We’re so excited to launch Short Stuff, and wanted to share a bit more about who we are, what we do and why.

In short (yes, more of these to come), short film does not receive enough attention. Conversely, there is no shortage (feel free to start a tally) of feature film coverage. There are entire publications dedicated to it, countless YouTube channels and TikTok accounts, newspapers, culture outlets and even tangential lifestyle outlets run film sections. 

At Short Stuff, we believe that the same should exist for short films, and we’re making it happen.

Why?

The term ‘short film’ usually refers to a film that is 40 minutes and under, including credits, though they’re often much shorter than that. If you’re a film buff, you’ll already know that most directors, including the big names, started off making shorts (here, for example, are some of Martin Scorcese’s). So too did many A-List actors, and some even return to the format well into their golden years, so coveted is the art form.

You might also be aware that some of the big awards shows include a short film award, including the Oscars and the BAFTAs. Similarly, the most prestigious film festivals run multiple short film blocks that often sell out, and where prizes are awarded just like with feature films.

And yet, you’ve probably never heard of most of these shorts or the people who make them.

So what are we missing out on? It is no secret that the film industry perpetuates and upholds socio-economic hierarchies that means films by racialised and marginalised filmmakers face huge obstacles in getting work made and seen. You may recall the most recent iteration of ‘BaftasSoWhite’ in 2023, but this only followed on from the same complaint in 2021, and at the Oscars nearly a decade earlier.

This is not only a problem because it prevents individuals being able to achieve the same success, career opportunities and financial compensation, but because their perspectives are being overlooked.

We all know there’s barely any funding for arts and culture, and filmmaking is no exception. The hierarchical ladder, the nepotism, the who-you-know-ism of it all means that marginalised and racialised filmmakers are the least likely to get the very few opportunities that do exist.

But artists need to make art as much as they need to breathe - we make films because we have to. And so, we turn to a format that is more manageable. Short format means there’s the option for making something on a shoestring budget. If you can find the right team, call in a few favours and maintain the unwavering dedication to making it a reality, you can make a short film with almost nothing. 

It shouldn’t be this way, but because it is, it means that working class, Black, brown, other racialised, disabled, queer, women, trans and marginalised filmmakers are making short films that the world is not hearing about.

Breaking the cycle

Part of the reason we don’t get to see these films, and why they’re not being funded properly, is because there’s not enough coverage of them in the media. Short films are not thought of as investments, unlike features. So, people don’t invest in them, and so mainstream streaming platforms don’t screen them, and they remain unseen and considered unprofitable. Similarly, editors and journalists don’t cover shorts in the press, so they don’t get the kind of attention they deserve, so they remain underground and fringe, deemed unworthy of investment and distribution – and the cycle continues.

One of the reasons for starting Short Stuff is to try and help break this cycle. We know the amount of love and labour that goes into shorts, we know how powerful they are, how diverse and broad their themes, how dynamic their cast and crew, how much those of us who love film can appreciate short form just as much as long form. The rest of the world needs to catch up, and we hope to be part of making that happen.

At Short Stuff, we write about shorts of all genres and categories, including narrative fiction, docs, poetry and art films, animation, narrative music videos, and anything else that exists in short format. Coverage includes interviews, reviews, dispatches from film festivals and awards shows, criticism, essays, analysis, BTS photography and insights, and more. We want to do it all!

Where can I watch short films?

Mainstream platforms and cinemas might not show shorts, but there are lots of places that do. You can often catch shorts at film festivals – and there are so many. The British Council has a decent list, and there are likely some community, student and other screenings not lsted on here. 

There are also some dedicated online platforms that screen shorts, most for free. 

Here are a few great places to see shorts:

• Minute Shorts

• Nowness

• Retrospective of Jupiter

• Short of the Week

• Director’s Notes

• Omeleto

• Girls in Film

Who are we?

You can find out more about the Short Stuff team and our mission statement over on our About Us page.

Getting involved

We’re desperate to bring more people on board, but we are currently running on a voluntary basis whilst we seek funding (if you want to fund us, please get in touch!).

If you’re happy to contribute despite this, we’d love to hear from you. You can either contact us via our website, or drop us an email: short.stuff.film@gmail.com

If you’d like to partner with us, fund us, sponsor us, or work with us in any other capacity, please get in touch: short.stuff.film@gmail.com