The Edinburgh International University Film Festival (EIUFF) 2025 took place between the 31st of May and the 2nd of June. EIUFF is a student film festival. Find them @edi.iuff on Instagram.
The category “The Shape Love Takes” from the Edinburgh Student Film Festival is a selection of beautiful, amateur-made movies from students and young people around the world. This year, four films were selected, each exploring human and romantic connections, not just between people, but also in their manifestations, creations, and the invisible threads that bind us.
The first film presented at the Scottish Storytelling Centre was Count My Lov3, a Polish short written and directed by Ewa Japola, a student at the Polish National Film School in Łódź. Her film is powerful, depicting the logic of a woman obsessed with numbers. “Numbers don’t lie.” She finds herself constantly quantifying the people she meets, adding their shoe size to their height to determine whether the final number adds up to a positive or negative feeling. She seems willing to sacrifice major relationships in pursuit of what she believes to be the truth. The film cleverly balances emotional sincerity with a touch of absurdity, grounding her obsession in a very human way of functioning, whose foolishness resonates with a lot of us.
The second film, Ouija Marry Me? by Grace Stromatt from the US, is a lighthearted short showing one very specific moment between a woman and her paranormal, slightly frightening lover. Despite its very short runtime of just two minutes, it left a strong impression in the room, particularly due to Stromatt’s striking cinematography. The compact, witty script, remarkable music, and carefully curated colour palette made this one of my personal favourites from the selection.
The third film presented was Dog Days Are Over, written and directed by Kinga Pudetek from Poland. It explores the emotional aftermath of a young woman’s breakup, centring around her elderly neighbour and the recently deceased dog that connects their lives. The story unfolds almost like a quiet mystery, with subtle revelations that highlight details of her past relationship. The cinematography, lighting, and acting are particularly noteworthy, showcasing a clear artistic vision and impressive emotional depth from the director.
Finally, the last film presented in this category was Cowboy by Luca Kerr from the UK. It portrays the difficulties of queerness and the search for acceptance in broader society. In Luca’s world, cowboys became outlaws of sexuality, standing in for all those who don’t fit into a cisgender mould. The film explores the dynamics of romantic relationships and the challenges of being truly seen by another person. The club scenes are visually stunning, and the story itself is an impactful metaphor, especially resonant during Pride Month!
Image provided by the Edinburgh International University Film Festival.