National Short Film Day – December 28, 2026

Expected National Short Film Day Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Short Film Day often inspires special offers. Look for streaming platforms like Vimeo, ShortsTV, and Netflix to curate special collections or offer limited-time free access to select short films. Independent cinemas and film festivals such as Sundance or Tribeca may host virtual screenings or discounted ticket bundles. Brands like Adobe and Blackmagic Design might offer software trials or discounts on editing tools for aspiring filmmakers. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as December 28 approaches.

History of National Short Film Day

There was no one person behind the invention of cinema. However, there were a few people integral to its take-off and success. In 1891, a prototype of the kinetoscope was demonstrated successfully by the Edison Company. This device allowed the viewing of motion pictures by one person at a time. Three years later, the kinetoscope became a sensation and led to the establishment of public parlors worldwide. 

It was the Lumière brothers who presented moving pictures through a projector for the first time to a paying audience of 33 people in Paris, France in 1895. The contraption used for playing the films was their own invention, the ‘Cinématographe’, which was a 3-in-1 camera, projector, and printer. The two brothers, Louis and Auguste Lumière ignited the world’s fascination with cinema. 10 short films were projected, each of them just under a minute in length. This was an extraordinary moment in history, as the seed of ‘watching movies’ was planted on this day. Fast-forward to the present day, and we have short films in various styles, genres, and duration. Not only do short films entertain, but they are also a quick way to educate and inform on subjects through storytelling. These documentary films provide insight into the lives of real people around the world. 

National Short Film Day was initiated by Film Movement on December 28, 2019. Established in 2002, Film Movement is the distributor of many award-winning indie films set in New York City. With more than 250 shorts and feature films in their portfolio, their movies have been played at distinguished film festivals worldwide. National Short Film Day was created to mark the importance and resilience of the great short-film industry.