The very best works of art push boundaries. They dare us to think about the world in which we live. They challenge our traditional views. They show us that there are more things in heaven and Earth.

The shorts in the Rebels With A Cause programme embody these ideals with their bold and provocative techniques. But while these films often revel in the surrealistic, it is perhaps appropriate – in a time in which the real world often seems to be nonsensical – that they deal with many important and pressing issues of the day such as sexuality, BLM, gender and politics.

These films will take part in Rebels With A Cause, a competition section of the Black Nights Film Festival dedicated to films that defy the traditional modes of filmmaking. The selection provides a mixture of new filmmakers who will lead the way in cinema over the coming years and more established talents.

Each short will be eligible for the honorific prize of Best Rebels Short chosen by the Rebels With A Cause jury members.