Stories We Tell

A selection of shorts set around the UK, offering a kaleidoscopic snapshot of who we think we are right now.

Rowan Woods

Total running time 91min

Contains sex, sexual violence, distressing scenes, drug use

Screening dates and booking

Check the latest ticket availability for festival screenings and events

Essex Girls

A teenage girl navigates friendship groups, social awkwardness and boys in this sharp coming of age drama.

This film is free to watch on BFI Player from 4 to 15 October – find out more

  • Director

    Yero Timi-Biu

  • Screenwriter

    Busayo Ige

  • UK 2023. 15min

  • Language

    English

All the Lights Still Burning

A classical violinist and a drug dealer connect in a queer love story set on the streets of Bradford.

  • Director

    Dominic Leclerc

  • Screenwriter

    Kamal Kaan

  • UK 2023. 15min

  • Language

    English, Urdu
    With English subtitles

The Scottish Play

A filmmaker investigates the truth behind the legend of a notoriously disastrous amateur production of Macbeth.

  • Director

    James Soldan

  • UK 2022. 13min

  • Language

    English

Festival of Slaps

A Nigerian mother slaps her son so hard his life flashes before his eyes, in this humorous dissection of cultural stereotypes.

  • Director-Screenwriter

    Abdou Cissé

  • UK 2023. 12min

  • Language

    English

Only Yourself to Blame

A feminist body horror in which a walk home alone at night brings back traumatic memories of assault and survival.

This film is free to watch on BFI Player from 4 to 15 October – find out more

  • Director

    Noomi Yates

  • UK 2023. 9min

  • Language

    English

Smoking Dolphins

Tall tales from Brexit Britain run riot in this deadpan pool hall comedy.

  • Director

    Sean Lyons

  • Screenwriter

    James Powdrill, Sean Lyons

  • UK 2022. 7min

  • Language

    English

The Singer

An unlikely creative partnership is formed between a young deaf man and an embittered busker on the streets of Edinburgh.

This film is free to watch on BFI Player from 4 to 15 October – find out more

  • Director

    Cora Bissett

  • Screenwriter

    Cora Bissett, Jamie Rea

  • UK 2023. 19min

  • Language

    English

How to book

Tickets start from £10 for all screenings and events in London, with concessions available for many screenings. Booking information and ticket prices

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