We love short films here at Vimeo. Short films provide creators with endless opportunities for artistic expression, diverse storytelling, and creative experimentation. But where to get started?
Navigating the film industry without support can be overwhelming, and like all forms of filmmaking, it takes a village to get a short film from the development stage to sharing it with the world.
For European and UK creators looking for inspiration, funding, festivals, community, and more, we’ve compiled a list of resources to help you navigate the short film world.
Short film resources to get you started
Every successful film starts with a great idea. That’s the special sauce that only you can provide. We’re here to help with everything else.
Get inspired
Since 2008, the Vimeo Staff Picks program has played a key role in inspiring millions of creatives around the world by curating a selection of short films. With new, boundary-pushing work added to our roster of Staff Picked films every day, it’s the best way to see what others are making and feel the spark of creativity as you begin your own filmmaking journey.
We’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with the European Film Academy, where you can watch Staff Picks and get inspired. The European Film Academy will be featuring new short films (including Staff Picks) on their site every week, so check back regularly!
There are many other wonderful platforms to discover short films too. Omletto, Salaud Morisset, Short Frame, BANG BANG - A shot of shorts, NoBudge, UK Shorts Portal, Motiongrapher, and Eye Candy are just some of the places you can go to get inspired.
If you want to dig deeper into the world of short films, we also recommend checking out Talking Shorts, an online magazine dedicated to discussing short film.
Make a short film
Now that you have an original idea, how do you turn it into a beautifully produced short film? This Short Film Toolkit created by the BFI Network, British Council, and BAFTA, is a great place to start. It features a collection of filmed conversations with filmmakers, short film funders, and festival programmers. With actual filmmaker insights and best practices, this comprehensive guide is full of smart advice.
You might be asking “So, how do I pay for this?” While short films certainly cost less than feature films, it’s still sometimes necessary to get support. Luckily, there’s help! Cineuropa has created a comprehensive European Funding database with opportunities, while CinEuro Funding Guide and European Short Pitch are here to help with international co-productions.
Participate in film festivals
Film festivals offer creators amazing opportunities to share their work with audiences around the world, but with an estimated 12,000 festivals on the circuit, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth the application fee.
Fortunately, the European Film Academy Short Film Network offers an excellent selection to consider. This pan-European network currently includes a total of 30 renowned film festivals, including the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Go Short International Short Film Festival, Tampere Short Film Festival, and many more. And, if you want your short to be considered for the prestigious European Film Awards, screening at one of these festivals isn’t a guaranteed in, but it will help set you on the right path.
Now that you know which festivals to apply to, how does the festival process work? Hear from short film programmers directly in this BAFTA panel on How To Get Your Short Film Into Festivals. Pro tip: put your festival strategy together before you start applying.
Distribute your short film
You’ve successfully launched your film on the festival circuit — now what? What distribution opportunities are even out there for short films? You can use No Film School’s Massive List of International Distributors For Your Short Film to kickstart your research. It’s important to do your due diligence and research each distributor you want to work with. Remember, what’s right for one film may not be right for the next!
If you’re looking to learn more, Palm Springs ShortFest shares this Guide to Distributing Your Short panel with a roundtable of industry experts to shed light on the process. Short of the Week’s Be Everywhere All At One: The Ultimate Guide to Festivals, Online, and Your Short Film Release is another excellent resource.
Finally, learn about How to Get a Staff Pick directly from Vimeo curators Ina Pira and Meghan Oretsky. Staff Picks are also a great way for your work to be discovered on the Vimeo Watch page outside the EU and UK.
Connect with the community
There’s no better resource than your own film community. These are the people in the trenches helping you make your project and supporting you throughout the process. But if you’re just getting started, how does one build community?
The European Film Club is a film platform and film club network across Europe for young people to come together to watch and discuss European films and share their own. For others, university is a great place to meet other emerging filmmakers and build your skills together. Cineuropa’s list of European Film Schools highlights some of the most prestigious schools and universities to kickstart your filmmaking careers.
For creators looking to build their professional network, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival offers the excellent subscription service Shortfilmwire+ with remote access to the annual Short Film Market, a database to filmmaker and industry contacts, online viewing to thousands of international short films, and more.
Wherever you are in your filmmaking journey, we hope you find this resource list useful. We can’t wait to see what you make!
