National Short Film Day

While the public has often become accustomed to viewing a film in a theater that lasts for an hour or two, short films defy expectations and bring about all sorts of unique opportunities that feature films can’t compete with.

Often more artistically motivated, short films may be more aesthetically appealing and they often tell their stories in a much more subtle and creative way. Film lovers, artists, and storytellers alike can get involved with and enjoy National Short Film Day! 

History of National Short Film Day

National Short Film Day was founded several years ago in 2019, through the efforts of an organization called the Film Movement.

The event is scheduled to be celebrated on this day as it is the anniversary of the ‘birth’ of the motion picture industry, December 28, 1895. This was the day that the Lumiere brothers, two French filmmakers, first charged admission for the public to see ten of their short films, lasting less than one minute each! 

Since that time, short films have continued to captivate audiences around the world, playing into culture and revealing unique artistic expressions.

National Short Film Day is here to promote public awareness about short films while encouraging those in the industry to celebrate this unique form of media art. 

How to Celebrate National Short Film Day

Spend 20-30 minutes watching a film that just might stick with you for a very long time! It’s time to celebrate National Short Film Day with some of these ideas:

View A Short Film

Unlike feature-length films, short films are less weighed down by the financial constraints of telling a story at length.

In short film, the filmmakers are often afforded much more artistic freedom, meaning that they have more opportunities to be creative, telling their story uniquely and unexpectedly. Get started with a few of the short films on this list: 

• The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by Wes Anderson
• The Long Goodbye by Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed

Make a Short Film

Since most everyone has a gadget at their fingertips that can take video footage, perhaps National Short Film Day would be just the time to get inspired to make your own short film!

Write a script, plan out some scenes, invite some friends to portray the characters (if needed) and then shoot the film. This could be a great project to bring a group of artistic friends together! 

Host a Short Film Gathering with Friends

The beauty of a short film is that a group of friends or family members can watch one together, and then have time to discuss it afterwards.

In fact, many short films leave a lot of questions, which is an element that can bring a delightful set of interesting conversations and insights during a cocktail party or over dinner with the family.