Film London’s annual short film scheme, London Calling, returns this year, with 21 new curated projects from breakthrough filmmakers. Entering its 5th year, London Calling continues to offer production funding, training and expert mentoring to its participants. We are incredibly proud to announce that more than 21 SP’rs can be found within the filmmaking teams with projects included in the London Calling 2017 slate.

Writer and director, Marley Morrison’s new short film, Baby Gravy, is one these shorts included in the 2017 London Calling Slate. The SP’rs short follows a same-sex couple awaiting the arrival of their sperm donor on the outskirts of London. Morrison’s keen interest in representing more gay female characters on screen was one of her motivations for the story. While Morrison’s background is in music videos and short films, she has recently written her first feature screenplay, Lions, Tigers and Bears.

Writer Benjamin Cleary follows next with his new short film, F O G. The SP’r and Oscar winner tells Charlie’s story in his new short, whose world is turned upside down. Charlie then finds himself completely alienated, and unable to cope.

The Irish writer and director completed his Screenwriting MA at the London Film School in 2011. His short, Stutterer screened at over 80 festivals, and went on to win the Academy Award for best Live Action Short in 2016. Cleary is currently writing his first feature while simultaneously developing a TV series and directing commercials in Ireland.

SP duo, Fateme Ahmadi and Emma Parsons paired up to explore the issue of cultural identity in their short, The Bitter Sea. The film follows the story of a single immigrant mother who, in order to keep her job and home in London, must hide her daughter from her boss and landlord.

Director, Ahmadi became the first individual awarded a scholarship from Magic of Persia to attend the two-year MA filmmaking programme at the London Film School. Focusing in directing, writing, and editing, Ahmadi graduated in 2013 and is currently working towards her feature film, which will be set in both London and Tehran.

Writer, director and SP’r Matt Houghton’s new short documentary, Landline is next on this year’s slate. The film follows a chaplain from Cheshire who sets up a helpline dedicated to gay farmers. The short explores the worlds of those who called.

Director Houghton’s films are undoubtedly noteworthy for their bold and cinematic aesthetic. His previous works have screened at the London Short Film Festival, Sheffield Doc Fest and the East End Film Festival. His 2015 short, Dear Araucaria, won the Audience Award at the Sheffield Doc/Fest, and was selected at Hotdocs, AFI Docs, as well as Latitude Festival amongst others.

SP’r and director, Jimmy Dean, was commissioned by London Calling to create his new short, V. In this new short, a fifteen year old vampire reconsiders her past relationships.

Dean graduated from the University of Westminster, specialising in short films and music videos. Since then, his works have been recognised by film festivals world wide. His debut short, Charity, was awarded Best of the Fest by Mike Leigh at Greenhorn Film Festival. A year later, his 2015 short, Offside won the XX award at London’s Underwire Film Festival.

Director, Jessica Bishopp’s new short, Wargames, is an experimental documentary which explores the themes of obsession, camaraderie, and a society that begs the question: What does it take to go into battle?

The SP’rs directorial style is notable for its universal themes of studying basic human interactions and habits, and exposing the magic in the mundane. Her previous works have been exhibited at Somerset House and the Science Museum in London. Her films have screened at film festivals internationally, and her documentary short, Platform 1, was a Vimeo Staff Pick, and screened at the Underwire Festival and the London Short Film Festival amongst a number of others. Recently, she produced a First Act for Channel 4’s Random Acts strand, Lifespan, which also saw her nominated for the BFI Future Film Festival’s Best Short Award.

London Calling nurtures its talent through means of funding, mentoring and training, making it pivotal in the careers of its up and coming filmmakers. Previous London Calling directors have moved into ambitious and longer productions, and we look forward to following some of our own members as they enter this stage of their careers as well.