Codes and Conventions of Short Films

There are no specific codes and conventions of a short film, but I did notice certain points when watching a selection of films.
There is no clear definition of the maximum length of a short film, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences classify it as 40 minutes, although this may vary.
Short films tend to focus on difficult topics which longer, more commercial films, will avoid. This is because they are not funded by big studios. Directors of short films benefit from freedom and can take higher risks, but they must rely on festivals like Cannes to achieve public display.
Most short films are better known outside of the United States that within, due to less expectation from other audiences. However, film shorts are often a popular extra feature on DVD’s. For example, Pixar DVD’s typically include a short film that was distributed with the feature film in its theatrical release.
One of the things I noticed when watching short films is that there is usually just one or two main characters. The film will most likely focus on one central protagonist throughout, and explore their journey through the story. This allows the story to be told from the characters perspective, which makes the point of view shot a popular choice in short films.
Another typical feature in short films is a twist in the storyline to keep the narrative unpredictable and therefore appealing to the audience. As there is not a lot of time in a short film, a twist in the storyline is the easiest and quickest way to interest the audience.
Voiceovers are typical in short film, sometimes preferred over dialogue, as it gives the characters a chance to connect with the audience. This will, however, depend on the plot of the short film. For example, if the film is exploring how a character feels alone/isolated, then a voiceover would be more suited that a conversation with secondary characters.
The narrative of a short film is required to be original and, if necessary – strange, to make them stand out from the rest. The topics highlighted in short films maybe more realistic than feature films as they explore human emotions in greater depth.

History of Short Films

The term ‘short film’ came to be applied in North America in the 1910’s, when the majority of feature films began to be made in longer-running editions. A typical film programme came to be expected to include a feature preceded by at least one short film. Short subjects could be live action or animated. Comedy was particularly utilized, and well-known comedians such as Charlie Chaplin are known for their short films as well as their features.
However, after the 1930’s, the industry for short films was starting to fade. Most short films were produced in-house. On occasion, short films were financed by big film companies. Owners of the companies would force the owners of short films to sell them to the companies. They would then be turned into big name features. This was referred to as block booking, which has since become illegal. In 1955, another competitor of the short film surfaced – Television. It was difficult to get short films on TV and thus, into the public eye.
Short films are often popular as first steps into the cinematic art among young and aspiring filmmakers. They are cheaper and easier to make, usually don't take very long to produce, and their length makes shorts more likely to be watched by financial backers and others who want some demonstration of a filmmaker's ability. Directors like George Lucas, Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese and Pedro Almodovar started by making short films.