Early Internet viral short “George Lucas in Love.”
Seven years ago I posted a list of five great websites you can find the best short films, and thankfully more indie film websites have continued popping up. The need for short films hasn’t thinned over the years, thank goodness. Short films are great launch pads for big time directors, they’re great for proof of concepts to sell to studios, and they can just be mini-masterpieces that, at most, are about thirty minutes.
Hell, major film festivals like Fantasia, Slamdance, and Sundance still have short film line ups, so there’s no denying short films are absolutely valid forms of filmmaking. If you find a great short film, time just flies. That’s the joy of being a film lover.
If you fancy yourself a connoisseur of short films, or are interested in reviewing them for your blog, or podcast, or tiktok, here are five I wholeheartedly recommend.
Youtube
Free? Yes.
This is still the standard for folks interested in viewing or reviewing short films. Indie filmmakers from all over the world have posted their short films, many of which are aching for an audience, or just simple feedback. You can mine through pages of short films like fan films, concept films, comedy films et al. It’s also especially good if you want a short dose of horror. Be warned, though, results may vary. You might come across a hidden gem, or… a complete dud. That’s part of the fun, isn’t it?
Short of the Week
Free? Yes. But you can show support by buying their merch.
“Short of the Week” is still around, thankfully, and still setting up their must see guides for short films. They deliver weekly recommendations to users in their emails, and they tend to have a high bar when it comes to accepting short films. Their library is massive, diverse, interesting and absolutely inviting. You can find anything from animated horror, foreign comedy, short documentaries, and anything else you can think of.
Omeleto
Free? Yes. But you can buy their Merch. C’mon.
Omeleto has been one of my favorite channels for the last few years as they’ve managed to build a huge, diverse, and daring library of short film titles. They also have a set of standards when applied to short films, but their library is so accessible and appealing. They dabble in every genre from drama, comedy, romance, and horror, and every genre channel is guaranteed to have something for everyone. Their shorts have been astounding at times, and I’m a loyal subscriber.
indieFlix
Free? No. You have to buy a subscription; but they have a tier based function.
indieFlix is a streaming service that I hope sticks around for a long time. Their library is diverse, their user interface is so easy, and their prices aren’t bad. And no, I’m not being paid by them, nor are they sponsoring this list. I did my research and they have a huge library of obscure films, arthouse films, foreign films, and yes, even short films, all of which are curated to the pickier film buff. You do have to buy a subscription though, which isn’t a bad compromise considering you’re guaranteed a meticulously sorted film service.
Alter
Free? Yes. But buy their merch. C’mon. C’mon!
“Alter” mostly deals in horror, fantasy, and science fiction, but they have delivered some absolute genre bangers for years now. Their library of short films have been immensely popular, going viral on various social media outlets, and any time a new Alter short is released, it’s a big deal. “Alter” has offered up shorts for folks that just want splatter, or like a little a brain candy. They also offer feature length indie horror, to boot.