short film
Quick cinema piece
A short film is a movie brief enough to distinguish it from feature-length productions—typically under 40 minutes, though definitions vary.
Short films often screen at festivals, serve as student projects, or function as calling cards for emerging filmmakers: Her short film got into Sundance.
The category includes narrative fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental work.
Length of existence
- runtimeProgram execution duration
- compactTightly packed together
- conciseBriefly and clearly stated
- brevityShortness of expression
condensed · abbreviated · miniature · limited · constraint · economy · tight · focused
Technique creating movement illusion
- documentaryFactual film about reality
- live-actionFilmed with real performers
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
- comedyWork meant to amuse
horror · thriller · romance · sci-fi · fantasy · mockumentary · musical · noir
Recounting events aloud
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- scriptWritten words for performance
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
protagonist · antagonist · climax · resolution · twist · flashback · foreshadowing · arc
Motion picture visual craft
- directorOne who leads
- screenplayFilm's written blueprint
- editingRefining content for clarity
- scoreNumerical standing in competition
soundtrack · montage · framing · composition · panning · dolly · tracking · mise-en-scène
Costing relatively little
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- DIYAmateur home projects
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- experimentalTesting new methods
arthouse · auteur · grassroots · crowdfunding · self-funded · bootstrapping · passion project · breakout
duration
Length of existence
brevity · condensed · abbreviated · miniature · limited · constraint · economy · tight · focused · contained
animation
Technique creating movement illusion
- documentaryFactual film about reality
- live-actionFilmed with real performers
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
comedy · horror · thriller · romance · sci-fi · fantasy · mockumentary · musical · noir · experimental
storytelling
Recounting events aloud
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- scriptWritten words for performance
dialogue · protagonist · antagonist · climax · resolution · twist · flashback · foreshadowing · arc · theme
cinematography
Motion picture visual craft
- directorOne who leads
- screenplayFilm's written blueprint
- editingRefining content for clarity
score · soundtrack · montage · framing · composition · panning · dolly · tracking · mise-en-scène · chiaroscuro
low-budget
Costing relatively little
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- DIYAmateur home projects
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
experimental · arthouse · auteur · grassroots · crowdfunding · self-funded · bootstrapping · passion project · breakout · emerging
screening
Evaluative selection process
submissions · program · Sundance · Cannes · Tribeca · BAFTA · Oscar · selection · competition · laurels
- moviesblockbuster, Titanic, Jurassic Park, The Matrix, Forrest Gump
- indie filmindependent, low budget, microbudget, micro-budget, arthouse drama
- Film and TVactor, actress, camera, cast, crew
- mediatelevision, mass media, news, broadcasting, video
- videovideo, AVI, clip, footage, MKV
- videosvideos, clip, clips, video clip, footage
short filmfeature film
Standard-length theatrical release
feature-length film · feature · epic · miniseries · television series
short filmblockbuster
Enormously successful entertainment property
studio film · theatrical release · tentpole movie · franchise film · wide release
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