Elephant nominated for best short film

Nick Helm's short film Elephant has been nominated for a Bafta.

In the ten-minute romantic comedy-drama, commissioned for the BBC's Funny Valentines slot earlier this year, Helm plays a young man wiling away a skint afternoon walking around the backstreets of Brighton with his best friend.

He also directed the film, and wrote it with his co-star Esther Smith. Producer Alex Moody has also been cited in the Bafta nomination for British short film.

Also shortlisted in the same category are Mining Poems Or Odes, from Callum Rice and Jack Cocker; Operator from Caroline Bartleet and Rebecca Morgan; Over from Jörn Threlfall and Jeremy Bannister; and Samuel-613 from Billy Lumby and Cheyenne Conway.

The nominees were announced this morning by Stephen Fry, who will be hosting the event later this year, and actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw

In what might prove a positive omen, the winners will be announced on Valentine's Day.

On hearing the news, Helm tweeted: 'Wow. Mine and @esthervonsmith's short has been nominated for a BAFTA. Well done to all involved.'

Click here to watch the film and here to read Chortle's original review.

Published: 8 Jan 2016