This week sees the 2nd week of the London Short Film Festival 2014. The annual event, now in its 11th year, runs from 10 – 19 January at venues across the capital, including the BFI, Curzon Soho, ICA and Hackney Picturehouse. The festival celebrates the best in short film-making, giving a platform to rising talent.

On Sunday 19th January – the final day of this year’s festival – Hackney Picturehouse is screening a collection of shorts films during their New Shorts: A Winter’s Matinee of Romantic Films event. One of the films being shown is Catch, directed by Londoners Matthew Markham (@mmmarkham) and Jennifer Sheridan (@boatstring) . The three-minute film is an original script by Markham and was filmed on location in Loch Na Droma Buidhe and Drimnin, Scotland, in October 2012. Ahead of Sunday’s screening, Markham and Sheridan spoke to Metro Girl about the making of the film.

Q: Where did the idea for Catch come from?

A: We were inspired by the location and the untamed beauty of Scotland. Matthew wanted a concept which could utilise that stunning location. In such a quiet piece of the world, the subject of loneliness and solitude came up with its pros and cons. The appeal of loneliness in terms of seeking peace and quiet, but also the negative aspects of lacking support or company. Our lead is a fisherman, who lives in such an environment where he would find it impossible to find a mate. A surreal turn of events in Catch provides a surprising introduction with a potential soulmate. We actually got engaged a week before we filmed it, which was a lovely prelude to shooting a romantic-themed film.

Q: What was the biggest challenge during shooting on the movie?

A: Working in a tidal environment was incredibly challenging as the tideline kept changing. We had to keep lowering the camera to keep to the waterline. We ended up having to anchor the boat because it kept moving. Trying to sustain continuity while working with water is really tough. There was the added stress of trying to protect the expensive camera equipment from the water.

Q: What’s the message of the film?

A: There’s plenty more fish in the sea. Expect the unexpected. Love comes along when you least expect it.

• Catch is being screened during the ‘New Shorts: A Winter’s Matinee of Romantic Films’ collection of short films during the London Short Film Festival on Sunday 19th January at 1pm at the Hackney Picturehouse. Tickets: £7.50. Click here to buy tickets.
• For more information on the London Short Film Festival, visit the official website.

For a list of what else is on in London in January 2014, click here.

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