As long as there has been cinema, there have been those who have experimented with the form in the name of social critique. In part one of a two-part series, Jess Sweetman explores the history of filmmaker cooperatives.

In part two of her two part series, Jess Sweetman talks to representatives from three film organisations who are committed to preserving, screening, and creating avant garde cinema.

After ten hours of searching online without a single, much-needed belly laugh, Jess wades into the world of comedy shorts: Where are online and IRL? Why aren’t they nominated for Oscars and high-level festivals? And where are they hiding online?

After a fruitless search for comedy, Jess chased down a bunch of in-the-know people to recommend their favourite comedy and comedy-horror shorts. Enjoy!

So why exactly are short films important? We asked our new friends attending the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival to find out their points of view.

To wrap up 2023, we reached out to some of our friends across the industry to find out about their most memorable short films and we’re excited to present the official list here for you today.