Forty films in a day at Short Sighted Cinema on 18 June

Shorts weather: a captive audience at last summer's event. Photograph: Luke Blackett

Shorts weather: a captive audience at last summer’s event. Photograph: Luke Blackett

On 18 June, the sun will rise at the earliest time of the year, ahead of the actual shortest night three days afterwards. In solidarity with all things temporally short, the 18th will also bring Short Sighted Cinema, a full day celebrating everything short film.

The event will run from 11.30am till late at The Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick, and the jam packed cinematic schedule’s joins street food stalls and networking sessions for filmmakers on the day’s agenda.

Screenings are separated into six strands, all lasting around an hour. Outlands is up first, with films exploring distant discoveries; then Import/Export brings narratives that feature global citizens being used as pawns on the world stage (ring any bells?)

Winging It hosts some uplifting films about quote-unquote ordinary people, followed by the more serious themes of In Tongues (films about language and alienation) and Thou Shalt Not Kill (an action, thriller and sci-fi session.)

The evening closes with Eek! – a selection of thrillers and horror shorts that have twisted, comedic overtones in common.

Tickets are £6 in advance for one of the six individual programmes, or £30 for a day pass.

bit.ly/ShortestNights17