We?ve come a long way since Edison?s kinetoscope in 1894 and the Lumier?s? Cin?matographe in 1895, now that entire films can easily be shot on an iPhone in 1080p HD. Still, in our fast paced world of technology, travel, and progress, it?s hard not to take notice of what seems to be a rebirth of one of the oldest forms of cinema; the short.
The late 1800s and early 1900s were times of trial and error for film. Much like today, the camera and film were continuously being refurbished and improved. Filmmakers like the Lumier? Brothers, Edwin S. Porter, and George M?li?s? were generally thought of as pioneers as they pushed the boundaries of their films, making them longer and more elaborate. But, some of the earliest films, those of the August and Louis Lumier?, such as Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (below)?were rather simple, one-shot films of everyday activities like, you?ve got it, a train arriving at a station. As the legend goes, this short film?s first audience ran from the station in fear that they?d all be crushed by the giant steam locomotive barrelling towards them.
Other artists like George M?li?s, a famous French illusionist, whose magical films gained him the title of the first ?Cinemagician,? made his way by tampering and playing with illusion on screen. In many of his 531 films, audiences would witness M?li?s disappearing and reappearing, dancing headless, or travelling to space in his short film La Voyage dans la Lune. His playful style is considered one of the influences for the horror and science fiction genres in film today.
All right, so now that you?ve gotten a purging of film nerd facts, here?s the point.; short films are making their way back into our theatres, and homes, onto our iPads, phones, and on board airplanes. With more and more short film festivals popping up every day in nearly every city, and the means to make them much more attainable, it?s hard to ignore these wonderfully constructed stories shown in forty minutes or less!
Though there tends to be an unjustified belief within the industry that short films are the lesser form of cinema, (usually done by experimental grad students with everything to prove) acclaimed filmmakers and industry leaders are advocating for the medium.
This past April the 11th annual Tribeca Film Festival designated an entire category for short films.These were chosen from all over the world; audiences viewed films from the UK, Thailand, South Korea, Croatia, and many, many more countries. With some of them as short as 14 minutes, the talented filmmakers, with their beautiful cinematography and editing, conveyed hit many of the classic cinema storylines dealing with love, family, triumph, and suffering. The pillars of life.
And Tribeca is certainly not the only festival supporting short film. Future Shorts, considered the largest short film network in the world, was started in 2003 and has propelled short film, connecting and showcasing short films globally. As one of the leading distributors of short films, Future Shorts sells to ?an international network of buyers across multiple platforms including broadcast, online, IPTV, airlines and more?, it says.
Air Canada?s enRoute Film Festival is another platform for up and coming, short filmmakers. The short films selected are showcased on Air Canada inflight entertainment systems to an audience that otherwise may not have the chance to see these great works of art! This year marks the 6th annual short film festival. Submissions are currently being accepted and the winners of the festival are then sent to the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
Emirates, meanwhile, is partnered with YouTube on ?Your Film Festival?, a?global competition to discover the world?s best storytellers. They invited directors, producers and writers from around the world to submit a 15-minute, story-driven video of any format, style and genre. Ten??finalists will travel to Italy on Emirates via Dubai, where their work will screen at the 69th Venice International Film Festival in September 2012.
Whilst short films have yet to truly be recognized as a mainstream form of entertainment, travellers should keep their eyes and ears open for airlines showcasing these works.
A short film, however, well, short, tends to be a work that?s been nurtured and perfected by it?s creator. Popular among emerging filmmakers, who love their art to its core and create for the sake of creating, short films are, in a sense, the last of a dying breed. The last form of cinema that hasn?t been too fondled by Hollywood, the last form that can speak and portray truth, can enlighten its audiences in a matter of a few minutes. So, on your next flight, no matter the distance, look for the shorts!
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