Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Feature-length content largely dominates the cinematic zeitgeist, and that’s no surprise; we don’t often flock to the theaters or our streaming platforms in search of a 20-minute or less film. Despite abbreviated content’s general omission from conversation, short films are delivering some of the most interesting, innovative stories out there – it’s no wonder there’s an Oscar category for them. The general belief seems to be that these little flicks are hard to find, but it turns out that platforms are beginning to stock up with these top-notch shorts – and they’re easily streamable.
Underneath all of the blockbusters, new releases, classics, and B-movies that Prime Video has to offer, there is an entire section just dedicated to short films. You’ll find categories like “British Short Films”, “Award-Winning Short Films”, “Documentaries”, “Mysteries & Thrillers”, “Romantic Dramas”, and more. If you’re ever in the mood for a moving story but don’t quite have over an hour to spend watching something, this is your ideal destination. There are short films from multiple countries, decades, and voices in every category, and thanks to the flexibility of the medium, each one is incredibly unique.
We rounded up five of the best short films Prime Video has to offer – check it out for yourself to discover your next favorite short.
'Market Hours'
Produced by Lexus Short Films with The Weinstein Company, this 14-minute dramedy is more poignant than you might anticipate. We follow Randall, a gentle-mannered security guard with a penchant for day-dreaming, as he imagines what the thoughts of his fellow local market employees are and how to win over the girl that he loves. While things seem to go as usual, he soon finds himself in the midst of a thieving hijinks as they try to find out who is behind the disappearance of a series of items in the market. Funny, adventurous, and completely endearing, Market Hours will sneak up on you and win your heart before you know it.
'Wanderer'
At 16 minutes long, this wild psycho-thriller manages to pack more of a punch than most feature-length films of the same genre. Wanderer follows a young traveler who finds himself spending the night at a couple’s cottage in the remote California desert. As the three get to know each other, tension begins to grow and confusion brews in viewers’ hearts as we try to discover who in the trio has sinister intentions at heart, and who we can really trust.
'The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306'
This harrowing half-hour documentary was nominated for an Academy Award, and it’s not difficult to see why – it’s truly a masterpiece. The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306 recounts the day that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 and the Reverend Samuel “Billy” Kyles, the man who was standing beside him when he was shot. Reverend Kyles brings that day back to life through his own testimony and paints an incredibly powerful portrait of the last hours of MLK’s life.
Stream The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306 on Prime Video
'The Night is Ours'
It’s completely breathtaking that one 15-minute film can do so much, but writer/director Aubree Bernier-Clarke manages to pack sci-fi, horror, romance, and coming-of-age all into The Night is Ours seamlessly. After troubled tomboy Morgan’s best friend Olivia passes away, she attends her wake and sits with Olivia’s body in her bedroom to find that she’s mysteriously come back to life. On a night that proves to be a lot more interesting than either of them anticipated, they embark on a road trip that evolves into a strange, twisted romance that explores the confusion and ambiguity of being a teenager and experiencing loss.
'The Nation Holds Its Breath'
“Would you miss the action for a contraction?” This endearing, hilarious film introduces us to an Irish father-to-be who finds himself in the ultimate predicament when his wife goes into labor at the same time that Ireland plays a miraculous match that will bring them to the 1990 World Cup quarter finals. Well-acted, witty, and surprisingly romantic, this little comedy is bound to be one of the most unique you’ve seen in years.
