Sunderland Shorts Review Group

The Sunderland Shorts Review Group is running at Culture House Sunderland this autumn and winter, with sessions every Wednesday from 11 November to 16 December. It's a series of screenings and discussions held in the Media Studio, and the whole thing is built around short films that haven't yet made it to the big screen.

The format is straightforward: you watch a selection of shorts, talk about them with the other people in the room, and then review what you've seen. The films are all heading towards the 2027 Sunderland Shorts Film Festival, so you're seeing them well before they reach the festival programme. It's a chance to discover new filmmakers and have your say on the work before it's officially lined up.

That's where the review part comes in. The group is invited to share their thoughts and help shape the next festival programme, so your reactions actually feed into what ends up being screened in 2027. It's not just about sitting back and watching; it's about talking through the films and contributing to the process. The sessions are aimed at ages 18 and over.

There are six sessions in total, all on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00pm to 6:00pm: 11, 18 and 25 November, then 2, 9 and 16 December. They're free to attend, though booking is advised. You can catch them at Culture House Sunderland, in the Media Studio.