Although short films used to be known as the field for gaining experience and a way
towards professional filmmaking, now due to various reasons, it has its own independent identity.

There are still young filmmakers who like to make features and enter the professional world of filmmaking by getting the experience with their short films, but the critical view on this field shows that it is not only an exercise for learning commercial cinema formulas, but it is an independent medium.
In Iran, though later than other places, the trend has begun as well and several young Iranian filmmakers have been successful in the international events by making shorts.

On the other hand, documentaries have found their rightful position in Iran as well as in other parts of the world as one effective way to propound social, political, cultural, racial, and human rights issues among other things. It should be considered that at the time being, in Iran, short films and documentaries, as two branches of an independent cinema, are the representatives of "Iran Independent Cinema". The participation of these films in international events in recent years is a sign that the whole world recognizes it officially.

Due to some reasons - the most important is the massive young population in Iran and their strong interest in art activities - this trend is getting stronger and now it is more than a cinema or art process. According to the statistics, about 3 thousand short films, documentaries, experimental films and animations are made in Iran each year, some of which do not get the chance to be shown and judged anywhere. This is a noticeable number, especially if we know that Iran, as one of the first 15 countries in the world cinema, is not capable of making more than 70 features films each year.

Therefore, considering the local and international potentialities, it seems essential to have an exclusive medium responsible for the information and news about Iranian short films and documentaries. As a result, "Short Film News" Persian website was established in October 2004 and after 20 months, the English version of this website started as well.  
"Short Film News" is an independent and non-governmental organization and is the first news website about short films and documentaries made in Iran with specified aims and schedule.

Our first goal is to introduce Iranian short films, documentaries, experimental films and animations to the people around the world and spread the news of their participation in international events and the events related to these films inside Iran. 
Also we would announce the important events focusing on short films and documentaries all over the world.

To make a connection among the active Iranian and non-Iranian film makers in these fields is among our goals which we will follow up in various ways.
We can also provide other services for the people interested in cinema in addition to news. We can help you make connections in Iran and share our experiences with you for showing Iranian short films and documentaries in different events, make connections with different organizations, centers and related institutions in Iran for holding cinema programs.

Marjan Riahi
Manager