Short on time but craving a great story? Short films are the perfect solution. In just a few minutes, these bite-sized movies deliver powerful emotions, clever storytelling, and unforgettable moments. From animated adventures to thought-provoking dramas, short films prove that you don’t need hours to be moved or entertained. They’re fun, accessible, and often free to watch, making them ideal for casual film fans looking for something engaging without a huge time commitment. In this list, we’ve curated nine interesting short films that stand out for their creativity and impact. Whether you’re in the mood for heartwarming animation, a gripping true story, or edge-of-your-seat suspense, each of these shorts offers a unique experience. The best part? You can stream many of them online right now. Grab some popcorn and enjoy these mini-masterpieces!
Wade
Where to watch: YouTube
This mesmerizing 10-minute animated short thrusts you into a flooded, post-apocalyptic Kolkata, where climate change has rendered the city nearly unlivable. Wade follows a band of climate refugees navigating drowned streets, only to clash with a prowling tiger in an eerie fight for survival. Created by the Ghost Animation collective in India, the film uses haunting hand-drawn visuals and zero dialogue to deliver a powerful eco-horror story that’s both thrilling and chilling. It premiered at international festivals (including the 2020 Annecy Film Festival) to much acclaim for its bold storytelling and environmental message.
Thunder Road
Where to watch: Vimeo
Few shorts capture the range of emotions that Thunder Road does in just 13 minutes. This Sundance-winning comedy-drama (later adapted into a feature) is essentially one long, continuous shot of a police officer delivering a eulogy for his mother, and having a complete emotional meltdown while trying to perform Bruce Springsteen’s song, Thunder Road, as a tribute. Written, directed, and brilliantly acted by Jim Cummings, the short will have you laughing one moment and tearing up the next. It’s an offbeat yet deeply heartfelt story about grief, love, and awkwardly trying to do the right thing under the worst circumstances.
The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Where to watch: Netflix
This inspiring documentary short shines a spotlight on Orin O’Brien, the first woman to become a full-time member of the New York Philharmonic orchestra. Directed by her niece, Molly O’Brien, the film is an ode to a trailblazing double bassist who broke barriers back in 1966 and paved the way for women in classical music. Through archival footage and personal interviews, The Only Girl in the Orchestra celebrates Orin’s passion and perseverance across her long career. The short’s excellence was recognized at the highest level: it won the 2025 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.
Sunflowers Were the First One to Know
Where to watch: Mubi
Rooted in folklore and brimming with symbolism, this remarkable Kannada short film took the festival circuit by storm. Sunflowers Were the First One to Know begins with an elderly woman stealing the village rooster. This seemingly small act causes the sun never to rise again, plunging the community into chaos. Blending magic realism with social commentary, the story follows the woman and her family as they’re exiled from the village, revealing deep truths about tradition, blame, and resilience. Director Chidananda S. Naik’s film is beautifully crafted in a raw, authentic style that feels like an old folktale come to life. It won the La Cinef First Prize at Cannes 2024 (a first for an Indian student film) and even qualified for the Oscars, marking it as a standout piece of cinema.
Sanjay’s Super Team
Where to watch: Disney+
Leave it to Pixar to deliver a short film that’s both superhero-packed and deeply personal. Sanjay’s Super Team is a vibrant 7-minute animation written and directed by Sanjay Patel, inspired by his own childhood growing up as a first-generation Indian-American. The story follows young Sanjay, a kid who loves cartoons and comics, as he begrudgingly joins his devout father in a Hindu prayer ritual – only to escape into a daydream where Hindu gods transform into an epic superhero team! The short dazzles with action and colour as deities like Vishnu, Durga, and Hanuman battle a demon, all through the imaginative lens of a child bridging two cultures. It’s a fun, accessible adventure that also speaks to anyone who’s felt caught between modern pop culture and family traditions. Originally released in theatres with The Good Dinosaur, this Oscar-nominated short has become a fan favourite for its heartwarming father-son message and celebratory representation of Indian culture.
Nocturnal Burger
Where to Watch: Mubi
Nocturnal Burger serves up a tense and powerful drama in the dead of night. Set in a Mumbai police station, the film unfolds over one long evening when a 13-year-old girl and a middle-aged man are brought in by a concerned stranger who witnessed something horrific in a rickshaw. What follows is an intense investigation that peels back layers of trauma, societal apathy, and deep-rooted misogyny. Directed by Reema Maya (a.k.a. Reema Sengupta), this 28-minute short tackles the topic of child abuse with sensitivity and grit, often blurring the lines between reality and the young girl’s fantasy coping mechanisms. It premiered at Sundance 2023 and went on to win multiple awards, resonating with audiences for its unflinching look at how systems (and people) can fail the most vulnerable.
Incognito
Where to watch: Mubi
Dark, daring, and utterly gripping, Incognito is a short thriller that flips the usual perspective on a crime. It follows a morally grey motel receptionist who secretly films guests with hidden cameras to make extra cash, a creepy side hustle that takes a shocking turn when he discovers one guest is a young woman being trafficked. As he wrestles with his conscience, the receptionist finds himself risking everything to save her, transforming from silent voyeur to unlikely hero. Director Ravi Muppa presents the story in a slick, voyeuristic style with minimal dialogue, making you feel like an illicit observer of something disturbingly real. Incognito struck a chord on the festival circuit for its unique take on the topic of sex trafficking, even making it to the Oscars shortlist for Live-Action Short in 2024.
Ice Merchants
Where to watch: Internet Archives (free online streaming)
An Oscar nominee and a gem of visual storytelling, Ice Merchants is an animated short that will take your breath away, literally. This wordless film from Portuguese director João Gonzalez portrays a father and son living in a tiny house perched on a towering cliff, where every day they perform a daredevil ritual: parachuting down the cliffside to sell ice to the village far below. With its striking art style and a beautiful score (also composed by the director), the film finds poetry in their routine of leaping into the void. As the story unfolds, it subtly explores themes of risk, dependency, and love between parent and child, all without a single line of dialogue. Ice Merchants is imaginative and heart-tugging, delivering both suspense (those heights!) and an emotional punch that sneaks up on you. It’s no surprise this short made history as one of the first Portuguese animations to be Academy Award-nominated.
Gutthi
Where to watch: JioCinema
Gutthi (meaning “riddle”) is a criminally underrated short film that proves you don’t need a big budget to deliver big thrills. The story centres on Anand, a writer amid a creative slump, who ends up in an all-night conversation with his garbage collector, Khalil. What starts as an ordinary chat over tea slowly turns into a mysterious mind game, as Anand notices odd clues and strange behaviours that hint at a much bigger secret. Tension builds with each exchange, leading to shocking revelations that will make you gasp by the end. Boasting stellar acting and tight direction, this mystery-suspense drama has won multiple accolades and could easily give many full-length thrillers a run for their money.
Words Harita Odedara
8.07.2025