Why Every Filmmaker Should Start with a Short Film

If you’re a filmmaker looking to make a short film, a quick search online will uncover a number of articles filled with practical advice. But before diving into logistics, there’s one fundamental question that often goes unasked: why make a short film at all? We explore some of the most common - and compelling - reasons why successful filmmakers choose to tell their stories in short form.

Unjustified

Iranian writer/director Mohammad R. Khavari unpacks the realist aesthetic and sociopolitical roots behind his poignant portrait of oppression Unjustified, where a pregnant young woman becomes tangled in a complex web of lies, miscommunication and systematic silence.

10 Unforgettable Short Films at HollyShorts 2025

With HollyShort 2025 in full swing, we bring you our curated list of 10 unforgettable shorts from the film festival's 427 strong Oscar-qualifying programme, encompassing grief, thrill-seeking, shit for brains, unexpected twists and everything in between.

Circumstantial Forgiveness

Alex Sovoda breaks down his process of exposing hidden absurd truths whilst still giving the audience something to laugh at in comedy short Circumstantial Forgiveness, where static wide shots and chaotic close-ups turn a friendly games night into a pressure cooker of mounting accusations.