About
Founded in 2023, the London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival is an independent short film festival, created by filmmakers for filmmakers, dedicated to discovering, showcasing and supporting emerging filmmaking talent from the UK and around the world. Through the years, the festival has seen a sustained growth in participation from filmmakers. From its humble beginnings of a single afternoon event in 2023, the festival has evolved to a two day-long event in 2026 featuring four blocks of screenings, multiple industry talks, pitching exercises and networking nights.
We are committed to keep expanding the festival in the coming years with a strong focus on creating meaningful opportunities for emerging filmmakers.
Our Mission
The success of the London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival is measured not only by the films screened, but above all by the opportunities we create for filmmakers and the lasting impact we have on their careers.
The London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival exists to discover, champion and connect emerging filmmakers through a festival experience that celebrates exceptional short-form storytelling and creates relevant opportunities for filmmakers to learn and develop their careers. We believe that short films are a vital part of the creative ecosystem, providing a platform for new voices, innovative ideas and artistic experimentation. Through carefully curated screenings, industry events, networking opportunities and filmmaker-focused initiatives, the festival seeks to provide a space where filmmakers can showcase their work, engage with audiences and build lasting professional relationships.
Our Vision
Our vision is to establish the London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival as one of the United Kingdom’s leading platforms for emerging filmmaking talent in short films, recognised for the quality of its programming, the integrity of its selection process and its commitment to supporting the next generation of filmmakers from all backgrounds.
We aim to create a festival that filmmakers trust, audiences value and industry professionals respect. We want to participate in developing the short film form as something not only watched by filmmakers, but by a wide array of audiences.
Our Values
Excellence — We champion ambitious, original filmmaking and strive for the highest standards across every aspect of the festival.
Fairness and Integrity — We ensure every film is considered fairly through a consistent and independent selection process.
Emerging Talent — We provide a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work, develop their careers and connect with the industry.
Diversity and Inclusion — We celebrate diverse voices, perspectives and experiences both on screen and across the festival.
Accessibility — We work to make the festival welcoming and accessible to filmmakers and audiences from all backgrounds. ]
Community — We create opportunities for filmmakers, audiences and industry professionals to meet, connect and build lasting relationships.
Professional Development — We support filmmakers beyond the screen through industry talks, networking and career-focused opportunities.
Continuous Improvement — We listen to our community and continually evolve the festival to deliver a better experience each year.
Meet The Festival Directors
Anouk Witkowska Hiffler
Festival Director
Anouk Witkowska Hiffler is a French-German filmmaker from Paris based in London. She graduated from the University of Westminster Film BA in 2023. She writes, directs and produces comedy. Born in a queer family, she is interested in queer and womxn-led narratives and characters. Her last short films Bi-Nocular Panic and The Mystery of the Missing Sock were selected at BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festivals including London Short Film Festival.
Tomás Felício Oliveira
Festival Director
Tomás Felício Oliveira is a London based Portuguese film and commercial director. Tomás studied at the António Arroio Art School in Lisbon and at the University of Westminster in London. In 2024 Tomás received a British Young Arrow Award for directing the commercial ‘Spotify Surround’. The same project was also shortlisted for a Cannes Future Lion and nominated for a Shiny Award. Alongside his directing work, Tomás is a junior creative at Neverland and co-founder of the London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival.
