Our gifts for International Short Film Day

Today, on the shortest day of the year and therefore International Short Film Day, we're thrilled to share two pieces of news that celebrate the past, present, and future of (short) film culture.

1. The first edition of "Film Festivals And Their New Realities" (2025) is here! Our digital reader gathers six sharp essays on the urgent questions shaping film festivals today: How do we measure impact beyond numbers? What does curatorial freedom mean in repressive times? And how can festivals remain radical in a rapidly changing world?

These texts - commissioned by Talking Shorts and born from our ESFN panel series - are not just analysis, but provocations. We invite you to dive in, debate, and steal ideas as we rethink the role of festivals together. Read the full edition here.

2. THIS IS SHORT gets a sustainable upgrade! Starting today, our streaming platform introduces a new subscription model—because fantastic films deserve a life beyond their festival run. With three tiers to choose from, you can now support short film culture for as little as €0.99/month (or €9.99/year), while enjoying curated gems from some of your most beloved festivals—making THIS IS SHORT an even more valuable tool for programmers, curators, and film lovers alike.

Every subscription helps ensure that bold short films continue to find audiences around the world. Subscribe now and explore the full catalog.
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With this reader and THIS IS SHORT's innovations, we're building a sustainable ecosystem where festivals, filmmakers, and audiences can thrive together. We hope you will enjoy the six essays as well as the films on THIS IS SHORT over the holidays. And see you in 2026!