Lancaster’s longest running film festival, LA1 Shorts, celebrates its tenth birthday this May.
Since 2016, LA1 Shorts has been screening short films from Lancashire and across the UK at The Dukes cinema in Lancaster – and it’s still going strong with exciting ambitions for the future.
Well known as a strong supporter of Lancashire and North West filmmakers, this friendly film festival, which takes place on May 30, has steadily grown since its inception but has never lost sight of its roots.
The not-for-profit event always looks to promote Lancaster and Lancashire film makers, providing a launch pad for many who have moved on to professional careers in film, theatre, and the arts.
“We believe in supporting local film and creative talent in the North West and host our screenings with a warm and friendly, community orientated feel,” said Steve Fairclough, one of the founders who has also written, produced and acted in many short and community films himself.
“Over ten years, LA1 Shorts has screened 139 short films with more than 980 minutes of screen time and we aim to be bigger and better in the future.”
This year’s festival features 11 short films in two categories: Lancashire Audience Choice, where the audience vote for their favourite film on the night, and National Best Film, selected by a professional panel.
Past entries have included animations, black and white films, documentaries and films without dialogue. Some have even featured famous faces, including Julie Hesmondalgh and Maxine Peake.
Back in 2016, the first ever LA1 Shorts winner, Izzy Pye, used her award winning film as a kickstart to her career and graduated from Manchester Film School in 2020 with a first class degree.
Many filmmakers who’ve taken part in the festival over the years have found it a useful networking opportunity and a chance to share ideas and tricks of the trade.
“I’d like to think we have a good local following now, a trusted relationship with colleagues and filmmakers, and our audience knows we bring a quality event,” said Steve.
Collaboration is one of the keys to LA1 Shorts success thanks to The Dukes which has hosted the festival over the past decade and Atkinsons Coffee Roasters which has supported it from the start. Lancaster Film Initiative, the Health Innovation Centre team at Lancaster University, The Whale Tail, Forty Five Records, Northern Heart Films, and many other individuals have helped, supported and joined LA1 Shorts over the past ten years.
The festival has also been a part of many other special events around the region this year including joining the long running Keswick Film Festival as one of its Fringe events.
Later this year, LA1 Shorts will also screen health and wellbeing documentaries at Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus, a productive collaboration which has developed over past years where filmmakers meet academic researchers for question and answer sessions and their films are screened to a targeted audience.
Tickets for the 10th anniversary LA1 Shorts Festival at The Dukes on 30th May 2026 at 7.00pm are priced £7 and can be booked by phone on 01524 598500 or at https://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/cinema/la1-shorts-2026