A short film is any piece of film that isn't long enough to be a full feature length film. For a film to be considered a short it is generally 40 minuets or less including a title and credits. Short films can be both made by amateurs or professionals (Pixar and Dreamworks both make shorts) and can range from mostly small or no budget but others can have as much budget as a feature film.
One of the most famous shorts are 'The Three Stooges' shorts that were shown in cinemas in the 1930's-1950's. Like alot of shorts they were full of comedy and slapstick lasting about 15-20 minuets. Modern shorts have become alot more sophisticated with a variety of different genres and styles from jokes to serious matters.
