly reveals itself.

Telling Time: Bedford and Husborne Crawley provide the backdrop for this Another Short Film production. Rachel is is a depressed girl who finds comfort from the tramp with the smily face, who she passes regularly. Finding him beaten up one day, and desperate for affection herself, she refused to accept the reality of this man’s demeanour when the police intervene.

Estate: This social drama filmed in Wootton and Cranfield by Hundy Gilbert Media looks at the issues surrounding life for some on ‘the estate’. Robbie has been beaten up by the local drug-dealing thug and while the police are called, very little can be done and the situation gets worse. As Robbie’s mum and step dad get dragged into the situation, can anything be done by the authorities to stop the yobs terrorising people on the estate, or will Robbie’s family have to take the law into their own hands?

To Live the Life: In The Space of a Day: With many people living their lives through modern technology, this interesting production by Digi Hero Concepts follows a group of people through the text messages they send each other. On his 30th birthday, T is broke but desperate to get his ideas for a business off the ground. Being let down by a loan manager at the bank T sets out to get his money back and becomes caught up in an organised loan shark operation and the police operation set up to bust the fraudsters. Filmed in Bedford and Kempston.

Screening order may be subject to change.