Exclusive vs Non-Exclusive Submissions

When submitting your film to The Short Film Show, you’ll be asked to choose between two licensing options: Exclusiveand Non-Exclusive.
Both allow your film to appear on the platform and both qualify for the Filmmaker Impact Fund, but they differ in how your film can be used elsewhere, how it’s promoted, and how much it can potentially earn.

This page explains each option in plain language so you can decide what’s right for your goals.

Why We Offer Two Options

Every filmmaker’s situation is different. Some are premiering a brand-new short that’s never been seen before; others are giving a finished festival film a second life online.
That’s why The Short Film Show is built to be flexible. We don’t believe in a “one-size-fits-all” deal — instead, we give you control.

Choosing between Exclusive and Non-Exclusive simply defines how your film is licensed to us during its time on the platform.
It’s not about ownership — you always retain full copyright to your work.

What “Exclusive” Means

An Exclusive submission means your film streams only on The Short Film Show for the duration of the agreement (normally one year). During that time, you agree not to make it publicly available elsewhere — for example, on YouTube, Vimeo, or other streaming platforms.

Exclusive submissions are treated as premium content within the platform. They are prioritised for:

Homepage features and curated collections
Consideration for the 24/7 linear TV channel
Promotional campaigns and sponsored visibility
Higher weighting in the Filmmaker Impact Fund

This is because exclusive films are part of what makes the platform distinctive. They give viewers something they can’t see anywhere else, helping to grow the audience — which in turn increases the overall fund available to filmmakers.

Exclusive films are clearly marked on the platform with an Exclusive badge and are handled with extra care in scheduling, subtitling, and metadata.

If your film performs well, it may also be included in brand partnerships, festival tie-ins, or thematic showcases such as “Editors’ Choice” or “Short Film Spotlight.”

What “Non-Exclusive” Means

A Non-Exclusive submission allows your film to appear on The Short Film Show while still remaining live elsewhere.
You can keep it on your own website, YouTube channel, Vimeo page, or continue screening it at festivals.

This option is ideal for filmmakers who want maximum exposure and flexibility, or who already have distribution arrangements but still want to benefit from the audience and revenue opportunities of The Short Film Show.

Non-Exclusive films are displayed alongside exclusive ones on the platform, but they typically receive standard visibility in the catalogue rather than featured placement. They still qualify for the Filmmaker Impact Fund, and if a non-exclusive film performs exceptionally well, it can be invited to upgrade to Exclusive status at any time.

The Creative Difference

The choice isn’t just legal — it’s creative.
If your short film is part of your portfolio or an open calling card for your directing or writing career, the Non-Exclusiveoption gives you the widest reach.
But if your film is something you want to premiere properly, build buzz around, or even pitch for television inclusion, Exclusive gives it extra weight and visibility.

In short:

Non-Exclusive is about reach.
Exclusive is about impact.

Both play an important role in the wider ecosystem of short films, and both help sustain the creative network that keeps the platform alive.

Rights and Ownership

Whichever option you choose, you always keep full ownership of your film.
We don’t acquire or buy rights — you simply grant us a license to stream your film according to your chosen terms.

That license gives us the ability to:

Stream your film securely to viewers on our platform and apps.
Use short extracts, stills, and promotional material to advertise your film (never more than a few seconds of footage).
Display your title, synopsis, credits, and images as part of our catalogue.

For Exclusive films, this license is temporary and automatically expires at the end of the agreed term unless renewed. You can withdraw a Non-Exclusive film with 14 days’ notice if you wish to remove it.

Revenue and Impact Fund Weighting

The most visible difference between Exclusive and Non-Exclusive is how they interact with the Filmmaker Impact Fund, our revenue-sharing system.

Films on The Short Film Show can qualify for the Filmmaker Impact Fund, which shares eligible platform revenue with filmmakers based on real viewer engagement (such as watch time and completion).

Exclusive films may receive additional weighting in the Fund because they help grow the audience with content viewers can’t find elsewhere. Sponsored films may also receive enhanced visibility and may qualify for additional weighting depending on the current Fund rules.

Full details of how the Fund is calculated are set out in the Filmmaker Agreement and may be refined over time to keep the system fair and sustainable.

This weighting recognises the extra value exclusive content brings to the platform and rewards filmmakers who choose to premiere or host their films solely here.

Even at the standard rate, non-exclusive films still earn fairly — and they often perform better overall because they can be promoted across multiple platforms.

How to Decide

If you’re unsure which option to choose, here’s a way to think about it:

Choose Exclusive if:

You want your film to stand out on the homepage or appear on the 24/7 channel.
You want higher earnings potential through Impact Fund multipliers.
You’re ready for your film to have a clear, defined premiere window.

Choose Non-Exclusive if:

Your film is already online elsewhere or still running the festival circuit.
You want the freedom to use your film in pitches, portfolios, or showreels.
You simply want exposure and data without restrictions.

Both paths contribute to the same creative community — the difference is how your film fits within it.