August 8, 2022
Some of the greatest cinematic experiences can be found in the short-form format otherwise known as short films. Short films are a unique and special breed of movies. They are often constrained by budget, time, and scope, but this only allows for the stories with the most potential to truly shine.
This blog post goes through the 10 best short films of all time. Of course, what is considered the “best” is subjective but for the sake of this blog post, we are going to define the best as the short films that had such an impact that they won multiple awards or got turned into a full-length film.
The Phone Call is a British short film created by Matt Kirby and James Lucas. The short was released in 2014 and won awards at the Tribeca Film Festival and won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. The film is about Heather, a shy lady who works in a helpline call center. When she receives a phone call from a mystery man, she has no idea that the encounter will change her life forever.
Kiwi is one of the first short films to be uploaded on YouTube. Released in 2006, Kiwi quickly grabbed the hearts of viewers and now has over 45 million views. The short film follows a bird named Kiwi who works his whole life to achieve his dream. The film has a somber ending but is a well-told story for a 3-minute film.
This short film frequented many film festivals from 2015-2016 and won multiple awards including an Academy Award in 2016. Stutterer is about a man whose lush inner thoughts are rendered mute by a crippling stutter and his isolation from the world despite a flourishing online relationship. Written and directed by Benjamin Cleary, Stutterer manages to introduce us to the world of the main character while creating an adorable meet cute.
If you’re a fan of horror, then you’ve probably heard of the film When a Stranger Calls. The iconic opening sequence of the film works similarly to a short film. Part of the reason for that is because the film was inspired by a short film that Fred Walton created in 1977 titled The Sitter. The Sitter is about a babysitter who is menaced by mysterious and frightening phone calls. The 1977 short film may be dated but it still managed to send chills down our spines.
Disney has become the master at creating heartfelt short animations and Paperman is one of their best. The short was released in 2012 and won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. Paperman tells the story of an office worker who meets the girl of his dreams and uses a fleet of paper airplanes to get her attention. Romantic, touching, and a feel-good story, Paperman proves that not all love stories need to be long and drawn out.
The idea behind the full-length film version of Mamà came from a 3-minute short film that was released in 2008. The short was directed and written by Andy Muschietti and delivers a horrifying spectacle in a couple of minutes. Mamà is about a young girl who wakes up and tells her sister that their mother has returned home.
Before writing and directing Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh made his directorial debut with the short film Six Shooter. This black and bloody Irish comedy is about a sad train journey where an older man, whose wife has died that morning, encounters a strange and possibly psychotic young oddball. Brendan Gleeson and Ruadhri Conroy give amazing performances in this short that will leave you laughing and crying.
Damien Chazelle’s short film Whiplash was expanded into a full-length feature that became a favorite among audiences and Hollywood. The original short film was about 18 minutes long and starred Johnny Simmons as Andrew Neiman, a drummer at a prestigious music conservatory. JK Simmons played a pivotal role in the short film and returned for the feature-length version. The short film is intense, passionate, and will motivate you to watch the feature film. Whiplash is about a ferocious, bullying music teacher who teaches a dedicated student.
Curfew is a testament to a short film’s ability to develop characters and connect with audiences in a short amount of time. Within 19-minutes, we get a good understanding of the main character, his sister, and his niece. Written, directed, and starring Shawn Christensen, Curfew is about a self-destructive man on the brink of demise when he receives an unexpected call from his estranged sister to look after her young daughter for the night. Could this be the beginning of a new reality? The short film turned enough heads to become a feature film titled Before I Disappear.
Thunder Road took audiences by surprise in 2016. The short film, which was written, directed, and starred in by Jim Cummings, consists of a singular monologue and a one-shot that captures the entire performance. The film follows a police officer at his mother’s funeral who delivers an impassioned and cathartic eulogy that is both comedic and awkward. Thunder Road left a strong impression on viewers and has been turned into a feature film that was released in 2018.
Powerful. Haunting. Spine-Chilling. The Backwater Gospel is one of those short films that will stay with you for days after watching it. In less than 10 minutes, this gothic masterpiece transports you to a world of dark tragedy, featuring unforgettable characters and layers of symbolism.
Created by the acclaimed University of animation, The Animation Workshop, the film is widely praised for its unique visual style, gruesome story, black humor, and the original soundtrack by Death Country legends Sons of Perdition. The film has over 5 million views online and has won awards for its originality.
Watch The Backwater Gospel on Reveel
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