‘That was so slow!’ Or: How student engagement with the short film format offers moments of personal reflection in an increasingly visually saturated world

For a generation entering adulthood in the age of streaming, and whose daily lives are intertwined with TikTok, I have seen how the short film format can challenge and subvert students’ viewing habits. Teaching a short filmmaking course to theatre-making students has also shown me the impact short films can have not only on one’s creative thinking but also on one’s overall mental health.