Osprey Short Film Awards 2025

Saturday 8th March 2pm, Theatre By The Lake
FREE ENTRY

What are the Ospreys?

Each year at the festival we celebrate local film making by showing a selection of short films. A panel of judges select the very best of these films and reward the talented film makers the prestigious Osprey awards. At the screening the audience also vote for their favourite film to win the Audience Award.

“I feel it's very important for those of us who are established in films to make sure that we put ourselves out to encourage the next link in the chain. It's not difficult to put oneself out and it was greatly enjoyable watching their films and sharing their pleasure at the awards.”
John Hurt, 2012

Official Selection 2025

This year 12 films have been selected to show at the Festival and the judges will be selecting winners in the Student Category for students and filmmakers under 18 and the Open Category for everybody else. The audience will also be able to vote for their favourite film to win the Audience Award.

The final running order is still to be confirmed.

Disconnected
Scarlet Media (5 min 43 secs) Student

Contains strong language and disturbing imagery

Serena escapes into her imagination to avoid the harsh realities of bullying and abuse, but soon finds herself trapped in a psychological nightmare. A raw and visually striking short filmed around Carlisle and the Solway Coast.

For Both Are Infinite
Jack Berry (3 mins) Open

A 3-minute experimental take on the traditional Romeo and Juliet story that serves as retelling of and a sequel to the classic Shakespeare romantic tragedy. The short was filmed entirely in Cumbria with a cast and crew made up of people who are either from or reside in Cumbria.

House Martins in the Duddon Valley
Neil Emery (2 mins 38 secs) Open

A peaceful and immersive glimpse into the lives of house martins feeding their young in the picturesque Duddon Valley.

It Gets Better
Asa Pegler (8 mins 38 secs) Student

Contains themes around suicide, sexual abuse and violence that may be triggering for some people

'It Gets Better'; is a short film highlighting the struggles young trans people go through in and around the U.K, including grooming/sexual abuse, bullying, drug abuse and sexualisation. Written, directed, and produced by Asa Pegler, a trans queer filmmaker from Cockermouth, It Gets Better is deeply inspired by his own experiences and those of other trans and queer individuals he grew up with in Cumbria.

Lay-by
Stuart Armstrong (5 mins) Open

Barry, a married middle-aged man whos stuck in the closet, seeks connection in a rural gay hookup. For first-time queer director Stuart Armstrong, Lay-by is a darkly comedic personal reflection on returning to his native Cumbria. It captures the humour and loneliness of seeking connection in a landscape where being openly gay can still feel challenging.

One Of Thirteen
Matthew Cooper (3 mins 33 secs) Open

One of Thirteen is a short film to announce the starting of a multi-year project set in the Lake District by Artist Kane Cunningham. It documents his journey through the first trip to the National Park and his connection to the art and landscape.

Talk To Frank
Summit Fever Media (5 mins 25 secs) Open

Through the eyes of Frank, a cocker spaniel, we follow his owner Maleek's journey from post-prison depression to mountain-running redemption. Produced by Summit Fever Media, a Kendal-based production company specializing in outdoor adventure films, Talk to Frank is a powerful story of resilience, healing, and the transformative power of nature.

The Beckoning Tarn
Stephen Kent Hunsaker Jr and John Barlow (8 mins 38 secs) Open

A chilling supernatural tale set in 1969, following a man's eerie ascent of a Cumbrian fell as he's drawn into a mystical and unsettling realm. Inspired by local folklore, this visually stunning short was shot in the remote Haweswater area on a 1970s 16mm film camera. Dialogue was recorded separately at Linden Studio just outside Tebay. Hand painted title art and an original musical score complete the short, which is presented in widescreen cinemascope format.

The Kilman Criterion
Andrew Carswell (2 mins 11 secs) Student

The ruthless Mr Kilman faces a choice between salvation and eternal purgatory in this fast-paced, visually striking short shot and produced in Carlisle.

The Spirit of the Season
Katie Laidlow (2 mins 12 secs) Student

A film celebrating the ordinary yet beautiful landscape surrounding director, writer and producer Katie Laidlow's family farm which is nestled in the green-washed Eden Valley. Entwined with the spiritual words of Wordsworth it reflects the relationship between humans and our homeland.

Travelling Home
Juliet Klottrup (5 mins) Open

Documentary following Joe Cannon Snr a retired farrier and traveller making his annual journey to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria. A rare and intimate glimpse into traveller heritage and tradition by writer and director Juliet Klottrup.

Within
Nicholas Andrew Elliot and Tracey Walker (8 mins 52 secs) Open

A young girl confronts her deepest fears when an old wardrobe in her bedroom appears to be occupied. A tense and atmospheric horror story directed, written and produced by husband-and-wife duo Nicholas Andrew Elliot and Tracey Walker. Shot in Cumbria featuring a Cumbrian cast and crew.

Filmmakers Network

As well as showcasing great short films we also hope the Ospreys will provide opportunities for film makers to meet each other and possibly collaborate on future projects. We have created a group on Facebook called the Osprey Filmmakers Network which we invite you to join if you have entered a film in the past of are thinking of doing so in the future, or perhaps you'd like to get involved in some other way.

Osprey Filmmakers Network: http://bit.ly/OspreysNet

Partners & Sponsors

The Osprey Short Film Awards at Keswick Film Festival proudly accepts entries via FilmFreeway.com, the world's best online submission platform. FilmFreeway offers free HD online screeners, unlimited video storage, digital press kits, and more.

If you'd like to sponsor the Osprey Short Film Awards or supply any prizes then please contact us.

Keswick Film Festival is supported by Film Hub North with National Lottery funding on behalf of the BFI Film Audience Network.



Film Hub North
BFI Film Audience Network

All programme and film details are correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.