Short Films

Annabelle Derham

What is a short film?

A short film is like any other film just typically under 40 minutes. Like normal

films they have a beginning, a middle and an end and have a linear or non-linear

narrative and can be of any genre.

What are short films associated with?

Short films are generally low budget and some are even made my amateur film makers, in my case it is for course work but they are also used before some feature length films by companies such as Pixar on films like Monsters Inc, here is award winning Pixar short film which was played at the beginning of Monsters Inc in cinemas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cers3vJcos

The History of Short Films

Short films have been around since as early as 1920, they were 5-10 minute long films which were played before the feature length films, many of these were of the comedy genre as it appealed to a wide audience. Unfortunately by the 1950’s short films had seemed to loose their appeal and were becoming less frequently seen in cinemas.

Here is a short film from 1938 when short films were still popular; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ43UC5tIOY

Short films in the current industry.

Short films are no longer as popular as they were in the 1920’s-1950’s if they appear in the cinema they are

usually by the big American companies and animations rather than people. However there are now a lot more

outside interest for short films, there are a lot of short film festivals are held every year. The most common ones are; London Short Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film

Festival along with websites such as BBC and C4 who have specific areas on their pages for up and coming film

makers of short films.

Short films in the current industry.

Short films are no longer as popular as they were in the 1920’s-1950’s if they appear in the cinema they are

usually by the big American companies and animations rather than people. However there are now a lot more

outside interest for short films, there are a lot of short film festivals are held every year. The most common ones are; London Short Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film

Festival along with websites such as BBC and C4 who have specific areas on their pages for up and coming film

makers of short films.