한국 단편영화 배급 시스템 변화를 위한 배급사들의 다양한 시도: 가능성과 한계점

Different Attempts by Distributors to Change the Distribution Systems of Korean Short Films : Possibility and Limitation

The film industry, which used to be centered around movie theaters, is encountering abrupt challenges with changes in the form of audiences’ appreciation of movies due to COVID19 pandemic at the moment. In the midst of this turbulence, independent films and short films are further losing their grounds that were already ever small. Therefore, facing the post-pandemic era, we, in this article, will take a look at potential changes in distribution system of short films. Short films have compressed stories compared to long films because of short running time. Also, various types of artistic expressions are allowed to be portrayed in short films, and with these, they strive for diversity in movie films and carry artistic values. However, short films’ current film-festival-centered distribution system has resulted that majority of short films weren’t able to come to light with the exception of a small number of them. Furthermore, because of recent COVID19’s breakout, a large number of film festivals has been downsized and even canceled, adding up more tension in short film industry. Now, in order to react to these challenges, many distributors including Central Park Films, Rainy Days Picture, Filmdabin, and Funnycon, are searching for ways to quench the emergency in short films distribution. They host many premiere screening events and provide subscription services, and on the other hand, they recreate contents, provide OTT service, a nd produce omnibus-style short films. In short, they are putting efforts in trying something new. In this article, we will analyze and research short film distributors’ various new tries and their limitation and improving points in order to enhance potential for improvement in short films’ distribution system and to suggest its direction.