Definition of a Short Film

A short film a film that is not long enough to be considered 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 minuets or less, including all credits”. Short films can be professional or amateur productions. Short films are often screened at local, national, or international film festivals and can also be shown as part of a presentation along with a feature film.

Short films are often made by independent filmmakers for non-profit, either with a low budget or no budget at all. These films are also often used by indie filmmakers to prove their talent in order to gain funding for future films from private investors, entertainment companies, or film studios.