Short film

The term "short film" refers to any motion picture with a running duration that is not long enough to be called a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all credits".^[1] Short films were usually referred to as short subjects in the United States from the 1920s through the 1970s when they were restricted to two 35mm reels or fewer, and featurettes for films that were three or four reels or more. Both terms may be abbreviated using the word "short."

The increasingly uncommon industry phrase "short subject" implies that the film would be screened as part of a presentation alongside a feature picture rather than as a stand-alone presentation. Short films are often shown at local, national, and worldwide film festivals, and they are typically produced by independent filmmakers on a shoestring budget or with no budget whatsoever. Their funding is often provided through film grants, charitable groups, sponsors, or individual contributions. It is common practise to utilise short films to get industry experience and to display talent in order to obtain financing for longer-term projects from private investors, a production firm, or film studios. It is possible for them to be released in conjunction with feature films and for them to be included as extra features on certain home video versions.

References[edit]