Viewers Guide
Welcome to The Short Film Show, the home of short films.
Here’s everything you need to know about watching, subscribing, and getting the best experience from our platform.
How To Watch
Short films deserve to be seen, and we’ve made it as easy as possible to dive in.
You can watch instantly on theshortfilmshow.com, no downloads required.
Our mobile app for iOS and Android uses the same account, so you can start on one device and carry on with another.
Available viewing options:
- Web Browser: Works on any modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge).
- Smart TV: Watch through the browser on most smart TVs.
- Mobile App: Available now: App Store and Google Play.
- 24/7 channel: Our 24/7 channel is live at channel.theshortfilmshow.com. Tune in anytime.
Accounts & Subscription Tiers
Every viewer joins free, with no card required, and can upgrade at any time for the full experience.
Free viewers get 30 minutes of films a month in standard definition, with ads. Ad-Free (£5.99 a month or £58 a year) takes away the limit and the adverts the free plan shows, and gives you HD up to 1080p. See what each plan includes
You can upgrade or downgrade anytime from Subscription, then Change Plan, in your profile menu on the website. We don’t lock you in.
| Plan | Free | Ad-Free |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £0, no card | £5.99 a month or £58 a year |
| Films per month | 30 minutes | Unlimited |
| Picture | Standard definition | HD, up to 1080p |
| Ads | A short ad before some films, banner ads | The adverts the free plan shows are removed |
| Devices | 1 at a time | 2 at a time |
| Continue Watching | No | Yes |
| Full film details and behind the scenes | No | Yes |
| Tip Jar | No | Yes |
Platform Features
We designed The Short Film Show to feel like a modern, living cinema: easy to browse, smart to use, and built for discovery.
Discover New Films
Search by genre, country, language, or duration, or browse by genre: animation, horror and more. Or scroll through curated rows like Editor’s Choice, Trending and New Releases.
The homepage reshuffles as you return, so there’s something different to find each visit.
Personalised Experience
- Favourite Films: Save films you want to return to, and find them again from your profile menu.
- Continue Watching (Ad-Free): Picks up from where you left off.
- Your profile menu: Edit your profile, change your password, set your email preferences and manage your subscription payments.
Playback & Subtitles
All films stream through our CDN for smooth playback worldwide.
Subtitles are available for most films and display automatically where available.
Quality adjusts to your internet connection, up to the limit of your plan: SD on Free, and HD up to 1080p on Ad-Free Experience.
Pro tip: for best performance, use Chrome or Safari.
Help & Support
We’re here to make sure your viewing experience stays effortless.
Quick Troubleshooting
If a film won’t play:
- Refresh the page and try again.
- Check your connection or try a different browser.
- If it still won’t work, note the film title and time of issue before contacting support.
Subtitles or Audio Issues
Subtitle tracks come from the filmmaker, or we make them. If you spot a problem, report it briefly so we can review it on the next update cycle.
Please note: we may prioritise fixes for newly featured or trending titles.
Contact Us:
Supporting Filmmakers
Taking part in the Filmmaker Impact Fund is subject to eligibility, and the Fund is not a guarantee of payment. About the Fund
Every play helps a film find its audience.
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