Where to watch great short films online
The best free and curated places to watch short films online, from Short of the Week and Vimeo Staff Picks to national film archives.
Most great short films never reach a cinema near you, but thousands of them are online, many for free. Here is where to look.
Curated publications
- Short of the Week has published a carefully chosen selection of shorts, with a write-up for each, since 2007. Several films in our archive were featured, including On Loop and Tusk.
- Vimeo Staff Picks is Vimeo’s own curated selection and one of the most watched showcases for short film online.
Archives and public broadcasters
- BFI Player has a large free collection, including archive shorts and public information films, plus newer work.
- The National Film Board of Canada streams much of its huge collection of animated and documentary shorts free. It is one of the best animation archives in the world.
YouTube channels
Several channels curate short films, especially in comedy, horror, science fiction and drama. Many filmmakers also release their own shorts on YouTube after their festival run. Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared found its audience there.
Festival platforms
Some festivals put programmes or award winners online for a limited time after the festival. Follow the festivals in our directory to catch them.
For filmmakers
If you’re deciding when to release your own film, read when to put your short film online.