Short of the Week
Although short film is our focus here on S/W, we still have a deep-rooted love for the world of features, especially when those films are created by filmmakers previous featured on our site. In the latest in our Watchlist series – it’s been over five months since our last one – we’re introducing nine features to add to your own lists. From Sundance-winners to reinventing Shakespeare, these new works from S/W alums are more proof that short film is the perfect place to start your filmmaking career.
80 For Brady by Kyle Marvin
Producer, star and writer of 2018 Sundance short The Climb, Marvin takes on the role director for this feature about a group of friends who make it their life-long mission to go to the Super Bowl and meet NFL superstar Tom Brady. Released in U.S. cinemas earlier this year, the film is now available to watch on Paramount+ from today (April 4th) in the States and currently in cinemas in the UK.
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A Thousand and One by A.V. Rockwell
After winning the Grand Jury Prize (U.S. Dramatic) at this year’s Sundance, A.V. Rockwell’s (Feathers) acclaimed debut feature A Thousand and One is now available to watch at U.S. cinemas. This tale of a fierce and unapologetic mother who kidnaps her son from foster care is set for a larger release this month, with a UK release on April 21st
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Bruiser by Miles Warren
With his short (of the same name) impressing on the festival circuit back in 2021, it didn’t take long for Warren to make the jump to the world of feature filmmaking. Expanding that original narrative about father, sons and masculinity into a 97-minute feature, Bruiser is now available to stream on various services, depending where you live.
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Joyland by Saim Sadiq
Another festival favorite that went on to get feature adaptation, with his 2019 short Darling introducing viewers to an erotic dance theatre in Lahore, Sadiq returns to a similar world with his debut feature Joyland. The story of a young man who takes a job as a backup dancer in a burlesque show, only to become infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman who runs the show, this Cannes-winning feature is now available to stream in the UK
Stream in the UK | Coming to U.S. cinemas soon
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Juniper by Matthew J Saville
Having impressed the team at Short of the Week back in 2017 with his surreal short Dive, Saville’s debut feature sees Charlotte Rampling play a feisty alcoholic grandmother who becomes reliant on her self-destructive teenage grandson. Juniper looks an emotional watch and a lot less strange from the director’s previous short. If you fancy checking it out, it’s available to stream in most countries worldwide.
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Rosaline by Karen Maine
Having first come to our attention with brilliant 2017 short Yes, God, Yes, which went on to get a feature adaptation of its own, Maine is back with her 2nd feature Rosaline. A comedic reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, from the perspective of Romeo’s jilted ex, Rosaline, the film is available to stream in various different countries worldwide.
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The Pope’s Exorcist by Julian Avery
Somewhat of a regular in our Watchlist round-ups, Avery (Jerrycan) follows-up his Sylvester Stallone superhero vehicle Samaritan with a feature inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican. With Russell Crow in the titular lead role, the audience follows his journey as he investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy. Avery’s latest feature is in U.S. cinemas now and available in further countries from Friday
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Unicorn Wars by Alberto Vázquez
It feels like we’ve been discussing Vázquez (Birdboy, Decorado) much-hyped feature for years now, so for those who have been awaiting its release as eagerly as us here at S/W, you’ll be excited to know the film is now available to stream in the US and other select regions. So if you finally want to see what a group of war-hungry teddy bears fighting an army of unicorns looks like, here’s your chance.
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Wyrm by Christopher Winterbauer
News of the feature adaptation of Winterbauer’s 2017 short, of the same name, may have originally passed us by, but now we know it exists, we’re excited to see it. With a limited theatrical runs in the U.S. last year, this story of a young boy struggling to complete a unique school requirement in which students wear electronic collars that detach only upon engaging in their first kiss, is now available to stream in the U.S. and other select regions.