So you've got a short film - now what?
You’ve submitted your short film to every festival in the world.
It’s either been shortlisted, nominated, won, or rejected. So, what’s next?
Option 1: Your film gets saved on your hard drive, never to be seen again. You move on with your next film project.
Option 2: You send your film into the digital universe – your Youtube channel, Vimeo, or perhaps on your website.
But these options often render the death of your short film, as it stays unwatched and forgotten.
The Singapore Youth Film Festival (SYFF) Conference:
Where filmmakers meet and learn
Held on November 9 & 10, the SYFF Conference allowed young filmmakers to connect, learn, and level up their craft.
CinemaWorld was invited to chat about Digital Expansion: Post-Festival Routes—aka, what to do with your short film after it has made its rounds in the festival circuit.
We shared insights on how to take your movie beyond the festival and into the digital space.
Here’s a breakdown of what we discussed.
Team up with Distribution Partners
Teaming up with distribution partners unlocks a new, uncharted path for your film’s success.
Though options are limited, the number of platforms for short film distribution is steadily growing, with sites like Viddsee, Objectifs, and CinemaSHORT by CinemaWorld leading the way in this expanding market.
We launched CinemaSHORT in 2020 to help Asian short films get out there.
Through our 24-hour CinemaWorld channel, CinemaSHORT On Demand, and partner platforms like Huawei Video, your short film can reach large audiences on streaming services beyond your home country.
How do distribution partners help your short film?
Exposure: When you work with distribution partners like Viddsee or CinemaWorld, your short film can be watched in millions of homes across Asia.
For platforms like Objectifs, with a diverse library of genres including drama, animation, documentary, and even experimental shorts, your film can find its audience with local and international viewers online and in person at the Objectif Center.
At CinemaWorld, where we focus on distributing films to a global audience, we are currently on over 90 distribution platforms in over 20 territories.
Whichever language your movie is in, we will subtitle it in local languages so non-native language audiences can also appreciate your short film.
We also collaborate with regional film festivals, so your film can get shown at events like Jakarta Film Week—where recent screenings featured 9 short films from Vietnam, Singapore, India, and Indonesia.
Monetization: The goal is to get some returns on the short film you had worked so hard on.
Distributors are always hunting for new ways to market and distribute, like working with inflight entertainment or streaming platforms with ad-based models.
Culture Shock Alert
Unlike film festivals, working with distributors involves more than submitting your film and letting your work speak for itself.
Distributors often need materials that will help them market your movie to the right audience.
As a filmmaker and a creative, it’s normal to get immersed in filmmaking.
With distribution, other things come into play—legal matters, marketing, film specifications, subtitles, film posters, stills, and BTS shots.
These things are often part of the package you must share with your distribution partner to get the ball rolling.
Stay open-minded when working with distributors.
We’re here to help your film get seen, so be ready to get creative and explore different avenues with us.
YouTube vs Distribution Partners: Which is better?
If your short film is popping off on YouTube, that’s great! But more often than not, your film will likely be buried under a ton of other content if you lack a solid marketing plan.
YouTube’s algorithm doesn’t always play fair.
Plus, there is more to distribution than the numbers.
It’s easy to get caught up in the views and likes your film may receive on platforms like YouTube, but it has value beyond the numbers.
It’s about the ideas, the impact, and the future opportunities it can create.
When your film is on a distribution platform, you get exposure to a targeted audience seeking diverse, meaningful stories.
CinemaWorld also curates short films that match the theme of our monthly campaigns, which means your film gets more relevant views.
Think of distributors as the gatekeepers to help the right audience discover your work.
What can filmmakers do beyond film festivals?
Don’t be afraid to show up.
Attend film networking events, screenings, and hit-up conferences (like SYFF) to learn more about the business side of filmmaking.
Building relationships with various people in the industry is key—not just for your current film but also for future projects.
The film biz is all about mutual trust and collaboration.
We need your support to get the right materials and creative vision to elevate your film, and you can count on us to help open doors for your work.
If you haven’t started connecting with distributors, make today the day.
Reach out, start the conversation, and get your film and name out there.
The future of short films
"Don't let them live and die on your hard drive"
At CinemaWorld, we understand that distributing short films is still a novel idea for many emerging filmmakers, so we strive to bridge this gap between the art and filmmaking business.
The audience for short films is growing slowly, but it is growing.
So, think long-term.
Your film deserves a life beyond the hard drive—let’s make it happen!
