Why are there short films?

Short films began in America in the 1910s and it was when most feature films began to become longer in length. In the early days, these were often comedy films, although some were factual films. Animated cartoons and newsreels also became more popular. After 1930s, short films became less popular and fewer short films were made. By the 1950s, the rise of television meant that the only short films still being made were cartoons featuring well known characters, By the end of 1960s, the rise in inflation meant that short films were too expensive to be made and disappeared. Short films began to rise in popularity again in the 1980s.

Short films are originally referred to films that were approximately 20 to 40 minutes in length, these days, it is more likely to be referring to a film that lasts anything between 2 to 15 minutes. Modern short films often focus on difficult topics which longer, more commercial films usually avoid. Filmmakers benefit from larger freedoms and can take higher risks, but they must rely on festival and art house exhibition to achieve public display. The short films can allow the directors to experiment with technicalities that they wouldn’t be able to do in a full feature film, this is down to the commitment levels .The short films allow directors, to experiment with sounds, narrative, cinematography and different editing techniques.

Short filmmaking is also growing in popularity among amateurs and enthusiasts, who are taking advantage of affordable equipment. Video sharing websites such as YouTube, are providing easy and free ways for people to showcase their films for everyone to see. There are also Short Film Festivals such as the BFI Film Festival, give amateur film-makers the opportunity to showcase their craft. On one hand, film-makers are able to gain experience, knowledge and recognition, whilst on the other hand, the industry profit from the annual events.

Many short films, have a meaning behind the narrative and this is the aim of the directors to convey their thoughts and opinions towards the audience, causing them to engage with the film. Also, they can be used to convey a strong emotion to the audience whether it be anger, sadness or laughter. Moreover, directors of short films sometimes incorporate controversial story-lines which spark debate amongst some viewers.