History of Short Films

The Beginning of CinemaWhen cinema first began to form in the late 19th Century, all

films were short films. Early films were viewed for the novelty and pleasure of

witnessing the latest technological advancements.Films at these times were usually one shot ‘actuality’ or

‘interest’ films, depicting scenes from everyday life.One of the most famous films of this time in cinema was the

Lumiére Brothers ‘Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (1895)’ a single shot film of a train moving towards the camera, causing some audience members to flee in terror as the locomotive hurled towards them on screen.

1900-1910Advancements in recording and editing technology allowed for

longer, multi-shot films to be produced. However, these films were still not long enough to be considered feature length.

Some of the most notorious short films of this time period include Georges Méliès’s A Trip to the Moon (1902) and Edwin S Porter’s The Great Train Robbery (1903), the latter considered by many as the first film of the Western genre. Both were silent films.

1910-1940After 1910, popularity of films grew and therefore so did demand.

This resulted in longer, multi-reel films to be produced and eventually feature length films were born.

Despite this new medium of film, short films continued to be produced and were often played at theatres alongside feature lengths.

One of the most memorable short films of this period was ‘Un Chien Andalou’ (1929) a silent surrealist short film by the Spanish director Luis Buñuel and artist Salvador Dalí.

1939-1945 (Propaganda)During WWII, short film increased in popularity due to propaganda

videos and war inspired shorts such as Walt Disney's ‘Donalds Decision’Whilst this time was a popular time for British Cinema, the government

was extraordinarily keen to place its messages in British cinemas

Modern Short FilmsA few mainstream short films are still created to this day.

Most notably, Pixar continues to make short animation films every year.

Most short films today are independent, however they still have a strong presence in cinema.

Every year, multiple film festivals are held, showcasing and awarding the worlds best short films.

There are even mainstream awards dedicated to short films, with institutions such as BAFTA and the Oscars

contributing to this list.