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{{short description|Any film not long enough to be considered a feature film}}
{{redirect|Short Subject|the underground anti-war film|Mickey Mouse in Vietnam}}

A '''short film''' is any [[motion picture]] that is short enough in running time not 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 minutes or less, including all credits".<ref>{{cite web|title= Rule Nineteen: Short Film's Awards|publisher= [[AMPAS]]|url= http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/rules/rule19.html|access-date=2011-03-31}}</ref> In the United States, short films were generally termed '''short subjects''' from the 1920s into the 1970s when confined to two 35 mm reels or less, and [[featurette]]s for a film of three or four reels. "'''Short'''" was an abbreviation for either term.
[[File:GeraldineChaplin&SalahZulfikar.jpg|thumb|[[Geraldine Chaplin]] and [[Salah Zulfikar]] in ''[[Nefertiti y Aquenatos|Nefertiti and Akhenaten]]'', a short film released in [[1973 in film|1973]]]]
The increasingly rare industry term "short subject" carries more of an assumption that the film is shown as part of a presentation along with a feature film. Short films are often screened at local, national, or international [[film festival]]s and made by independent [[filmmaker]]s with either a [[low-budget film|low budget]] or [[no-budget film|no budget]] at all. They are usually funded by film grants, [[nonprofit organizations]], [[Sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]], or personal funds. Short films are generally used for industry experience and as a platform to showcase talent to secure [[film budgeting|funding]] for future projects from private investors, a [[production company]], or [[film studio]]s. They can also be released with feature films, and can also be included as bonus features on some home video releases.

==History==
[[File:William Garwood.jpg|thumb|right|[[William Garwood]] starred in numerous short films, many of which were 20 minutes in length]]
{{unreferenced-section|date=July 2018}}
[[History of film|All films in the beginning of cinema were very short]], sometimes running only a minute or less. It was not until the 1910s when films started to get longer than about ten minutes. The first set of films were presented in 1894 and it was through [[Thomas Edison]]'s device called a [[kinetoscope]]. It was made for individual viewing only. Comedy short films were produced in large numbers compared to lengthy features such as [[D. W. Griffith]]'s 1915 ''[[The Birth of a Nation]]''.{{Citation needed|reason=Historical source?|date=July 2018}} By the 1920s, a ticket purchased a varied program including a feature and several supporting works from categories such as [[second feature]], short comedy, 4–11 minute cartoon, [[travel documentary|travelogue]], and newsreel.

Short comedies were especially common, and typically came in a [[Serial (film)|serial]] or [[film series|series]] (such as the ''[[Our Gang]]'' movies, or the many outings of [[Charlie Chaplin]]'s Little Tramp character).

[[Animated cartoon]]s came principally as short subjects. Virtually all major film production companies had units assigned to develop and produce shorts, and many companies, especially in the [[silent film|silent]] and very early sound era, produced mostly or only short subjects.

In the 1930s, the distribution system changed in many countries, owing to the [[Great Depression]]. Instead of the cinema owner assembling a program of their own choice, the studios sold a package centered on a main and supporting feature, a cartoon and little else. With the rise of the [[double feature]], two-[[film reel|reel]] shorts went into decline as a commercial category. [[Hal Roach]], for example, moved Laurel and Hardy full-time into feature films after 1935, and halved his popular ''[[Our Gang]]'' films to one reel. By the 1940s, he had moved out of short films altogether (though [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] continued the Our Gang shorts until 1944).

Later shorts include [[George O'Hanlon]]'s ''[[Joe McDoakes]]'' movies, and the animated work of studios such as [[Walt Disney Pictures|Walt Disney Productions]] and [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]]. By the mid-1950s, with the rise of [[television]], the commercial live-action short was virtually dead, [[The Three Stooges]] work being the last major series of 2-reelers, ending in 1959. Short films had become a medium for student, independent and specialty work.

Cartoon shorts had a longer life, due in part to the implementation of lower-cost [[limited animation]] techniques and the rise of [[animation in the United States in the television era|television animation]], which allowed shorts to have both theatrical runs and a [[broadcast syndication|syndication]] afterlife. [[Warner Bros.]], one of the most prolific of the golden era, underwent several reorganizations in the 1960s before exiting the short film business in 1969 (by which point [[The Bugs Bunny Show|the shorts had been in televised reruns for years]]). MGM continued ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'' (first with a series of poorly-received Eastern European shorts by [[Gene Deitch]], then a better-received run by Warner Bros. alumnus [[Chuck Jones]]) until 1967, and [[Woody Woodpecker]] lasted to 1972; the creative team behind MGM's 1940s and 1950s cartoons formed [[Hanna-Barbera Productions]] in 1957, mainly focusing on television. ''[[Pink Panther (character)|The Pink Panther]]'' was the last regular theatrical cartoon short series, having begun in 1964 (and thus having spent its entire existence in the limited animation era) and ended in 1980. By the 1960s, the market for animated shorts had largely shifted to television, with existing theatrical shorts being syndicated to television.

==Modern era==
[[File:Paulie file.png|thumb|''Paulie'', a short film released in [[2012 in film|2012]]]]
A few animated shorts continue within the mainstream commercial distribution. For instance, [[Pixar]] has screened a short along with each of its feature films during its initial theatrical run since 1995 (producing shorts permanently since 2001).<ref>[http://www.pixar.com/short_films/ Pixar Short Films Web Site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213012314/http://www.pixar.com/short_films/ |date=2013-12-13 }} {{broken link|date=July 2022}}</ref> Since Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, Disney has also produced animated shorts since 2007 with the [[Goofy]] short ''[[How to Hook Up Your Home Theater]]'' and produced a series of live-action ones featuring [[The Muppets]] for viewing on [[YouTube]] as [[viral video|viral videos]] to promote the [[The Muppets (film)|2011 movie of the same name]].

[[DreamWorks Animation]] often produces a short sequel to include in the special edition video releases of major features, and are typical of a sufficient length to be broadcast as a [[Television special|TV special]], a few films from the studio have added theatrical shorts as well.{{Citation needed|reason=Media or official source?|date=July 2018}} [[Warner Bros.]] often includes old shorts from its considerable library, connected only thematically, on the DVD releases of classic WB movies. From 2010-2012, Warner Bros. also released new ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' shorts before family films.{{Citation needed|reason=Media or official source?|date=July 2018}}

[[ShortsTV|Shorts International]] and [[Magnolia Pictures]] organize an annual release of [[Academy Award]]-nominated short films in theatres across the US, UK, Canada and Mexico throughout February and March.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=1 February 2013|author=Holden, Stephen|title=Far From Epic Length, but on the Shortlist for Oscar Glory|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/movies/the-oscar-nominated-short-films-2013-anthology.html |url-access=limited}}</ref>

Shorts are occasionally broadcast as [[Filler (media)|filler]] when a feature film or other work does not fit the standard broadcast schedule. ShortsTV was the first television channel dedicated to short films.{{Citation needed|reason=No source listed.|date=July 2018}}

However, short films generally rely on [[film festival]] exhibition to reach an audience. Such movies can also be distributed via the [[Internet]]. Certain websites which encourage the submission of user-created short films, such as YouTube and [[Vimeo]], have attracted large communities of artists and viewers.{{Citation needed|reason=According to whom?|date=July 2018}} Sites like Omeleto, FILMSshort, Short of the Week, Short Films Matter, Short Central and some apps showcase curated shorts.

Short films are a typical first stage for new filmmakers, but professional actors and crews often still choose to create short films as an alternative form of expression.{{Citation needed|reason=Says who?|date=July 2018}} Amateur filmmaking has grown in popularity as equipment has become more accessible.

The lower production costs of short films often mean that short films can cover alternative subject matter as compared to higher budget feature films. Similarly, unconventional filmmaking techniques such as [[Pixilation]] or narratives that are told without dialogue, are more often seen in short films than features.

[[Tropfest]] claims to be the world's largest short film festival. Tropfest now takes place in Australia (its birthplace), Arabia, the US and elsewhere. Originating in 1993, Tropfest is often credited as being at least partially responsible for the recent popularity of short films internationally.{{Citation needed|reason=By whom?|date=July 2018}} Also [[Couch Fest Films]], part of Shnit Worldwide Filmfestival, claimed to be the world's largest single-day short film festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CouchFest is now a part of SHNIT Short Film Fest (Philly Oct 17, 2015) |url=https://tinseltine.com/couchfest-is-now-part-of-shnit-shor/ |access-date=2022-07-31 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Among the oldest film festivals dedicated to short films are [[Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival]], [[France]] (since 1979), [[Tampere Film Festival]], [[Finland]] (since 1969) and [[International Short Film Festival Oberhausen]], [[Germany]] (since 1954). All of them are still considered the most important short film festival in the world to date.

[https://www.shortfilmconference.com/ Short Film Conference] (SFC) has been in existence since 1970 as a non-profit organization to unite the global short film community. Its network consists of hundreds of members representing over 40 countries from all over the globe. SFC's activities range from organizing industry events and the annual conference to monitoring and researching the short film industry, informing its professionals & lobbying for the rights of short films and their creators. [https://www.shortfilmconference.com/codeofethics/ The Short Film Conference's Code of Ethics] offers guidelines for short film festivals to consider.
{{Further|topic=the mobile film content portal|SHORTZ!}}

==See also==
* [[Reel#Motion picture terminology|Reel]], for an explanation of the historic term "two-reeler"
* [[List of animated short series]]
* [[List of independent short films]]
* [[List of short subjects by Hollywood studio]]
* [[Micro movie]]
* [[Movieola|Movieola: The Short Film Channel]]
* [[Music video]]
* [[One-minute film]]
* [[Tampere Film Festival]]
* ''[[The Journal of Short Film]]''
* [[Tropfest]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* {{dmoz|Arts/Movies/Filmmaking/Short_Films/|Short Films}}
* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tours/shortfilm/tour1.html British Film Institute: "Writing Short Films" by Phil Parker] [[screenonline]], website of the [[British Film Institute]]











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Short film - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article