10 Places to Stream or Showcase Your Short Film Online
You’ve made your short film, sent it to festivals, and built a collection of laurels! So, what happens when the festival circuit winds down? One option is to find a home for your film online.
From curated streaming platforms to genre-specific YouTube channels, there are several ways to introduce your work to audiences beyond the festival itself. Some platforms are free to watch, others operate on subscriptions, and many accept submissions from around the world.
Here are 10 places to consider if you’re ready to get your short film in front of a new audience:
For independent shorts seeking a curated online home without an exclusive distribution deal!
Klipist is a streaming platform for hand-picked indie short films, with no sign-up, subscription, or ads for viewers. Its films are available on the web and through iOS and Android apps.
You can submit short films and documentaries up to 40 minutes, in any language with English subtitles. The team reviews submissions personally, with a decision usually within 30 days.
Submitting is free! If your film is selected, there’s a one-time £150 fee covering hosting, a dedicated film page, promotion, and ongoing distribution. There are no recurring fees, and the platform is non-exclusive: you retain ownership and can keep your film on other services.
→ Submit here!
For filmmakers interested in a streaming platform with a 24/7 short-film channel!
The Short Film Show showcases independent short films through its streaming platform, apps, and 24/7 channel. Its catalogue includes over 550 films from 60+ countries and 30+ languages.
You can submit completed shorts of up to 50 minutes for a £9.99 fee per film. They review each submission, with decisions usually arriving in about four weeks. If selected, your film receives its own page and may be featured on the channel. Subtitles can be added in up to six languages.
You can choose between a non-exclusive license, which allows your film to remain on other platforms, and an exclusive 12-month placement with additional promotional consideration. Read the terms carefully before choosing, as the license choice cannot be changed afterwards.
→ Submit here!
For narrative filmmakers looking for a large online audience!
Omeleto is a well-known online destination for curated shorts, with a substantial YouTube presence. Programming spans genres and styles, including drama, comedy, thriller, and sci-fi.
A feature on a channel with an established short-film audience can help a film reach viewers who may not discover it through festivals alone. As with other curated outlets, however, acceptance is competitive, and a submission does not guarantee a release.
Before submitting, check the platform’s current filmmaker submission route and licensing terms.
→ Submit here
For science-fiction and fantasy shorts!
DUST specializes in science fiction, with programming that explores futuristic worlds, speculative ideas, and the possibilities of technology and humanity. Films are available through online channels like YouTube, and its distribution extends to free streaming television channels.
It accepts completed sci-fi and fantasy shorts for consideration through its shared submission process with ALTER. Its current FilmFreeway listing prefers films between five and 20 minutes, although longer shorts may be considered. The listed submission fee is $45.
Selected films receive a release on the channel, promotional support, non-exclusive terms, and the option to request post-launch audience analytics. The team can also schedule a release around the end of a film’s festival run.
→ Submit here!
For horror filmmakers seeking genre-specific audiences!
ALTER is the horror counterpart to DUST, showcasing independent horror shorts through YouTube and free streaming television channels. Its programming includes supernatural horror, psychological thrillers, dark fantasy, and other unsettling stories.
It accepts completed horror shorts through the same FilmFreeway listing as DUST. The current submission fee is $45, and films between five and 20 minutes are preferred. Filmmakers must have the necessary rights cleared, including music rights.
Selections are non-exclusive, and the team provides promotional support and coordinates release timing with filmmakers. A film doesn’t have to be newly completed to be eligible, so older shorts may still be worth submitting.
→ Submit here!
For distinctive shorts seeking curated exposure and industry visibility!
Short of the Week has been championing short filmmaking online since 2007. It curates films across genres and has built a reputation as a destination for discovering emerging directors and original storytelling.
The platform accepts films under 40 minutes, in English or with English subtitles, provided all necessary rights are secured. It is selective, so submitting doesn’t guarantee a feature. Its submission system also offers filmmakers a route to receive feedback, with different options and potential fee waivers through its Shortverse community.
If your film is selected, the team can coordinate a release date rather than requiring you to publish immediately. This can be useful if you’re still managing festival screenings or planning an online premiere.
→ Submit here!
For independent filmmakers looking for another curated short-film showcase!
Shorted offers a home for selected short films and provides filmmakers with opportunities for online exposure and promotion. Its submission process considers the film’s storytelling, direction, performances, and overall craft.
Its current submission page lists a standard fee of $30, with a reduced fee for some films under 30 minutes. Selections may receive editorial coverage and additional promotional opportunities.
It’s worth investigating if you’re looking beyond the largest short-film channels. Ensure you understand what a submission includes and if your film will be hosted publicly when accepted.
→ Submit here!
For independent shorts seeking a curated online premiere or showcase!
Retrospective of Jupiter presents independent short films from filmmakers around the world. Its selection process is curated, and accepted films can be featured on the website, announced on Instagram, and potentially included in its newsletter.
The platform charges a $35 submission fee. Films must be available for audiences to watch free of charge, and filmmakers must have all the necessary publication rights, including music rights. There is no guarantee of selection, and the fee is non-refundable.
The site also runs a monthly Best Short Film feature, giving selected filmmakers another opportunity for recognition.
→ Submit here!
For those exploring a specialist streaming service for distinctive and genre-driven cinema!
Eternal Family is a subscription-based streaming service built around a collection of rare, unusual, and hard-to-find films. Its catalogue includes vintage animation, science fiction, fantasy, horror, documentaries, and experimental work, alongside curated collections and 24/7 channels.
Unlike a free-to-watch short-film channel, it operates on a subscription model, with a free trial and paid membership. It’s worth researching for films that fit its programming sensibility.
It should be considered as a potential licensing or programming contract rather than a confirmed open-submission platform. Its catalogue is also currently restricted primarily to North America, according to its website.
→ Start here!
For filmmakers seeking international distribution and potential licensing revenue!
ShortsTV is a global short-film broadcaster and distributor with a catalogue spanning live-action films, animation, and documentaries. Its content reaches audiences through dedicated television channels, mobile apps, digital stores, and streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video Channels in selected markets.
Unlike platforms that primarily curate films for free online viewing, ShortsTV acquires distribution rights to selected films and offers filmmakers the opportunity to earn money through licensing deals. If your film meets its quality and technical requirements, its acquisitions team may make an offer to license it for distribution.
This is a particularly useful option to explore if you’re looking beyond a single online premiere and are interested in getting your short in front of international audiences.
→ Start here to explore its submission and acquisition process. Review proposed licensing agreements before signing, including rights requested, territories covered, and payment terms!
A few things to consider before submitting your work
Not every platform offers the same kind of opportunity! Before sending your film to any streaming or curation service, think of the following:
CHECK THE FIT. A sci-fi short may be ideal for DUST, while a horror film may be better suited to ALTER. Watch a few recent selections before submitting!
READ THE LICENSING TERMS. Confirm whether the platform requires exclusivity, how long it can stream your film, and whether you can withdraw it later.
BUDGET FOR FEES. Some curated outlets charge submission fees, while others do only upon acceptance. Don’t assume that a fee guarantees selection or an audience.
PLAN AROUND YOUR FESTIVAL RUN. Some platforms coordinate an online release for a later date. If premiere status matters to your film, discuss timing before signing.
PREPARE YOUR DELIVERY MATERIALS. Keep a high-quality film file, poster, stills, synopsis, credits, trailer, and subtitle files ready.
DON’T OVERLOOK DIRECT DISTRIBUTION. If none of these fit, YouTube, a personal website, or a filmmaker-led screening can still be a valuable way to share your work.
Your short film doesn’t have to disappear when its festival run ends. The right platform can help it find a new audience, introduce your work to industry professionals, and give the film a longer life online. The goal isn’t to submit everywhere, it’s to find the places where your film and its audience are most likely to meet.