Film Studies

Short Attention Span Cinema 23

Monday, April 20, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm  
Instructor: Gary M. Kramer, Author and Film Critic

Although short films are rarely screened outside of film festivals, these easily digestible mini-movies are often “calling cards” for burgeoning directors who want to showcase their talents in a modest—and modestly budgeted—form. Andrea Arnold (American Honey), Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin), and Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) all have won Oscars for their early short films.     

Short films don’t require the same investment in character development that features do, but viewers’ emotions—from laughter to sadness to discomfort—can be effectively evoked. Indeed, short films can be more satisfying than feature films. They depict a dramatic slice of life or a simple joke, eloquently told; they are brief, intense snippets of a larger story. A good short film hooks viewers, carrying them through the story before delivering a satisfying payoff. The best shorts prompt us to reassess our conceptions of cinema through uses of space and sound, editing, and cinematography. 

This seminar will showcase a collection of short films including “Blank” (2025), “Gabriel” (2025), “Gibranistan” (2025), and “One Day This Kid” (2024), plus others that highlight the strengths of the format. This seminar will provide students with a greater appreciation for short films that deserve anything but short shrift.