I’m doing a special Pick ‘n’ Mix dedicated to the London Short Film Festival, which kicks off today and runs until 16 January.

If you’re free this weekend, you should pop down to some screenings; with themes like “Fucked Up Love” and  “Funny Shit”, it will be a belter. Also, we recently chatted to the founder Philip Ilson in December and he’s a pretty interesting guy. This week, I’ve selected five of my favourite shorts that’ll be showing at LSFF.

The Coldest Caller by Joe Tucker

Joe Tucker already has props from me for making Horrible Histories, the TV series for kids that adults loved too. Educational, entertaining and gory – what’s not to love?

His newest short, The Coldest Caller, shows at LSFF’s Lo-Budget Mayhem category on 7 January. The synopsis on IMBD says, “Mrs Evans wasn’t expecting any visitors today”, which doesn’t reveal much, so go see it and find out more. If it’s anything like his 2009 offering, Scouting for Rudeboys, it will be epic.

Scouting For Rudeboys by Joe Tucker from Skin Flicks on Vimeo.

Twinset by Amy Rose for Quark Films

Amy Rose’s Twinset (showing as part of DocHeads Presents on 13 January) was shown earlier this year at Sheffield Doc/Fest and was made for the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap scheme. It’s the story of tea, cake and stilettos; old ladies in an Essex church welcome a towering transvestite into their midst, while family life proves a little more difficult. IdeasTap member Olivia Humphreys flagged Amy’s work last year when she went to review Exposures Film Festival for us.

Elsewhere by Mathy Tremewan and Fran Broadhurst

I’m really excited by Elsewhere, showing at the Curzon Soho on 8 January. Firstly, and rather unashamedly, I love pink and their use of pink in the trailer shouldn’t matter a jot, but it does, so there. Secondly it gives me the same kind of feeling that Michael Haneke’s Funny Games (US version) does and that’s no bad thing – oh, the chilling combination of fear, fun and youth gone wrong. Mathy and Fran’s other work is also worth checking out.

In the Meadow by Dave Alexander Smith

Spookily, In the Meadow, like Elsewhere, is about a couple on a trip that goes wrong and it’s also 13 minutes long. The thing that sets In the Meadow apart is the weird clown-guy at the end of this trailer. Who is this guy? Where has the main dude’s girlfriend gone? How did he punch so unbelievably above his weight? All will be revealed if you go to the Curzon Soho on 8 January…

A Girl’s Guide to Muso Boyfriends by Kate Jessop

I know a guy who looks exactly like the guy in this video. He’s a muso, which proves that Kate Jessop is 100% on the money when it comes to this wittily observed animation, showing on 8 January too. I also like this film she did about two paper dolls.

Girls Guide to Muso Boyfriends - extract from Kate Jessop on Vimeo.

Check out the rest of the programme at the London Short Film Festival

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