Artigenda
Short Film Day
When: anually, December 21.
On the shortest day of the year, it’s Short Film Day. A day that’s dedicated to short films, mostly with a local character or tone.
Do not confuse the day with an American initiative with a similar name, namely National Short Movie Day. That day takes place on 28 December. That is just a day to commemorate a different event. That is the birth of film. On the day when the world dwells on the birth of film as shown in company. Hence, this is the day when films in cinemas take centre stage on the International Cinema Day.
Local
The local character of a short film can be hugely important. Especially in short films, the focus can be on the local character. The area where someone lives can be important to the film’s story. The focus is often on big, well-known names. This is precisely why it is good to look at what others are doing. What others are doing may consist of other themes being covered. This does not have to involve unknown names. For example, consider “A Dog’s Life” from 1918. Made by none other than Charlie Chaplin (April 16, 1889 – December 25, 1977).
In other cases, social issues are addressed. Think, for example, of emancipation, rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, the fight against discrimination or climate change.
Value
The value of short films is difficult to determine. It is different for everyone. For some, it is precisely about the length and the possibility of watching several films in a given period. For others, it is often about the message. Because it is a short film, the message has to be delivered faster. Or, conversely, not. Imagination can play a role. Now that’s the beauty of this kind of film, it really can go in any direction.
Tips
It is difficult to give a complete overview of films that can serve as tips. The topics are so diverse. Besides, what do you want to consider a short film? For some, that’s a few minutes, for others, it’s up to a maximum of 50 minutes. In any case, IMDB has compiled an overview based on popularity. This overview can be found here. In addition, there is Short of the Week website.
