What Is a Short Film?

A short film, also called a “short film,” is a film, usually of short duration, that tells a story using only images and sometimes very little dialogue. Filmmakers who create this type of film often try to convey a single idea using an artistic interpretation rather than using plot devices. Some films that have become very popular are “Dogfight” (1952), “Singing in the Rain” (1958), and “Catch Me If You Can” (2021). A less well known short film is “Irene” (1990), which tells the story of a young girl who moves to New York City and falls in love with an older man. Both men eventually leave her when she runs off to find her own love.

While many short films are intended solely as personal expression, some films are more commercial in nature. Many are produced as Parody videos, parodies of popular songs or movies. Other examples include films about the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and the story of how dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Many people also use a short film as an award-winning project, which was made for a school science fair, to tell the story of a young child who grows up in the city and then goes on to find their place in the world beyond.

Although the term “film” may seem to imply some sort of picture, it actually refers to a medium through which visual information is conveyed. Thus, from the word “film” itself, we can tell that the term refers to the act of presenting visual information through the use of film. Film typically includes two parts: the object of the story and the audience. The object of the film is the story, while the audience is the recipient of that story – the spectators, who see the film.