This past Monday, DokuFest hosted a particularly relevant talk for short film creators and producers, provocatively titled: “Nobody Wants Your Short Film – Now What?” The panel brought together key figures from the short film industry: Laurent Crouzeix from the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and Market; Greek filmmaker Theodoros Panagopoulos (The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing); Tam Dan Vu, a distribution specialist with TRAVELLING; and Sari Volanen, acquisitions editor for short films at Finland’s public broadcaster Yle. The discussion was moderated by filmmaker Dea Gjinovci.

During the conversation, Sari Volanen offered an inside look into the selection process for short films on Finnish television. “I look for three things: relevance, emotional impact, and values,” she said. However, she also clarified that each curator has their own criteria. She humorously acknowledged that, in her decades of experience, the audience for short films in Finland hasn’t grown significantly— a comment that drew laughter from the audience.

Laurent Crouzeix shared insights into the selection dynamics at Clermont-Ferrand, one of the world’s most important short film festivals. “We receive a huge number of submissions, but space is limited,” he explained. However, he emphasized the value of their short film catalog, which has gained international recognition as a reference for other festivals and organizations. This platform, he noted, provides additional visibility for filmmakers, extending the lifespan and reach of their works.

One of the most enriching moments came when panelists were asked to offer advice for those starting out in the world of short filmmaking. Tam Dan Vu encouraged creators to reflect from the beginning: “What is your goal? What does success mean to you?” For her, those questions should guide the creative process. Similarly, Volanen urged filmmakers to seek originality—though she acknowledged that it’s no easy task, given the vast number of short films already out there. “You have to be passionate about what you do,” she concluded. Tam added that a good short should bring something new, be meaningful, and deserve the audience’s attention.

The talk sparked great interest among attendees, many of whom were young filmmakers. Questions about funding and distribution strategies dominated the final discussion. The experts agreed that short films don’t need to be financially profitable, which allows for more creative freedom. But they warned: the films still need to be engaging, hold the viewer’s attention, and have something to say. Dea Gjinovci closed the session with a reflection on audience response at DokuFest: “Our audiences really enjoy short films. There aren’t many spaces to watch them on the big screen, and that makes the experience special.” She added that, due to their short runtime, audiences are more willing to take risks with them—something that often leads to pleasant surprises.