Writers and other entertainment professionals have long sought a surefire way to break into the industry. And while there is no path guaranteed to move you from relative obscurity to the center of Hollywood, many writers have turned to the short film medium as a strategy for getting their work in front of decision-makers and launching their careers, including Hollywood heavyweights like Ava DuVernay, Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Jared Hess.
Short films are a smart way to launch careers! They can:
- Serve as a proof of concept for a feature film
- Serve as a “portfolio piece” demonstrating your talent and writing skills
- Offer opportunities for learning and development in a lower-risk environment
Many of the past winners of our Short Film Fund, too, have gone on to be staffed on TV shows, are developing their short into a feature, and more, including:
Alexandra Qin‘s winning short film THIRSTYGIRL was an Official Selection at Sundance 2024 and won the inaugural Shorts to Features Honor at Gotham Week. The short is a proof-of-concept for a feature of the same name, which will mark Alex’s feature directorial debut, and is now being produced by Asher Goldstein (American Born Chinese, Just Mercy), Carlos López Estrada (Didi), and Valerie Bush (Didi). Alex was also selected to participate in the inaugural Antigravity Academy Screenwriters Camp, The Black List Project Lab, and the 2025 Sundance Screenwriters Lab. After screening at over 50 festivals worldwide, THIRSTYGIRL is now available online and has over 4 million views on the Director’s Notes YouTube.
Learn more about Alex & THIRSTYGIRL here!
Sam Baron‘s winning short THE ORGY, went on to screen at film festivals worldwide, leading to Sam developing the short into a television series with Sony Pictures
Sam has since gone to write for the TV shows CHLOE (BBC/Amazon), LOCKWOOD & CO (Netflix) and THE UNDERTOW (Netflix); has developed original TV projects with Netflix, BBC and Sky; and has written feature scripts for directors James Marsh, Scott Z. Burns and Alice Seabright.
Read more about Sam & THE ORGY here!
While we’re thrilled for these writers and their success, by no means do we intend to suggest that shorts are simply a means to an end! Short films are a beautiful medium for storytelling and a valuable contribution to the world of art. Some writers and filmmakers spend their entire lives creating short films.
Similarly, with the onset of streaming options and the creation of more short film festivals, as well as increased demand driven by a new generation for whom shorter forms of media are a mainstay of their media consumption, short films are more in demand now than ever.
So, what are you waiting for?
Consider dusting off an old script and giving it a new, fresh edit. Maybe you want to write a proof-of-concept for a feature or TV pilot you’re written. You could even jump-start an existing script with our coverage service, which has helped writers just like you take their work to the next level.
And once you’re ready, submit your short film to our Short Film Fund, where we finance four short films with cash prizes and finishing funds each year.
