What a night to close out the year! The final Bar Shorts event sent off the season in style, bringing together an packed crowd of film lovers, animators, and industry folks for an unforgettable evening of short-form cinema.
If you weren’t able to grab a ticket (or if you were there and have been trying to track down that one incredible film you fell in love with), we’ve got you covered. Here is a look back at the evening, a bit of context on our brilliant guest curators, and the full running order from the night.
The Hosts & The Curation Crew
Bar Shorts has always been dedicated to celebrating short film and animation in a relaxed, communal atmosphere—bringing ground-breaking shorts out of traditional cinema bubbles and straight into vibrant social spaces. For our final screening of the year, we had the privilege of handing over the reins to two powerhouse talents in UK animation and production: Darren Walsh and Russell McLean.
Darren Walsh: A BAFTA-nominated and award-winning director, animator, and voice artist. Known for his mastery across stop-motion, 3D, and CG, Darren has directed iconic characters, commercials, and cult-favorite animated projects. His signature blend of sharp character direction and comedic timing made his selections an absolute treat to watch. Russell McLean: An Emmy- and BAFTA-winning producer known for pushing the boundaries of live-action, VFX, and interactive storytelling. From high-profile series like Black Mirror (including the interactive landmark Bandersnatch) to innovative animated ventures like Cat Burglar, Russell brings a keen producer’s eye for world-building and narrative ingenuity.
Together, Darren and Russell put together a hand-picked lineup featuring a mix of their own celebrated work alongside the seminal short films that have inspired, challenged, and shaped their creative journeys over the years.
Last Night’s Running Order
Lots of you have been asking for the full list of titles screened during the session. Here is the official running order from the night:
Bar Shorts Running Order
- Angry Kid – Interstitial Countdown – Dir. Darren Walsh (Short interstitial / countdown clip)
- Oozat – Dir. Darren Walsh (1992) (Duration: 05:33)
- Fresh Guacamole – Dir. PES (2012) (Duration: 01:40)
- Rabbit – Dir. Run Wrake (2005) (Duration: 08:41)
- Sony Bravia “Play-Doh” – Dir. Darren Walsh & Frank Budgen (2007) (Duration: 01:00)
- Techno Dawn by The Pod – Dir. Julian Barratt and Tim Hope (2000) (Music Video) (Duration: 02:06)
- Ident – Dir. Richard Starzak (1990 / NFTS) (Duration: 04:52)
- This Time Around – Dir. Jane Arron (1989) (Duration: 05:00)
- Emiliana Torrini “Heartstopper” – Dir. David Lea (Prod. Russell McLean) (2005) (Duration: 03:13)
- Dreams and Desires: Family Ties – Dir. Joanna Quinn (2006) (Duration: 09:49)
- Tennents “Pintlings” – Dir. Darren Walsh (Commercial) (Duration: 01:00)
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Feature Clip) – Dir. Tim Burton (Co-Producer / VFX Exec Producer: Russell McLean, Animation: Darren Walsh) (2016) (Duration: 01:18)
- Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (“Netflix Path” Clip) – Dir. David Slade (Prod. Russell McLean) (2018) (Duration: 05:55)
- Deadsy – Dir. David Anderson (1990) (Duration: 05:16)
- Baaa – Dir. Cyriak Harris (2011) (Duration: 01:19)
- Big Jeff “Bushcraft Alphabet” – Dir. Tom Parkinson (2006) (Duration: 01:51)
- Compare The Market Set Tour – Dir Darren Walsh (Duration: 00:57)
- Dog Judo “Social Media” – Dir. Andrew Kelleher / Dog & Rabbit Studio (2026) (Duration: 06:04)
- London Cross Sections – Dir. Tim Hope (2026) (Duration: 02:50)
- Angry Kid – “Perfect Body” – Dir. Darren Walsh (1999) (Duration: 01:09)
- Angry Kid – “Backward Writing” – Dir. Darren Walsh (1999) (Duration: 01:22)
- Angry Kid – “Curious” – Dir. Darren Walsh (1999) (Duration: 01:22)
- Bunny Tennis – Dir. Darren Walsh (Short Micro-Anim) (Duration: 00:14)
First up, Bar Shorts is returning in 2027! We’re putting together a stellar lineup featuring some truly great guest speakers and creators. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming announcements—you won’t want to miss who we’re bringing to the stage.
Before that, Chris is hitting the road for Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival in Harrogate on November 14th & 15th!
He’ll be selling his graphic novel, Anfield Road. If you’re attending the festival, make sure to stop by and say hello:
- Location: Travelling Man Hall
- Table: B44
- When: Saturday & Sunday, Nov 14–15
Chris will be set up alongside a room packed with incredible comic talent, making it the perfect spot to pick up a signed copy of Anfield Road, chat about the new book, or just talk shop.
Can’t make it to Harrogate in person? Don’t worry—you don’t have to miss out! You can order your copy of Anfield Road online right here: Click this link.
Come by Table B44—or grab a copy online—and join in on the celebration!
